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From the records of the Old Bailey.
GEORGE LECHMERE. Breaking Peace: wounding. 28th July 1890
616. GEORGE LECHMERE (39) , Wounding Emma Lechmere, with intent to murder her. Second Count, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm.
MR. HUTTON Prosecuted.
EMMA LECHMERE . I am the prisoner's wife—from October last I have been living apart from him, at 6, Croydon Street, Marylebone—on 25th June, at a quarter to five, he called—my son was present at our conversation, and I had my infant on my lap—I was having a few words with my husband about his not getting work and supporting the children—he said nothing to me—we have had eight children, four are living—the prisoner is a hair-dresser, but he does not do much; usually one and a half days a week; Saturday and Sunday—it does not keep us all—I do needlework—after, the few words we had he put on his hat and coat and came across to me, and held my chin, and began cutting at my throat with a table knife—I could not say whether it had been on the table—my baby was in my arms—the prisoner cut my throat several times; he said, "You started this, and I will finish it"—my baby dropped, my husband left off, and I rushed out of the room to. the front door, and then I thought of my baby, and went back and picked it up, and made my escape from the front door—the prisoner said nothing when I went back—I told a constable—the prisoner had before said he would settle me—I have gone in fear of my life for a very long time—since October he has been to see me about once in six weeks, and then he has been very disagreeable and quarrelsome; he did not use threats then; he did so when we were living together—I don't know how he gains a living now.
FRANCIS CHARLES MATHEW . I am house surgeon at St. Mary's Hospital—on 25th June the prosecutrix was brought to me; she had a cuff across the throat some three inches long, just nicking the cartilage of the air passage; it was not very deep—I don't think it was a dangerous wound—it could have been caused by this table-knife, on which there are marks that might be blood—there was a slight cut on her left cheek—she is entirely out of danger now.
JAMES ELLIS (Policeman D 211). At a quarter to five p.m. on 25th June I saw the prosecutrix in the passage of her house, leading to the front kitchen downstairs; she was bleeding from a wound in her throat—from what she told me I went into the house and saw the prisoner in the front kitchen—I asked the prosecutrix, "Who did that?"—the prisoner could hear it—she pointed to him and said, "He did"—he made no reply—I took him to the station; he was charged with attempted murder; he made no reply—I found this knife among the ashes below the grate; it is in the same condition now as it was then.
The Prisoner, in his defence, said that he had suffered from sunstroke in India, and that sometimes he was not responsible for his actions; that on this day he had been drinking, and he had no recollection of anything that occurred; and that he did not mean to do her any injury; he was too fond of her.
GUILTY on the second count — Eighteen Months' Hard Labour.
GEORGE LECHMERE. Breaking Peace: wounding. 28th July 1890
MR. HUTTON Prosecuted.
EMMA LECHMERE . I am the prisoner's wife—from October last I have been living apart from him, at 6, Croydon Street, Marylebone—on 25th June, at a quarter to five, he called—my son was present at our conversation, and I had my infant on my lap—I was having a few words with my husband about his not getting work and supporting the children—he said nothing to me—we have had eight children, four are living—the prisoner is a hair-dresser, but he does not do much; usually one and a half days a week; Saturday and Sunday—it does not keep us all—I do needlework—after, the few words we had he put on his hat and coat and came across to me, and held my chin, and began cutting at my throat with a table knife—I could not say whether it had been on the table—my baby was in my arms—the prisoner cut my throat several times; he said, "You started this, and I will finish it"—my baby dropped, my husband left off, and I rushed out of the room to. the front door, and then I thought of my baby, and went back and picked it up, and made my escape from the front door—the prisoner said nothing when I went back—I told a constable—the prisoner had before said he would settle me—I have gone in fear of my life for a very long time—since October he has been to see me about once in six weeks, and then he has been very disagreeable and quarrelsome; he did not use threats then; he did so when we were living together—I don't know how he gains a living now.
FRANCIS CHARLES MATHEW . I am house surgeon at St. Mary's Hospital—on 25th June the prosecutrix was brought to me; she had a cuff across the throat some three inches long, just nicking the cartilage of the air passage; it was not very deep—I don't think it was a dangerous wound—it could have been caused by this table-knife, on which there are marks that might be blood—there was a slight cut on her left cheek—she is entirely out of danger now.
JAMES ELLIS (Policeman D 211). At a quarter to five p.m. on 25th June I saw the prosecutrix in the passage of her house, leading to the front kitchen downstairs; she was bleeding from a wound in her throat—from what she told me I went into the house and saw the prisoner in the front kitchen—I asked the prosecutrix, "Who did that?"—the prisoner could hear it—she pointed to him and said, "He did"—he made no reply—I took him to the station; he was charged with attempted murder; he made no reply—I found this knife among the ashes below the grate; it is in the same condition now as it was then.
The Prisoner, in his defence, said that he had suffered from sunstroke in India, and that sometimes he was not responsible for his actions; that on this day he had been drinking, and he had no recollection of anything that occurred; and that he did not mean to do her any injury; he was too fond of her.
GUILTY on the second count — Eighteen Months' Hard Labour.
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