The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1890-08-08 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

ROMANTIC ENDING TO A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. _ _  William Stook (22), labourer, was indicted at the Old Bailey, London, on Tuesday, for attempting to murder Mary Ann Capper, and for attempting to commit suicide. Mr. Turrell prosecuted and Mr. Hut, on defended. The circumstances of this ease were ot the most painful character. The prisoner and (1,0 girl have been acquainted for the last seven or o ,;lit years, and some months ago, when she, her a brother, and her father were compelled to go into the workhouse on account of their destitute condition, the prisoner, who was earning only £1 per week and was allowing his mother 10s. of that sum, took them out of the union and supported them out of the remaining 10s. per week. They all lived together with his mother; but on the 21st of May the girl left tolgo to her married brother's. Prisoner met her, her sister and her brother in Green Lanes on the 23rd, and begged her to return, stating that be would put up the banns on the following day. She refused, stating that they had better took about for a little while. The prisoner upon that drew a razor from his pocket, and having cut the girl's throat out his own. Both were taken to the German Hospital.—The proseoutrix, in cross-examination, said that she was anxious to marry the prisoner, and would do so as soon as he was released. She was not in any way frightened of him. He had bees most kind to her and her family, and had entirely supported them.—The jury very strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy in finding him guilty of unlawfully wounding, and begged the judge to ask the Gloat Eastern Railway Company, ill whose service he had been for upwards of eight yews, having always borne the best possible character, to take him again into their service.— Mr. Juntioe Grantham said he hoped the company would do as the jury and Lateen earnestly desired. Such a case as this had very rarely been brought into court, and he had hardly ever heard of such deiotion as the prisoner had shown. It was his duly to keoj a =Aunt° upon Liidt for the offence he hail committed, but he should only sentence him to one week's imerisonment. As a result he would be at erne dischatged. He (the judge) was happy to say that his duty did not end there, because the le, liege of the aldermen and sheriffs present wore such that, believing the prosecutor would recompense him for his devotion to herself, they hid instructed him to say that there would be handed to her, partly provided by those sitting on the bench and partly from the Sheriff's fund, a sum of £lO, which would enable her to assiA in providing a home. The chaplain of the plisou had had aslind him to state that he should be glad if they would allow him to perform the marriage coi oniony, and he trusted that, reinstated in the railway cornpuuy's service, Stook might remain in it for many years to corns. The judge was much affected in sentencing the pi limner, arid at the conclusion of his remarks one of the jurors sent the prisoner half a sovereign, for which the prisoner warmly thanked him from the dock. The parties afterwards left the court toget!ier and retired to the Sheriff's room, where Mi. She ill Har.is handed the girl £lO, and the prelimivaries for the marriage were settled.