The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1885-01-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THURSDAY. (Before Mr. Preston.)  A VIOLENT Wonax.—Ann Olphart, a young woman residing at Mill-street, Liverpool, was charged y warrant with using certain threats towards Edward Lorimer Marsden, 94, Whetstone-lane, and also towards Mrs. Marsden.— Mr. Moore appeared for the complainants, and said on Monday last the prisoner, who had been from time to time in prison, and had been liberated that morning, went to the house of Mr. Marsden. She rang the bell and also knocked at the door, which was opened by the servant. She pushed past the servant, and Mr. Marsden, being in the parlour, went to her and ordered her out of the house, when she said she would go and get drank and come back and murder her sister, Mrs. Marsden. She had also said to a man named Joseph Watson, in Liverpool, that she was to get drank, and intended to murder Mr. and Mrs. Marsden. She had been forty-eight times convicted in Liverpool. When she was apprehended she became very violent, and threw a paraffin lamp at Detective Wells, of Liverpool, and cut his head. It was a miraculous thing that the officer was not seriously injured, as the oil went over his clothess and only escaped being being set fire to by the lamp going out.—Mr. Marsden said that about half-past six on Monday evening, the prisoner went to his house in Whetstone-lane, and asked for money. He told her she would have to go out and he put her out. She said she would go and get whiskey and come back and "do " for him and his wife. He was in bodily fear of her. The prisoner: You must be a very weak-brained man to be afraid for a woman who would serve you rather than injure you.—Mrs. Marsden corroborated her husband's statement.—Joseph Wilson said the prisoner was at his house in Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon, and she repeatedly said sl,e would do something for Mr. and Mrs. Msrsden—that she would do some mischief one way or another, even although she got fifteen years for it.—P.C. 15 (Ceztmell) said he apprehended the prisoner on Tuesday afternoon, at six o'clock, in a house at 15, Mill-road, Liverpool. The prisoner was in company with three other women. The officer was accompanied bylDetective Wells, of Liverpool, and they produced a warrant for her apprehension. She became very violent, and threw a lamp, which was burning on the table, at the detective. The lamp went through his hat, and made a severe wound on his forehead. The prisoner had to be taken to the Landing-stage in a cab, and was very violent all the way to the bridewell. When charged with using violent threats to Mr. and Mrs. Marsden she made no reply.—The prisoner made a long, rambling statement, and said in August last she was in a convalescent asylum in London, where she was confined on account of having suffered from exposure in the streets and parks. A lady there paid her fare to Liverpool that she might join her friends.—Mr. Preston said he could not see there was any excuse for the prisoner. She seemed a violent, uncontrollable woman, and her whole behaviour proved that. The would have to find two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace for twelve months, or in default three calendar months' imprisonment.