Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 July 1890

Ripping a Woman’s Arm Open at West Melton.

William Lee, miner, living in Winterwell road, West Melton, was brought up in custody charged with unlawfully wounding Ellen Dancy, at West Kelton, on Sunday morning.

Major Hammond said prisoner was apprehended on Sunday morning, charged with unlawfully wounding the plaintiff. He stabbed her with a knife in the arm and after doing so he appears to have become very excited, and throwing his arms about, dashed them through a pane of glass and so cut himself that after he arrived at the cells in Rotherham, a medical man had to be sent for to attend to him. After he had called certain evidence be would ask for a remand, as the prosecutrix was unable to attend.

Martha Dancy said on Saturday night after she and her father and mother had gone to bed, prisoner came to the door and commenced beating it and making a great noise. He shouted out that if the door was not opened he would burst it open. Her mother got up, and directly the door was open prisoner made for her. He had a knife in his hand, and has she and her mother were trying to push him out he placed the knife in her arm and ripped it up. The policeman and a doctor were then sent for. The prosecutrix was unable to attend because of her injuries.

Prisoner: I was very drank, but I do not think I stabbed her. I remember her arms going up to the window as she was throwing some water on me afterwards, and she may have done it there.

Police-constable Rhodes deposed that a little after one o’clock he heard of a wounding case at Winterwell, and going thither he found that the doctor had arrived before him, and that the prosecutrix. was in bed. She was now unable to attend. At four o’clock he apprehended the prisoner and charged him with unlawfully wounding.

The Chairman: The doctor does not say that she is in any danger.

Major Hammond: Not then sir.

The Chairman: What is known about the man? Police-constable Rhodes said he worked at Houghton Main, but had only been in the neighbourhood about six months. He was a miner. When he searched him he found the knife produced in the right hand trousers pocket. There was a little blood on it.

Prisoner: I was covered with blood myself. The Constable added that prisoner was a householder living a few doors away from the prosecutrix.

The Chairman: What have you got to say why you should not be remanded?

Prisoner: I was very drunk, and am very sorry it happened it was through a little bit of excitement. She is an aunt of mine. My wife has just been confined, and I got a little bit excited. I never remember any knife. I know I had a piece of glass in my hand, and that is all I remember.

Prisoner was remanded until Monday