The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

292.   DAVID DOYLE (31) , Feloniously cutting and wounding   Harriet Herring, with intent to do her some grievous bodily harm.

MR. DALY conducted the Prosecution, and MR. HOUSTON the Defence. HARRIET HERRING. I am the wife of William Herring, a drug-grinder—we live on the second floor of 31, Fleet-lane—on Sunday evening, 14th January, I was on the third floor, and heard some screams proceeding from Mrs. Pepler's room—I went down, and saw the prisoner there, and Mrs. Pepler, who said that he had been going to strike her—the prisoner then made a rush towards her—I stepped between them and said, "Don't strike her," upon which he put his fist up to me, and said, "They are all b—s to me in this house, but you are the worst," and then struck me in the chest with a knife—I did not know that he had a knife, till I felt myself being cut, and then I cried out, "Good God! Almighty! he's killed me," and Mrs. Pepler said, "No, child!"—I felt my body was being cut through, and then I became insensible—I had been drinking a little, but knew what I was about, for I ran down stairs to protect Mrs. Pepler, as I thought her husband was beating her—I was taken to the hospital, and remained there about three weeks—the wound is still in my breast—I am now an out-patient.

Cross-examined. Q. At what time was this? A. About a quarter past 9 on the Sunday evening—when I went into the room, I found Mr. Doyle standing there, and Mrs. Pepler near the fire-place—the two children were in the room—Mrs. Doyle followed me down-stairs, and came in just after me—I do not think she was in the room when I was stabbed, for I was a flight of stairs before her—the prisoner had his hand ready to strike Mrs. Pepler—I stepped between them, and laid my right hand on his left arm, and, in a persuasive sort of tone, said, "Mr. Doyle, don't strike her"—I was not drunk—I had had two or three glasses—I do not know whether the prisoner had any bad intention towards Mrs. Pepler—I did not see the knife—I heard the children screaming, and I went down to see what it was.

  JOSEPH PEPLER . I live in the same house as the last witness with my parents—I remember coming home from church on this Sunday night—the prisoner was in our room—Mrs. Herring came in with Mrs. Doyle, and Mr. Doyle picked up a chair and swore—I saw him strike Mrs. Herring some where in the breast, but I never saw any knife or anything in his hand—I can hardly remember what happened after that.

Cross-examined. Q. I believe you went to fetch a cab to take her to the

hospital. A. Yes, it was about half-past 9 o'clock—altogether there were in the room me, my mother, my sister, and Mr. Doyle—Mrs. Doyle was also there, by the side of Mrs. Herring—I did not see the prisoner do anything to Mrs Doyle—I do not think she was doing anything; Oh yes, she took up a chair, and swore at Mr. Doyle—my mother was standing by, doing nothing.

COURT. Q. I suppose you had just come from St. Sepulchre's, and you came straight from Church to hear the swearing? A. Yes.

  WILLIAM HERRING . I am the prosecutrix's husband—I was not in the room when she was stabbed—Mrs. Roberts called me down, and said my wife was stabbed—I went down, and found it was true—she was sitting on a chair, and the prisoner was standing against the fire-place—I said, "Doyle, you've stabbed my wife"—he says, "Have I?"—"Yes," says I, "you have"—I asked him where the knife was—he said that he had not got one—we found the knife on the table—he was then taken into custody.

Cross-examined. Q. Where were you when your wife was stabbed? A. Up stairs in my own room—I believe all the parties were a little the worse for drink—there have not been frequent quarrels in the house lately—Mr. and Mrs. Doyle have quarrelled sometimes—I don't know whether Mrs. Doyle was a quiet tempered woman or not—I have never spoken to her three times hardly, since I have been in the place—The prisoner was drunk—I had had nothing to drink after one o'clock.

  ALFRED PARKER (City-policeman, 248). I was called into the house in question, on 14th January, and saw Herring sitting on a chair, and the women Staunching the blood which was flowing from her chest—I asked who had stabbed her, and they told me it was the prisoner—the knife was found on the table by Emma Waters—there is a stain of blood on it now (produced).

Cross-examined. Q. Was the prisoner drunk? A. Very drunk indeed—when I asked him what he had done it with, he made no reply.

  GEORGE HUNT ORTOH . I am house-surgeon at St. Bartholomew's hospital—between 9 and 10 o'clock, on the Sunday evening Mrs. Herring was brought in, I examined her chest, and found a long wound in the ribs; such as I should think would be produced by a violent blow from such a knife as the one now shown to me—it was a very dangerous wound—she remained in the hospital for three weeks.

The Prisoner's statement before the Magistrate. I wish to state that I know no more about it than a child unborn; the first intimation I received of it, was Mrs. Herring's accusation; that is all I have got to say, except that I was almost insensibly intoxicated.

Guilty of Unlawfully Wounding. — Confined Twelve Calendar Months .