The Sun. — 1848-10-05 (London, England)

CLEI7KENWELL.  James Pennington, an ill-looking fellow, who was described in the police-sheet as a modeller, residing at 4, Sidney-street, Somer's-town, was placed at the bar before Mr. Combe, charged by Martha Pearse, a young woman with whom he cohabited, with having stabbed her with intent to murder.  The prosecutrix, whose head was bound up, and who was in a weakly state through loss of blood, deposed that on Tuesday night last, at about a quarter before ten o'clock, she returned home perfectly sober, when she knocked at the door, which was opened by the prisoner. She followed him to the bedroom on the first floor back, when some angry words took place between them, and the prisoner was in a great passion with her because she had stopped as he said, too long on an errand. She was undressed and going to bed at the time. He repeatedly swore at her, and said, " You wretch, I'll do for you," and then gave her a dreadful blow on her nose, which caused it to bleed profusely. He then ran to the table, seized a table-knife, and rushing at her made a stab at her. She attempted to save herself by holding her arms up to ward off the blows, and the knife struck her on the temple, near the eye, and inflicted a severe wound, from which the blood gushed copiously, and she became faint and was taken to the hospital, where the wound was dressed by the house surgeon. In answer to questions by the magistrate and clerk she said, she was about to escape from his violence when he locked the room door upon her and took the key out of the lock. It was after he had locked the door that he stabbed her with the knife. She bled profusely. Witness called out " Murder" as loudly as she could, and also called to the inhabitants to come to her assistance. On seeing the blood running from her, and hearing her cries, the prisoner endeavoured to coax her to be quiet. She then exclaimed loudly, " For God's sake let somebody come to my aid," and continued her cries of " Murder," when she found the key of the door on the chair; having released herself she ran down stairs, and the police and neighbours came to her assistance and took the prisoner to the station-house. She had cohabited with the prisoner nine years. He was jealous of her, and had frequently ill-treated her before, and had been committed to prison for violence towards her. The prisoner while confined in the station-house was seized with a violent fit, and Mr. Skinner, of Aldenhamterrace, assistant surgeon to the S division, attended promptly and rendered every assistance until he was recovered.  Mr. COMBE asked the prisoner if he wished to ask the witness any questions ? Prisoner.—No ; she was drunk.  Allum, 320 §, who apprehended the prisoner, denied this. She was very much excited and agitated, and hardly knew what she was about. The witness heard the cries of " Murder," and saw the prosecutrix rush into the street, bleeding and saturated with blood. fie proceeded upstairs, and in the back room on the first floor found the prisoner undressed. The room was; covered with blood, and he found the knife (now produced) with which the wound was alleged to have been inflicted.  Mr. James Morris, house surgeon to the University College Hospital, deposed, that the prosecutrix was brought to the hospital at a quarter to twelve o'clock on Tuesday night, and on examination he found a wound over the left eye. She had other wounds of older date on her head and chest, which had been caused by the prisoner. The wound was not dangerous. Mr. CoMaE cautioned the prisoner that he was not bound to say anything to the charge ; would he slo so after that caution ? The prisoner said he did not take up the knife or use it against the prosecutrix. He was cross with her in consequence of her staying out longer than she had occasion to do. She threw a loaf at him while he was in bed. The prisoner was then fully committed to Newgate for trial.