The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

1009.   HARRY BAKER (26) , Feloniously wounding   Mary Cowan, with intent to murder her.

MESSRS POLAND and CHARLES MATHEWS Prosecuted.

  MARY COWAN . I live at 73, New Kent Road—I have known the prisoner for the last six years—up to three years ago I lived with him at Manchester—I separated from him, and came to London, and have lived here ever since—I used to see him from time to time after we separated—on Saturday, 7th July, I was out with my sister, and met him at the Alfred's Head, London Road—we had some words; I threatened to hit

him—I said I would cut his face off with a glass—I left him there, and on Monday night, July 9th, about 8 o'clock, I saw him in the Prince of Wales, London Road—we had a quarrel—I had been living with somebody else—it was substantially my own fault—I went up to him, and called him foul names—he went out, and I followed him, and saw no more of him—about 12 30 the same night I saw him outside the Alfred's Head talking to a woman, and I went up and hit him on his face with my bag, and called him names—he hit at me two or three times in my back and chest—I did not see anything in his hand, but directly after wards I saw blood come from my chest—I walked a little way, and then fell—I don't remember anything more till I found myself in St. Thomas's Hospital—I was wearing this jacket and dolman (produced) at the time—there is a hole at the back of the shoulder and a cut in front, which were not there before he struck me—I was very bad for a time, but I feel all right now.

Cross-examined by the Prisoner. I followed you and waited for you, and called you foul names—you gave me no provocation—you were very good and kind to me while we were living together—I do not remember telling anybody that if I saw you with another woman I would so mark you that you would carry it to your grave—I do not want you to come back to me—I do not know why I annoyed you and abused you.

  ELIZABETH JONES . I am the wife of Joseph Jones, and a sister of the prosecutrix—on 9th July, about 12 o'clock, I was with her in the London Road in a public-house, and saw the prisoner; we drank together—my sister was very annoying to him, and called him foul names, and followed him about everywhere—I left them at the public-house, and went home—I next saw my sister at the hospital—she was very tantalising to the prisoner; it was really her own fault.

Cross-examined. I saw my sister on the Sunday—she said she was going to look out for you on Monday night—she said she would throw the first thing at you that she could get—I entreated her to leave you alone, but she would not—she has been living with different men—she has given way to drink, and has been very violent.

  KATE KNIGHT . I am single, and live at 130, Brick Lane, Lambeth—I was in St. George's Road on the morning of 10th July, I heard screams, and saw the prisoner and a man struggling together—I did not recognise the man—my sister, who was with me, said "What is the matter, my good woman?"—she said "Oh, I am stabbed, but I don't know where"

—the man said "There is a b——mare; she wants to say I stabbed her"—I saw no blow struck; the man walked away; the woman went staggering against the railings, bleeding considerably—the prisoner came up, and took her to the hospital in a cab.

  ANN RUSSELL . I am the wife of Charles Russell, of 39, Gurney Street—I was at my sister's, the last witness, on the night, and heard screams, and saw a man and woman tustling—the man was something like the prisoner—I saw no blow struck—she was smothered with blood—he walked up the street, and she followed him in a very excited condition—

he turned, and said "Now, you b——mare, I will do for you"—the woman then fainted, and he went away.

  GEORGE FLYNCH . I am a store-keeper, of Elliott's Row, St. George's Road—on Tuesday morning, 10th July, about 1 o'clock, I heard a woman screaming and a cry of "Murder"—I ran across and saw the prosecutrix

—she said "Stop him, he has tried to murder me," showing me her hands, which were covered with "blood—I went after the prisoner; he was about three yards in front of her, walking at a good pace—I said "Old chap, you have given her a doing"—he said "Yes, the b——cow, I think I have done for her this time"—I said "Do you know her?"—he said "Why, she is my wife; she started it first, she struck me in the face three times"—I said "Oh, that is different"—I went back to the woman, and he went away—he was very excited.

  LEONARD ARTHUR BEDWELL . I am a surgeon of 34, Lea Terrace, Blackheath—on the morning of 10th July I was house surgeon at St. Thomas' Hospital; the prosecutrix was brought there with a deep incised wound on the right side of the chest, penetrating into the cavity of the chest, between 3 and 4 inches long and 1 inch deep or more, and another wound in her back behind the right shoulder blade an inch and a half long and half or three-quarters of an inch deep; there was considerable bleeding from the wound in front, a large artery was divided—she was in very great danger for some time—she remained in the hospital till September 3rd and after having recovered to some extent was allowed to go—her life was in danger till July 22nd—the wounds were such as a knife might inflict.

  FRANCIS JONES (Policeman L 62) About 11.30 a.m. on July 11th I saw the prisoner in the London Road; I was in uniform and when he saw me he ran away; I ran after him, caught him and told him he would be charged with attempting to murder, he said that he had not attempted to murder anyone—when charged at the station he made no reply.

The prisoner in his defence stated that he had been subjected to great annoyance by the prosecutrix, whose habits were very intemperate, and that he pleaded guilty to assaulting her after great provocation.—

GUILTY of unlawfully wounding Recommended to mercy by the Jury.

He then PLEADED GUILTY** to a conviction at Chester in January, 1887— Twelve Months' Hard Labour.