The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1835-08-25 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MURDER. James Beirotv, aged 40, a stout, thick-set man; whose outward appearance was that of a respectable mechanic, was indicted for the wilful murder of Priscilla Barlow, his wife, at Bury, on the 31st March last. The prisoner having been unwell in the prison, and apparently so while standing in the dock, was accommodated with a chair. He had a handkerchief bound tightly round his head. Nothing in his countenance indicated insanity er,a.fetocious diSposition. Mr. HULTON and Mr. BRANDT appeared for the prosecution, and Mr;Pser. attracted on behalf of the prisoner. Mr. BRANDT briefly stated the case. The first witness called was Nancy Ashworth, who deposed that the deceased, Priscilla Barlow,, had called upon her about' six months previous to the commission of the murder, and had taken lodgings from her. .She afterwards learned that the deceased had parted from her husband. •Remembered that on the 31st March, the prisoner had called upon his 'wife, when he asked her if he should take.a house; she replied " No!" He then placed upon her lap a paper, which contained a written statement of his earnings. This the deceased threw into the fire. Prisoner immediately seized her, and grasping her neck and legs, he dashed her to the ground. ;Witness ran out and called out murder ! When she returned, prisoner had hold of his wife by the hair of her head, which he grasped with one hand, whilee with a knife, like a butcher's killing knife, he inflicted a stab upon the left side of her neck. Deceased was bleeding very profusely. Witness exclaimed, "She is dying," to which prisoner replied, ." If she be not so, she shall he. ' Sarah Harwood deposed that her residence was close to that of the last witness, N mcy Ashworth. On the 31st March she heard screams issuing from the house, upon which she went id, to see what was the matter. When she got in she saw the de-. ceased lying on the floor nearly covered with blood., 'Prisoner stabbed deceased again in the neck in the presence of witness. She (witness) exclaimed, "Barlow! Barlow! you are killing. her." He replied that became with that intent. He then tank the krife and began to cut at the left side of her neck. (rhe witnesetere described the manner of this cutting, which gavethe impression of a person trying violently to cut off the head of another.). There were two other persons in the house, one of whom observed she was dying. Prisoner said if she were not dying, she should be presently. He then 'threw the knife throtigh the window, after which he sat down on a chair; when presently a man named Cook came in, and said to prisoner, " What have you been doing?" He made nn reply, and Cook ran ont and said he would fetch a doctor. -The prisoner then got uptlid made his escape, by running into tbe.garden, and. From thence over a meadow: Cross-examined by Mr. Peue.-7-I 'saw him throw away the knife, Mrs. Rebecca. Leech 'stated that she lived four debts from Nancy, Ashwerth. On the 31st March last' ebe-hesid-Isrienry Ashworth scream "Murder!" upon which she ran into' the house.. When she got in, the prisoner had his wife, Priscilla Barlow-' down on the floor, and was sticking a knife into the left side of her .neck. Witness went in and took hold of him, when his hat fell off, and he offered to strike her with the knife. She (witness) ran away, screamink.:" Murder !" Thomas Barlow deposed that he worked near the house of Nancy Ashworth. On the 31st March lest he heard an alarm, and saw the prisoner running across the garden. He got over into a meadow, which he crossed at a moderate pace, still running, From thence he got into a lane, when witness ran ih pursuit of him. Prisoner then turned back and advanced to meet him, and requested him to lead him to some place where he might wash his hands. He said he wished togn quietly and deliver himseff up to andpt Witness perceived that pri` sonee's hand was cut, asked him what he had been doing? Prisoner replied that be had done that which he wanted to do— which beiutended to do. He delivered the prisoner to a constable. Cross-examined by Mr.