The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1853-04-05 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

STABBING AT LIVERPOOL.  - Thomas Mulligan, a sailor, was charged with stabbing Sarah Ann Burke, in Liverpool, with intent to do her some grievous bodily harm.—Mr. Raffles stated the case for the prosecution, and called the following evidence : Sarah Ann Burke said she resided in Peter-street. On the 15th January, in the afternoon, Catherine Baxter was with her, and went across the street from her house for a pan of water. Witness had not been long up, and was not quite dressed. Catherine Baxter returned, and as Burke was looking out at the door, prisoner came up and stabbed her in the face. He then stabbed her in the arm, the thigh, and the back ; lie had a sheath knife in his hand. She then went over to the public-house and fell into Mr. Spencer's arms. Never saw the prisoner before. Prisoner said, in answer to a question from the Court, that he did not recollect any thing of the matter.—catherine Baxter said she saw the prisoner in the snug at Spencer's public-house ; prisoner said, " I've lost ten shillings; thank God I've not lost all." Some further conversation took place between the prisoner and a woman with whom he was in company. Ile pulled up his Guernsey frock, and feeling of his belt said, " Oh, good God, all's gone. He then said he would kill all the girls in Peter-street by ten o'clock that night. He took his knife out of the sheath and went into the back yard, where she heard him sharpening his knife. She then went to Sarah Burke's house, when the latter went to the door, and was stabbed as described. Witness ran to a neighbour's house to call for help, and prisoner went into the house; she soon afterwards saw that he had turned all the furniture into the street. He appeared very drunk.—William Henry Spencer, licensed victualler, Peter-street, said the prisoner was at his house about eight o'clock in the morning with two women and a coachman ; one woman was named Hardigan ; they had a glass of whiskey each, and prisoner was three parts drunk. They soon went away, and prisoner came again in the afternoon with Mrs. Hardigan. Prisoner was looking about his clothes ; and soon after he went into the yard, where he sharpened his knife, threatening to kill every one in the street. Sarah Burke soon afterwards came wounded, as already stated, and Mr. Spencer took her to a neighbour's house, from whence she was taken to her own house. Prisoner was taken into custody. Francis Ayrton, surgeon at the Northern Hospital, described the wounds on the body of Sarah Ann Burke. One was above the left temple, three or four inches in length ; another on the face from the left eyebrow to the lower lip; another on' the right fore arm, and a stab in the right thigh ; another wound penetrated the ribs, into the chest, and was very dangerous. She was in extreme danger for three weeks, and confined to her bed more than a month. He attended her as an out-patient of the hospital. Police-officer Cousins took the prisoner into custody, and produced the knife, which he was brandishing at the time. He appeared much excited, as if he had been drunk and was recovering, but quite conscious of what be was about. He said he came ashore that morning, and went to Mrs. Hardigan's, in Peter-street, where he got drunk and lost his money, seven sovereigns, four dollars, four half-crowns, and other coins. He blamed nobody but Mrs. Hardigan for it all. The learned Judge summed up, observing that voluntary drunkenness was no excuse for crime. If the jury thought the prisoner intended to commit murder, they must return a verdict to that effect ; if not, they would consider whether he intended to do some grievous bodily harm.—The jury immediately found the prisoner guilty of wounding with intent to murder.—Judgment of dcath was IL...curried against him, and the Judge told the prisoner that his life would be spared, but it would be on the terms of the heaviest secondary punishment which could be inflicted. The court adjourned at a quarter to six o'clock. The greatest order prevailed in court throughout these important trials, which reflected great credit upon Inspector Hime and the officers in attendance.