Cutting and Wounding.--WILLIAM
FOX was indicted for
feloniously cutting and wounding James
Rowthorne, with intent to prevent his lawful apprehension for
stealing vegetables from prosecutor's garden.
Mr. Macauley was for the prosecution.
The prosecutor is a shoemaker, occupying a garden at Desborough. Was
watching his garden on the night of the 27th of May, when prisoner came
into the garden about 12 o'clock, and began to pull up the lettuces.
When he had pulled up some he, prosecutor, interrupted him. Prisoner
then struck him, and a scuffle ensued, and they both fell down. Prisoner
struck him twice on the head with a knife. He also cut him twice on the
wrist. While they were struggling on the ground prosecutor called out
"Drop this; let it be where it is." Prisoner replied, "Do you mean as
you say?" To which prosecutor rejoined, "Leave that to me." They then
both got up, looked for their hats, and left the garden together.
Prisoner asked whether he cut him, and prosecutor said, "That's for me;
there's plenty of blood." They walked as far as Desborough Chapel
together and then parted. Is sure the prisoner is the man; knew him by
his voice. It was too dark to know him by sight.
John Wilkes apprehended the prisoner. He asked, "How is Jemmy?" When
he was taken to Rowthorne's house, he said, "Can't we settle this?"
Rowthorne replied, "No; neither you nor any man."
Mr. Gibbon, the surgeon, said the wounds were slight, and may have
been inflicted in the course of the struggle. If they were inflicted
with the knife produced, the weapon must have glanced very obliquely.
Mr. Miller addressed the Jury for the prisoner, contending that the
wounds were not inflicted with a felonious intent, but accidentally
during the struggle.
The jury found the prisoner not guilty of the felony, but guilty of
the assault.
Twelve Months' Imprisonment, to hard labour.
Northampton Mercury,
Saturday 15 July 1843