The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1894-04-07 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

CHARGE OF STABBING A HUSBAND.  "AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE."  At Coventry Divisional Sessions, on Friday, Annie Kenning, a very respectable looking young woman, neatly attired, was charged with unlawfully wounding her husband, Thomas Kenning, labourer,Ryton-on-Dunsinore,by stabbing him with a knife. Prosecutor, who appeared with his left arm in a sling, said he went out for several hours on the previous Saturday. On returning home about 9.30 p.m., he found the door looked, lie left, but subsequently returned and his wife, who was inside, said "Go away ; there is no home for you here again." He heard prisoner go upstairs, and she appeared outside the bedroom window, standing on the sill and holding on to the water - spout.. Witness gained admittance to the house by a windrow, and went upstairs. On putting his head outside the bedroom window with the intention of pulling his wife into the room, fearing she would jump into the street, prisoner struck at him with a table knife. She stabbed him three times, iito he ultimately got her into the room. He had his wounds dressed by "'neighbour, and was afterwards attended by a doctor. He did not remain at home that night, but saw his wife next morning and she laughed at him. She said she would send him his clothes.—ln answer to the bench, prosecutor said he had been married four years, and out of that period they had lived apart three years. On Saturday he kad not previously quarrelled with prisoner. She returned to live with him on Jan lst.—The Chairman : It is a most extraordinary case.—Prisoner said she climbed outside the window when she heard prosecutor on the stairs. He shouted out, "I will kill you this time."— Prosecutor, in reply to the Magistrates' Clerk, denied using any threats.—Alfred Kenning, brother to the last witness, deposed to hearing prisoner threaten to shoot prosecutor with a revolver. He did not know whether she bad such a weapeent.— Prisoner said the evidence was a most wonderful concoction of lies.—George Fox, builder, living near prosecutor's, also deposed to hearing prisoner threaten her husband. He saw her" draw the knife across his arm as if she was sewing. a piece of wood." The blood flowed from the wounds in a stressi.—Orose-examined by prisoner; There was no light in the house, but he could see prisoner stab prosecutor quite distinctly.—,2.o. Locke said he received prisoner from the Leamington police. She made no reply when the charge was read to her.—Prisoner, who spoke with an air of refinement, said she thought the case ought to be considered as one of common assault. She acted in self-defence and had received great provocation. Prosecutor continually abused her and she had been constantly subjected to brutal treatment. On account of, his dissolute habits and abusive manner she left him while they were in a public. house at Coventry, and went into service. On Saturday he abused her very much at tea-time, and when he returned at 10 o'clock, having spent the evening in a publio-house, she believed be meant murder. He threatened her, and she only acted in self-defence when she found the water-spout was giving away, end she was in danger of falling to the ground.—Prisoner's father said it appeared to him impossible that a woman could commit such a deed without cause. Prisoner reoeived much provocation, and at length left her husband. From her employers she received the highest character. She was a thoroughly business woman, and it was owing to prosecutor's dissolute habits that the publichouse at Coventry had to be given up.—Prisoner here commenced to cry, and said "That will do, Dad."—Prisoner was committed to take her trial at the Sessions (to be held next week), and the Bench expressed their willingness to accept bail in one surety of £2o.—Prisoner (sharply) "I won't have bail," and stepped into the well of the dick. She afterwards had a consultation with be father, who became surety.