Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 23 February 1924
Alleged Attempted Murder
Denaby Man Charged With Savage Attack On Wife
Sent For Trial
On Monday Doncaster West Riding Magistrates committed William Westwood, a miner, of Barmborough Street, Denaby, for trial at the Assizes, on a charge of attempted murder.
Supt. Minty said that about 9.30 on Saturday night the man’s wife and a lodger, William Foster, were sitting in the kitchen when Westwood reached home, under the influence of drink, very excited. He used very abusive language to his wife and then began to fry some bacon. He was using a table-knife when, suddenly, he rushed at his wife, cut her across the throat.
The lodger rushed at Westwood and got the knife from him. The police were immediately informed and the man was detained. In reply to the charge he said, “I am ashamed of myself.” When the lodger asked him what he had done, he replied: “I said I should do it at the finish; and I shall do her in.”
The man’s wife said that her husband had served about four years in the army in India. When he returned home on Saturday night she did not argue with him, though he was calling her names all the time. When he had cooked the bacon he put it on the table, he ate some of it, and threw the remainder on the table. He had often threatened her, but she did not hear him do so then. He drew the knife across her throat while she was sitting in a chair. When he noticed the blood flowing, he knelt on the floor and began crying: “Oh, Sally, I’ve done it,” and shed tears. Foster wrapped his muffler round her neck.
Her husband at week-ends was always drunk; he used to have nothing to say when he was sober, but he was very nasty when “in liquor.” When in that condition he had threatened to murder her. He had always put her down as “a bad woman.” She had always been afraid of him, and had had to get out of the way.
The husband: When I came home where were you?—The wife: I was next door.
Did I throw the knife at the dog?—No; you threw it at me.
Were you worse for beer?—No.
Hadn’t you been drinking with me all the afternoon?—No; you were “at me” all the afternoon and I had to get out of your way.
She denied further that she was drunk all the day.
William Foster, a miner, the lodger, said that the woman had had a “drop of beer” and was under the influence of drink, as also was her husband. When he had cut his wife’s throat and he (the witness) remarked: “My word, Will, you’ve done it!” He replied: “Have I? I intended to do it. I said I should do it and I’ve done it.”
“When he is in drink,” witness added, “he’s really mad and doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Most of the lodger’s evidence corroborated the woman’s.
Helen Billingham, wife of Alexander Billingham, a miner, of 28, Barmborough Street, Denaby, said that after the affair she heard the husband crying and exclaiming: “Oh, my Sal!”
Dr. Ford said that the wound was two inches long through the skin and beyond that it went further. It was about half an inch from the jugular vein.
Police-constable Bowden gave evidence of arrest.
The prisoner was allowed bail on his own surety of £20 and another for a similar amount.
Westwood was also charged with using obscene language and was fined 30s.