Widnes Examiner. — 1896-09-12 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

WARRINGTON.  A WOMAN SHOCKINGLY MALTREATED.  HER LUSBAND COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. STARTLING DISCLOSURES.  Since Tuesday morning the town—a end more particularly:that part cf it known as Town's End—has been in a state of excitemest in consequence of a married woman named Margaret tate, wife of James Bate, living at 11, Oliv4r-street, beim; found dead in her bedroom with bruises about her face and body, and the disclosures which tuve since teen made resulting in the commitment of bir husbacd to the Liverpool Assizes on a charge of wiFul murder. It appears that both husband and wife who hee abotr. 52 'years of age, have been addicted to drink, 41,1 it is stated that they have not lived very happily together. On Monday night the deceased woman was drinking in a neighbour's house and this seems to have exasperated her husband who found no tea provided for him us returning home from work. Be went in search of her ant tried to induce her to come home, but in vain. He appe•rs to have now proceeded to some public-house, and did not return home until about eleven o'clock when he we seen to be intoxicated. His wife had returned home in a smilar condition about an hour previously and proceeded ipstairs in company with the children to the bedroom a- the back. What happened when the husband got uptairs—if his little daughter's version of the affair is correct—is a sad story to relate, and the brutality used appears more like the actions of a madman. It is not necessary hire to repeat the child's evidence ; it will be found in fuli in the report of the Coroner's inquiry. She is a bright intelligent girl and made her statement in a clear and unmpitakeable manner. She was an eye-witness of what took plac, and was the first to go to the bedroom next morning where her mother had lain alone since the tragedy of the previous night. There is something very pathetic in the remark which she states she made to her father on running back to her room, " Mamma is very white." On finding that she was dead. Bate, his daughter save, sent for a bowl of water and a flannel, and washed the blood from his dead wife's face and also from the floor. The girl is very explicit in her statement as to her father suggesting to her that she should say her mother had sustained her injuries by falling downstairs. There seems little doubt that she did tell people such was the ease but she now maintains that it was untrue. Drs. Starkey Smith and Bowden who have made a postmortem examination attribute death to an infusion of blood on the brain caused by direct violence. The prisoner,who heard the evidence at the inquest,told several of the witnesses that they were telling lies. He seemed to be suffering acutely, and twice burst into tears. On hearing the verdict he completely broke down. He is a dark complexioned young man about 31 years of ago and of low stature. He has been employed at Messrs.H. D. Pochin and Co.'s Chemical Works, Bank Quay, whose works, it may be stated, are on the site vacated by Messrs. Lever Bros., the soap manufacturers. His mother who was in court during the inquest,interrupted the proceedings several times, and when the verdict of the jury was given she created a scene and was removed from the court. Within the precincts of the court a large crowd had assembled and waited!about during the three hours sitting of the jury,discussing the event. The result was known about twenty minutes to ten, and created a sensation',great excitement prevailing. It was sore time before the streets presented their usual appearance again.