The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1886-02-17 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE BIRKENHEAD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1886.  he said," Where am! going to?" Witness replied that he was going to remain there for • short time. Prisoner then said, "I am very near dead. I was attacked by some men in that house, and had to struggle for my life." Prisoner then turned up his sleeve and said, "Look where they scratched me and gripped my arm. I had to jump through a window to get away from them; and I swear I could tell where the window was if I saw it." Witness proceeded to give evidence as to the money which teas found in the male prisoner's possession by Inspector Asbury, and produced a dress, bodice, and skirt belonging to the female prisoner, all of which were profuse!;' stained with blood, and torn. After witness took the clothing from the female prisoner, she said "You .know Mrs. lit'lntyre has been drinking heavily for over a fortnight, and I saw a bill which was brought by that spirit merchant in Bedfordroad, I think Mackie and Gladstone; and I think by the bill she must have drunk one bottle of whisky every day. I think each bottle holds three half-pints. The doctor came to see her to-day, and he said she had got the jaundice. I did not expect her to live; but I aid not think she would have died so suddenly." Witness afterwards examined the hands and arms of the female prisoner and found that between her fingers and round the tips of her finger nails on both hands, and up to both her elbows, were besmeared with blood. She said, "Oh! that was done with my nose bleeding. I fell down the steps and that is how I have injured my eye." Her eye was slightly bleeding then. She also said: "I was over in Liverpool yesterday, and was walking along, and I slipped off the kerbstone; but I don't know in what street it was." Witness then took both prisoners in a cab to the Central Police Station, in Hamilton-street, and on the way the following conversation took place between the prisoners :—Travis said to Platt: "Who were the two men that were in the house last night? There were two men, were there not ? " Platt replied, after hesitating for a second or two," Yes." Travis then said, "And, my God, they meant hurting me, for I had to jump through the window to make my escape from them. Do you think the devils meant plunder, or what did they want?" Platt replied, "I don't know." Travis asked if she knew who they were, and she said she did; and Travis said, "What is their names ?" She replied," One is a man named Mr. Crispin. He has the tram 'buses. I think he is an overlooker for the tramway company." Travis said, "What the devil did he want there ? " and Platt replied, "I believe be is a friend of Mrs. M'lntyre." Travis said, "What time did they come there ? " and Platt replied that she did not know exactly, but that they went sway soon after ten o'clock. Travis said, "I think the devils meant murdering me. Look how they have cut and smashed my poor head." This was all the conversation, and witness did not hear any other name mentioned than that of Crispin. Mr. Preston: As I understand that the prisoners will be defended by Mr. Moore, I will not ask them if they have any questions to put to Inspector Bennett. There will be another opportunity of the witnesses being cross-examined. Mr. Bleakley : That is all the evidence I propose to offer to-day. The prisoners were then remanded till next Thursday.