Volume V
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1810, for the Murder of his Wife, found guilty of Manslaughter, and fined the wilful murder of Ann, his wife, by severing her windpipe with a razor, on the 4th of September, 1810. The prisoner was a journeyman blacksmith, and resided in Onslow Street, Saffron Hill. The deceased was a woman of vicious habits, such as infidelity, drunkenness, etc. She had been from home a day and a night previous to the 4th, and the prisoner, accompanied by his brother and sister, met her in Bartholomew Fair on the evening of that day; and after treating her with gin, at her request, they all returned to the prisoner's lodgings, which they entered without a light. A few minutes after the prisoner's sister called out: " Murder ! " On some of the neighbours going into the room, they found the deceased with her throat cut ; and by signs she made to their interrogatories it was understood that her husband had murdered her. The prisoner was found near the house, and on being questioned about the murder he did not deny it, but added that he hoped she was dead, as he did not mind being hanged for her, and that he should die happy. He contended that she had brought men under his nose, and supplanted him in his bed, and threatened that her lovers should chastise him. He was discharged on paying a small fine to the King. |