The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-12-02 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE CHARGE AGAINST A COATIIAM DOCTOR.  Dr. Pilkington, of Newcomen-terrace, Coatham, was charged with unlawfully assaulting his wife on the 4th October. Mr Leonard appeared to prosecute, and Mr Scott-Fox defended.—Prisoner pleaded not guilty when charged, but Mr Leonard explained that his friend had consented to admit the charge of unlawful wounding, and on behalf of the prosecution he was willing to admit it, because it would still allow his lordship to administer adequate punishment.—His lordship agreed, arid directed the jury to find Pilkington guilty on the reduced charge.—Mr Scott Fox said the unfortunate prisoner had of his own free will agreed to plead guilty to having roused wounds to his wife. He felt that by his act a wound had been committed on his wife, and desired to spare her the further pain of giving evidence. He hoped his lordship after noticing all the circumstances in this charge of illegal wounding would deal leniently with prisoner, who had been at Stockton in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. On returning home he felt Sepressed, and determined to commit suicide, expect, leg that his wife would be atStockton with friends. Much m.happineas had existed in the married life of Dr. Pilkington and Mrs Pilkington. The former had some time ago concussion of the brain, and since then his mental balance was not so adequate as it bad once been. After getting the train at Middlesbrough his mind was a complete blank till ho found himself on the sofa with his throat cut. The gaol surgeon at Northallerton said prisoner never seemed to realise what he bed done, but he , had been- very quiet, and greatly improved in health there- Undoubtedly prisoner did make a ' serious attempt on his life. Under the circumstances he could not say what occurred from Piikinton's point of view, but his wifee evidence did not aggravate the cue. Herevidence left only a doubt as to whether they were justified in pleading guilty even to the minor charge. Mr 3 Pilkington said that her husband came round the table, put his hand on her right shoulder, and on a child shouting "mind the knife," she seized his hand and felt a ivessure, nothing else. , She held her grasp till she could get turned, and then ran away. To look upon this las accidental was the merciful view. When the doctor took the knife in his hand and touched his wife, he had no intention to wound her at all, but in seizing bold of his hand a wound of the slightest description was caused. A merciful jury might think there was a doubt in such a case. The fact that prisoner looked under the table before attempting his own life, and said, I "There's another of them," showed his mind was unhinged. Dr. Walker, Coatharn, was called, and said the wound on the collar-bone was very slight, only an inch and a.half long, penetrating the skin only. He stitched it. It was not a stab, as the muscular tissue was intact. But for the collar-booe no wound, in his opinion, would have been inflicted. There were two scratches on Mrs Pilkington's hands about an inch at the end of the finger. With force the finger-end would have been taken off. The other wound was half an inch lung. She was perfectly well .in four days. The wound on prisoner was of a very determined character, eel two inches deep. His Lordship: In the event of me sentencing him_ what will be the immediate future Mr Scott-Fox: Prisoner is an extremely clever surgeon, and all his money was settled on his wife many years ago. Lordship:llis Are his medical advisers content for him to return to his home and practice? You see my difficulty. Dr. Leonard: Mrs Pilkington does not wish to , live with him. She wants some Court protection, she goes so much interior of her life. This Court has power to grant it. His LOtd`,lllp I can only deal with the question [so far as it comes before me. . _  , Mr Scott-Fox (after speaking to prisoner): De' fendant does not wish to return to his home, and will keep away quite independently of an order. His Lordship: Does his wife ask for &separation order? Dr. Lennard : I ran call the wife. His Lordship: Perhaps that is hardly necessary. Dr. Lennard: They have lived very unhappily. What is the value of the undertaking of such a wan, who talks about "there's another r _ .  His Lordship said he was rather unwilling to deal with it unless he knew more of the 'matter:  An ad,ournment was then made for consultation. _  After lunch, Dr. Lennard stated of ter' eonf erring with Mrs Pilkington he would not ask for a sepftration order. Mr Scott-Fox desired to call his lordship's attention to the unfortunate position of Pilkington. lie was absolutely penniless. His Lordship pointed out that there was no medical evidence as to the insanity of Dr. Pilkington, and great responsibility rested upon Mr Scott. Fox's suggestion. Mr Scott-Fox drew attention to the letter from the surgeon of Northallerton Gaol. Prisoner was penniless, his money, house, and furniture having been transferred to the wife. It seemed a serious matter, but he trusted that the merciful view he had put forward might be taken. Prisoner denied most emphatically that he over intended to harm his wife, and asked his lordship to receive the suggestion that the wound was accidentaL  his lordship reserved sentence till Thursday, and said he appreciated Mr Scott-Fox'sremsrlm. At Thursday's sitting his lordship said he had not before him the causes of prisoner's unbalanced mind, but he could not help thinking it was to ho attributed to his own mode of life. Hu would sentence him to four months' imprisonment without hard labour.