1868 Court Case of Stabbing

From the Bucks Herald, 25th April 1868. Magistrates Chambers stabbing

(Aylesbury])"Magistrates' chambers - April 18th 1868.

Stabbing Case. John Williams was charged with having on the 29th day of March last, at the parish of Princes Risborough, unlawfully and maliciously wounding John Randall Janes.

Prosecutor deposed that he was in the company of the prisoner and five other men, about one o'clock on Sunday morning, the 29th of March, going from the Sprat public-house, Loosley-Row, to Lacey Green, when the prisoner stuck Newell, one of the men. He (the witness) then struck the prisoner, and knocked him down. Prisoner got up and struck at him, on the lower part of the stomach, and he found his trousers were cut. [They were later produced in court]. He also struck him on the neck with some instrument, and he fell on the ground. When he got up he saw the prisoner had a knife in his hand. When he struck the blow on the neck. the prisoner said "He's got it now, | have a handful of blood." He afterwards went home, and bled very much on the way, and kept bleeding until six o'clock the same morning. Mr. Warren, the doctor, was sent for about eight o'clock, and he arrived a little before twelve: ...

Elizabeth Janes, the mother of the prosecutor, deposed to her son coming home covered in blood, and very faint.

Daniel Lovett corroborated the evidence of the prosecutor, as to the fighting, and said he saw the prisoner shut up the knife, and he saw blood on Janes's neck.

Mr. T. A. Warren, Doctor.... deposed as to the state of the wound ... which he did not consider of a dangerous character, although the prosecutor was in a low state from loss of blood, and he was compelled to use stimulants to a large extent.

Police-constable John Nobes proved the apprehension of the prisoner in Fawley-wood, near Henley-on-Thames, where he was working. He told him the charge, and he replied "I did not do it."

For the defendant Reuben Lane was called, who having given evidence as to the prosecutor striking him, as well as the prisoner, said he did not see any knife used. Prisoner was committed for trail at the ensuing Mid-Summer Sessions.”

(I had noticed in earlier weeks that a stabbing case at Princes Risborough came up several times at the Magistrates’ Court in Aylesbury, but it was adjourned each time because the prosecutor had not yet recuperated sufficiently. Generally, very little other detail was mentioned apart from they were fighting in the streets and that the assailant wiped his knife before closing it. There may well be more details when the Quarter Session reports are printed in June.)

1868 Court Case of Stabbing
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