The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1873-04-05 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

CHESTER ASSIZES.  Before Mr. Justice Lush, on Wednesday, James Cadman, farmer, Great Warford, was prosecuted by the Lunacy Commissioner 9 for having unlawfully taken charge of a female lunatic: Two weights and a large piece of wood, weighing altogether about 401b5., had been fastened to the woman's waist, to prevent her from wandering about. Dr. Vaux said the lunatics mind was sound, though very feeble, but she was liable to wander and get lost. The prisoner pleaded guilty, stating that he was not aware of transgressing the law. His Lordship strongly condemned the course pursued towards the woman, and expressed his surprise at the ignorance displayed of the law passed for the protection of persons of unsound mind. He sentenced Cadman to one months' imprisonment —Edward Bradley was indicted for the manslaughter of his brother, James, at Staleybridge, on January 3rd. There had been a slight quarrel between the brothers, and, while in liquor, the deceasad, holding a jug close to the prisoner's face, threatened to hit him with it. To defend himself, the prisoner took up a poker, with which he inflicted the wound causing:the deceased's death. The judge directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, on the ground of justifiable homicide, and he was discharged. —Ann Sylvester was charged with attempting to murder Thomas Bootle, at Hyde, on the Bth of February. The parties, who lived together, had been drinking on the day of the occurrence, and shortly after arriving at home, Booth desired to go and have some beer, but the prisoner would not allow him to go outside. A straggle ensued, in which the woman struck Booth on the face and temple with some sharp instrument lie got as far as the yard door, and on trying to open it, the woman brought something sharp across his throat,which began to bleed copiously. The wound in his throat was three inches long, and three-quarters of an inch deep, and, had it been much deeper, a fatal result would inevitably have ensued. The prisoner, in defence, said she had used the knife in her own protection, and without any murderous intention. The jury found her "guilty of unlawfully wounding," recommending her to the mercy of the court, and she was sentenced to one months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Edwin Eastwood, aged 22, druggist, Dukinfield, was indicted for having administered noxious drugs to one Ann Jones. From the evidence for the prosecution, it appeared that Ann Johes was, at the beginning of last year, in service at Dukinfield, and while there became pregnant to the prisoner. Latterly she went to live with a relative at Maple, and while there the prisoner gave her some drugs, of which she partook, the result being that she beeame unwell, and soon thereafter died. For the defence, it was pleaded that there was no proof that the prisoner administered the drugs, or that the woman took any of the mixture. After a brief consultation, the jury found the prisoner guilty. In passing sentence of ten year's penal servitude, the judge said he thought the prisoner had been very properly found guilty of the crime laid to his charge. His Lordship was doubtful whether he was not morally responsible for the woman's death.