The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-06-27 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SOLDIER CHARGED  ATTEMPTED MURDER.  COMMITTAL TO THE ASSIZES.  At the Borough Bolicw-court, on Thursday, before Aldermen Singleton and Getley, John Critchlow, a respectably-dressed man of middle age, w 413 charged with having attempted to murder Annie Topping. on Whit Monday, the let of June; also with having feloniously wounded her, and also with has attempted to commit suicide by, enfting his throat with a razor. Annie Topping, who now resides at 32, Gladstone-street, said she was a married woman. Prisoner, -who was a single man, had been lodging with her at 12, Nelsonstreet eines August last. On Whit Monday in the afternoon the prisoner came into the kitchen where poosecutrix was preparing meals for the day. He made improper advances to prosecutrix, and as she repulsed him he pushed liar against the wall, and held her there with his knee. She managed to get away, and rushed into the lobisy to put on her cape to go out. Ile followed her into the passage, and struck her several times with a hard instrument, which re sembled a poker. Witness called out "Murder!" and prisoner said to her, " Yee, it's murder!" Witness ran into the back parlour, where the prisoner followed her. Here she became insensible, but before she lost consciousness she heard the prisoner mutter, I've done it now." About half an hour later witness was roused by hearing a knocking at the front door. She went to the door, and opened it to her brother. She then discovered that eke was bleeding from several wounds on the head. As she admitted her brother they heard a moaning, as of someone choking. Her blather went upstairs to one of the rooms, and called out to prosecutrix that Critchlow had cut his throat. The police were informed, snd the ambulai,ce summoned, in which witness and the prisoner were both conveyed to the hospital. Proeecutrix had been an inmate of the hospital for several days. So far as she knew, the prisoner was sober on Whit Monday. Harry Gibbous, a Great Western railway porter, brother of the prosecutrix, with whom he lodged, said he occupied the same rooms as the prisoner when the family lived in Nelson-street. On Whit Monday witness left the house after dinner, at which time the prisoner appeared to be perfectly sober. He returned about a quarter past three,and was kept knocking et the front door for a considerable time before getting any response. When his sister opened the door he noticed that she was bleeding from the head. Witness heard a choking noise upstairs, and on making examination he found the prisoner lying on his back on the bed, bleeding from the throat. He immediately called in a policeman, and the two wounded people were removed to the hospital in the ambulance. Arthur Edward Topping, husband of the prosecutrix, said that when he entered the house he found the place in a state of great disorder. Bloodstains were all over the walla, and the place "looked like a slaughter house." In prisoner's bedroom there were large pools of blood, on the bed and on the floor. Prisoner had been a quiet man. Ile was a plumber by trade, but had been working at Laird's as a labourer. Prisoner had had a drink of whisky before breakfast, a spirit to which he was not accustomed. Witness, however, saw him at midday, and he then appeared to be perfectly sober.  Police-constable 33A. (Carina) spoke to having been summoned to the house 12, Nelsonstreet, where he found the prisoner lying OD a bed. His throat was cut, the wound— which was deep, being about four inches long, and in his right hand he held a razor. , Although he was conscious, he did not say I anything. The ambulance was summoned I immediately. Prisoner had remained at ' the Borough Hospital until that day. Witness accompanied the ambulance to the hospital. He could detect the smell of drink on the prisoner, who appeared to be very excited, and had a wild appearance. Dr. Palmer, senior house surgeon, deposed to having attended to the prisoner and the prosecutrix at the Borough Hospital. There were several wounds on Mrs. Topping's ' head, the most serious being a wound at the hack of the head, three inches in length, exposing the bone. There was another deep wound on the forehead, which although now healed would leave a permanent disfigurement. The woman was also badly bruised about the body. Prisoner's condition was very serious. The wound to the throat was about six inches in length, and had cut through the larynx. Witness had never seen such a sight in his life. The man's bead was practically out off, and it was marvellous that he had recovered. About sixty stitches had been put in, and the operation of tracheotomy was performed.. Prisoner appeared to be in a state of wild excitement. Since then prisoner had always said that he had no recollection of Whit ,Monday's occurrences. Prisoner now stated that he had been drinking whisky and beer/cm the morning .of Whit Monday, and had no recollection of .the happenings of the afternoon. lie had been out in fiouth Africa, nod since hia return he was easily upset by drink. The magistrates committed the prisoner to the next Annie* at Chester, on two charges of attempting to murder and attempting to commit-suicide.  erfomod.  Don't noglect that cough. v.. " Lino Xll7oo.'t TN.. Vie, and 91,.410, krialoatramt. oollot