The Sun. — 1854-01-12 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  BOW-STREET. STABBING. William, Entwisle Willis, a law-writer, 61 years of. age, was brought up in custody, from King's College Hospital, charged, with stabbing his' wife in the•throat, and subsequently attempting to commit suicide, on. Christmas-day last. Mary Willis, the prosecutrix, of 5, Lee's-buildings, Chancery-lane, stated that she had been married to the prisoner about 22 years, and within twelve months after her marriage he was committed for seven days from the Hatton-garden Police Court for assaulting her with a poker. They had lived together very happily ever since, and .had had six- children. For the last three or four years they had slept in separate beds, and for more than eleven months past he had not contributed a penny towards her support. She had worked for her own living, and had paid the rent of their lodgings herself. On Christmas eve she went to bed shortly after 12, and about ti•o• hours afterwards was aroused from her sleep by her husband, who came into the room without a light, and got into her, bed. He said, " Poll. I am come to you, for lam so cold." She replied merely, "Then why come to me if you are bold ?" 'ln the next moment she received a Violent stab froni ii.sha.ip.-pOinted knife, which severed herja, 7.* and entered her throat, and in raising her baud to resist him she received a Cut 'upon her fingers. She then called as loudly asilie-Was able to a Mr. Hyatt, who lived at the bottom of the bonse, exclaiming " My husband has-stabbed me." Hyatt and his son Caine to her assistance, the prisoner,, in the meantime, having gone back to his own, room. A surgeon was sent for, and her wounds were dressed under his direction. The next morning her daughter found the carving-knife produced in her (witness's) bed, stained with bloqd. Hyatt deposed that, on being called up,, he went to Mrs. Willis's room and found her bed-linen saturated, with bleed, there being also a large pool of blood upon •thelloor. He sent his son for a constable and then entered the oilier room; where he found the prisoner lying on the bed, wrapped up in some of the bed-cloth9s, and also bleeding considerably from some wounds in his , threaL. Witness spoke to him, and the prisoner said, she is not dead my hand must have been nervous." Witness added that the prisoner and his family had been living in the house..with him about 5 years, and they were often quarrelling, chiefly in .consequence of the drunken habits of the '' • •  Mr. Henry—lS the prOseolitrix a well-conducted person ?  Witness said he never knew anything to the contrary of her. She appeared a hard-working woman, although occasionally indulging in a glass. The prisoner—Have you never seen her lifted upstairs, in a state of drunkenness, by her own children ? Witness—Never ; but I have often seen you in that predicament. The prisoner here accused his wife of infidelity, but she avowed her innocence of the charge, and Hyatt stated that he had seen nothing improper in her behaviour while in his house.  Mr. Jones, a surgeon, who was sent for to attend Mrs. Willis in the night, described the wound in her throat as a. very dangerous one, being close to the artery. If it had been a little deeper it must have been fatal. Mr. Taylor the house surgeon of King's College Hospital, deposed' to having attended the prisoner while in the hospital. Be had several skin wounds in the throat, inflicted by a razor, apparently, but none of them of a dangerous character. The prisoner said he should reserve his defence for the trial. In the meantime, having had nothing better than rice-water for eleven day; he implored the permission of the magistrate to have a glass of beer. He felt that he should die of exhaustion if it was withheld from him any longer. Mr. Henry said the medical men had no doubt wisely directed that he should be kept without beer, and the order must be adhered to. Tile prisoner was then committed for trial. from M M r. HialssWorrell,fl has receor the poor- box the sec half of a 201. note