The Haslingden Gazette. — 1908-05-16 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

ALLEGED BRUTAL ASSAULT I TERRIBLE STRUGGLE IN A STABLE. WOMAN'S DEPOSITIONS TAKEN.  A WEEK'S REMAND.  There was a crowded court at Accrington on Monday, when Thomas Bamber, a native of &m-enden, and is carter by trade, wm charged with unlawfully wounding Alice Brock,wife of a man with whom she lodged at the "Model.- Prisoner alm lived at the •• Model." .  From the observations made by the Chief Con. stable (Mr. Geo. Sinclair), and what the injured woman herself said, it appears that about ten o'clock on Friday night she met the prisoner outside the "Model.- She had known hint previously, and he took her for a walk up Milnshawlane. In the cows:, of the walk he gave her sixpence, and afterwards attempted to take liberties with her. Sho refused to allow him to do no. According to her story, he subsequently decoyed her into a stable in course of erection behind the Volunteer Drill Hall. When he got her there he demanded a return of the sixpence, and put her shawl over her mouth. She lx-gan to shout, and he struck her a severe blow on the face with, she thinks, his fist. After that he hit her again several times on the face, and knocked her down. While lying ou the floor sho cried, '' Don't murder me, anti I will give you the sixpence back, if that is what you want. I have done you no wrong." Ile thereupon said, "If you don't tell anybody I will leave you.' • She must then, she said, have lust oonsciousness, as she remembered nothing of what happened afterwards until she heard the market clock strike four on Saturday morning. She was then still lying on the stable floor, aimost naked, her clothes -having been taken off her. Even her clogs had disappeared. She tried to get up from the floor, but was at first unable to du so owing to weakness. Later she succeeded in getting to a sitting posture. Iler skirt had been torn in two pieces. She at last was able to get up, and wrapped the pieces of the skirt round her. Then with bare feet she made her way with difficulty and in suffering to the "Model," where she sass her husband. She was bleeding from. lacerated wound extending from the top of the head to the lower part of the forehead, and leaving the skull bare Der face, besides, was beaten almost to a pulp. Dr. Coddle was called in and stitched the wound, and otherwise attended to Mrs. Brook's  injuries. At first it was thought she would die. and her depositions were taken beforo Alderman Lee. This prisoner was then present, and Mrs. Brock said ho was the man who had assaulted her. She was subsequently removed to Ilaslingden Union workhouse infirmary in the ambulance  Sergeant Bale gave evidence that he apprehended Baniber on *turday. Witness was present when Mr, [trucks depositions were taken. She identified the prisoner cc the man who had inflicted the injuries. Her head ss-as laid right open from the top of the nose to the back of the head. There was a big cut under her eye, and many isise, Prisoner: What did she say when you asked her  if I was the 1111112 Witness: She said "Yes. Prisoner: She did not. She...said I think to. I said "Don't think, be sure, and then you stopped me from talking. The Clerk.: The woman says it was you. Prisoner: Not at first. . . . •.•  The Clerk: It is doen here in the depositions. Prisoner:. What limo does she say it waa ?  ihr-6;;k:'About 10 o'clock. Prisoner: Well, I can prove where I was from 7 o'clock un to ten minutes to 11. On the application of the Chief prisoner was remanded in custody for • week.