Glasgow Courier. — 1858-04-29 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER. Wm. Leckie was accused of having, on Wednesday the 11th of November last, while at the head of an outside stair leading to the house situated in Common Loan, High Street, Dumbarton, occupied by him, attacked and assaulted the now deceased Ann Shanks or Leckie, his wife, and with his fists struck her one or more blows on her face and head, and pushed her down to the bottom of the stair, a height of 15 feet, whereby the right temple of her head was fractured, by all which the said Ann Shanks or Leckie was mortally injured by him, and lingered and died on the 16th of November, 1857, and was thus murdered by the said William Leckie. The prisoner was alto accused of the alteroative of assault, aggravated by previous conviction. Panel, who was defended by Messrs Moncrieff and Paterson, pleaded not guilty. Mr Steele, Sheriff-Substitute of Dumbarton, proved the declaration of the prisoner. [Previous to the Sheriff being examined, Lord Ivory remarked to Min that he was aware that nine o'clock was the special hour net apart for this very important trial. He asked permission to appear later, and was told that he could net be encased; but notwithstanding be had absented himself. From a person in his position a better action might have been expected. He (Lord Ivory) must fine him in the sum of five guineas for his non-attendance.—Sheriff Steele said he had no assistance, and that day had been set down as a jury court day. He had waited on the Sheriff-Clerk of the county, and took the earliest conveyance back after arranging for the adjournment of the Court. He trusted hie Lordship would consider him the very last person to throw any disrespect on the Court—Lord Ivory said his conduct as a Sheriff had al ways been most exemplary. The circumstances he mentioned on far extenuated his case; he was not aware of them, and would withdraw the fine. But on any future occasion he must find an extra means of conveyance. He was not the only witness absent] James M'Nought, Sheriff-Clerk Depute of Dumbartonshire, on being called as a witness, failed to appear, and his Lordship fined him in the sum of three guineas. Alex. M'Lean, cabinetmaker in Dumbarton, of the firm of M'Lean & Loban—Our firm recently built a tenement of houses entering from the Common Loan. There are two flats—a ground flat and second story. There is a passage from the Common Loan leading to the foot of the stair, about 22 or 23 feet in length. The prisoner lived in a house on the second flat. He lodged with me previously, and when he took the house at Whitsunday last, his wife went to reside with him. I saw the prisoner on the 11th November, about half-past nine o'clock. I met hint at the corner of the Common Loan. I stood and spoke to him, and he asked me if I was going to stand anything. I saw he had been tasting. My partner and I went to Mrs Smith's public house, and I ordered two glasses of whisky. He said he was not drinking whisky, and I got a glass of ale; but 1 think he only tasted it. We left after ten, and parted with him about half-past ten. Next morning he came and told me that his wife had fallen down the stair the night before. I now him occasionally afterwards, and he stated that his wife was very poorly, and that the doctor was attending her. By Mr