The Potteries Examiner : — 1871-08-05 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

TRIAL FOR MURDER.  At the Midland eirenit, before M. Justioe Mellor, Matthew Cook was iediated for the wilful murder of lois wife, Sarah Cook, in the township of Clif ton, near York, on the sth of June. Mr. Simpson and Mr. Weddy appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Campbell Foster for the defence. The prisoner is • watehmaker in York. The family oonsisted of himself, his wife, two eons, and one child of 18 months. On the sth of Jane he went out for a walk wick his wife and child, at about eight &dock. As was nasal he took with him a pochet knife, with whiolo he worked at his trade- They were seen walking throueh the town to listbrroad, about a quarter of a mile from York, and there the prisoner killed his wife under the circumstances detailed below. The defence was that the prisoner was suffering from delirium tremens. •  The prisoner's son stated that his father was sober when he lett to take a walk with his wife, and they appeared to be on good terme When his father wais sober he wall always kind to hie wife. On the 12th of May his mother went to Shields to attend a funeral. On the 19th the prisoner was the woree for liquor, and had been drinking for come time. On the 24th the prisoner woke the witness in the night and cried out, "Someone is tapping at the window, and your mother is with them." The witness tried to calm hiss. In the morning the prisoner could remember nothing. The nett day he came and told Isle son that ha was ill and dying. That night he had a fit, from whirl he did not recover for threm quartere of ne hour. Ile then begsn shouting that a great crowd was outside, that some one was pointing • gun at him to shoqp him, and that his wife was with them telling them ado it. He cried out, "If you want my house and shop take it, but leave me alone." He said, " Your mother was at home last night." Witness said, Mow could she be here when she is at Shields I " He ssid, "I know better than you; I tell you she was here, and telling them to shoot me." The next day he was subj.t to the same illusions. Au aunt and Meter of the prisoner were confined as lunatics, and two second cousins had committed suicide.  David Baron saw the prisoner in the road kneeling upon the woman's breast. The child was screaming in the hedge. The woman's head was covered with blood. She faintly called " Murder " The prisoner had his hand upon her throat. He called out, '4. knife, a knife !" The tvitnese ran away to the neareet house and could find none but women there, and he then ran towards York and fond two policemen. In the meantime William Knowles, and others bad come up. The prisoner knew Knowles and said, "Well, Knowles she has been false." His face wae moored with blood. He then got up, walked across the road, and performed an operation of nature. Then he came back, eat by his wife's aide, and threw his arms and legs wildly about. He then threw dust at her, crying, "LU baptise you—l'll baptise yon." His wife was no covered with blood as not to be die, cernible. She was placed upon the footpath, and she then turned over on her face and died.  Another waness said the prisoner had one arm round his wife's waist, his head on her breast, and a knife in his right hand, stretched out upon the road. Another sew the prisoner striking himself, and said, " Cook, what are you doing? You've killed the woman, and now you are killing yourself." The prisoner called out, 4 Give me a bigger knife." He said, "Yes, Jack, is that thee? I'll out yours and all, if you are not off." Mr. Campbell Foster made a forcible address to the jury, and called witnesses to show that the prisoner had behaved in no excited manner at his work. He threw down a watch he was cleaning, and threw his stool across the shop, saying he would frighten the devils away. The next day he said, "My wife has come home and taken possession of the shop, and all the doge and sparrows are after me." This was on the 2nd and 3rd of June.  _ Dr. Ewer and his lawietant, Mr. Martin, were called, and atated that they had treated the prisoner for de!irimet tremens from the 24th of May till the 3rd of June. Oa the let of Jane he seemed better, bat maid he had been drinking again, and on the 3rd of Jane he wan not so well. They considered he wee not reeponeible for his acts, and that at any moment be might be neized by delusions. At half.paet eight on the night in question he called to !lee Mr. Martin, who was not at home. He was exalted and restless, and walked to and fro.  Dr. Render, the Catholic Viour-Geueral of the district of York, and priest of the congregation of which the prisoner was a member, said that on the day before the murder the prisoner came to him and raid he was anxious to make confession, ae be expeoted to be shot that night. The witi noes refused to confess him, as he thought him unfit for religious exercises, ea he appeared to be suffering from dslusione and was very excited. His Lordship summed up to the jury, and told them that if they thought the prieoner was suffering from delirium tremens, so as not to know that what be did was wrong, they would acquit him on the ground of ineanity. The jury found a verdiot of "Not guilty" on the ground of insanity; and His Lordship ordered the prisoner to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure.