Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1877-03-09 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

FATHER AND DAUGHTER.  At the Manchester Assizes on Tuesday, before Mr. Justice nudity, Michael Henry Kelly. 53, was charged with having at Manchester, on the 4th February, inflicted grevioua bodily harm upon his daughter, Charlotte Kelly, with intent to murder her. Shme little time ago the prisoner brought hie family from Ireland to Manchester in the hope of settling down in that city. He was, however, unfortunate enough not to find work, and at the time of the occurrence in question he had obtained an order of admission to the Workhouse with the view of being sent back to Ireland. His daughter, the prosecutrix, who is 18 years of age, had obtained employment in a warehouse In the city, and from the evidence it appeared she had a strong objection to going back to Ireland. On the 4th February the prisoner had not entered the workhouse, but was living at a house in Jepson's Court, Leigh-street. His daughter had left him in coneequence of his threats, and had slept for a night at the house of a neighbour. The prisoner had sought on several occasions to induce the prosecutrix to return to him and to his family, but she had resolutely refused to do so, and, being incensed by her repeated refusals, he took the opportunity on Sunday evening the 4th February, wheu_she was near to him, to seize her and to cut her throat with a razor. Fortunately the wound was not a very deep one, and no serious injury resulted. When taken into custody the prisoner said that he meant to cut his daughter's throat, and "to sever her head from her body. He was sorry he had not done so." The prisoner spoke at length in his defence. He said he did not deny that he committed the crime with which he was charged, but he was in such grief at the time as to be insensible to the nature of the act. Since her mother's death at Chri4trnas, 1875, the prosecutrix had been to him a source of great annoyance and disgrace. Her ill.conduct led him to give up a salary of .£l5O a year, and to break up what might otherwise have been a happy home in Dublin, and to come over to this country; but her conduct was no better here, and at the time of this occurrence he had resolved to return to Dublin with the object of placing his daughter in a penitentiary. To do this he sought the assistance of the Board of Gsturdians, but prosecutrix left Writ, and took up her residence at the lowest kind of low houses in that city. His destitute condition and the Milduct of his daughter reduced him to such a grief that he lost all control of mind, and thus committed the act with which he Bad been charged. It was ae pure a case of temporary insanity as ever came before that court, for he.knew not.hlirg of the act he had committed until four or five days afterwards. He implored the jury not to make his children fatherless as well as motherless by their verdict, and trebear in mind that if he was convicted he would be doubly punished, inasmuch that the perudon he was in receipt of for 22 years' active service in the Royal Irish Constabulary would be taken from him. As a testimony to his character, he produced to the jury a badge personally conferred upon ,him by the Duke of Abercorn for valour during the Fenian rising, adding that he was credited with having greatly distinguished himself during those troublous times. .  —The jug, after being absent from court for some time, found prisoner guilty of woundifig with intent to murder, but strongly recommended him to mercy on account of the great provocation he received. The Judge, in passing sentence, said he would take care that the recommendation of the jury was sent to the proper quarter, but his duty was plain and clear, and he ought not to flinch from it The prisoner would be sentenced te penal servitude for the term of his natural life.