Winslow History | A charge of stabbing, 1842

A charge of stabbing, 1842

From Bucks Herald (2 July 1842)

BUCKS QUARTER SESSIONS

William Ingram was indicted for having, at Winslow, stabbed Henry Saving, with Intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. Mr. Birch appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Power defended the prisoner.

Henry Saving. – I am a labourer and live at Shipton; about the beginning of this month I bought a donkey of the prisoner for £1; I paid him 10s. in money and sold him some wood; on the night of the 15th June we left Winslow to go to Shipton, having been at work together for two days; the donkey was tied to my cart at Shipton; I had some dispute with the prisoner about the donkey; I told him I could not pay the whole of the money for the donkey then, when he said that “He did not care a d---n about that, for he would have the donkey;” he then pulled his knife out and cut the string which tied the donkey to the cart; the donkey ran away, and, as I went to fetch it back, the prisoner stabbed me in the arm; we then had a fight, which I had the best of, when the prisoner pulled the knife out again, and said “He would cut my b----y throat;” a man named Sandwell came up, and separated us; I saw Mr. Winter give the knife to Sandwell; the wound was a deep one, and bled very much; I have not been able to work since.

John Sandwell, of Winslow. – I am a dealer in calves; I saw the prisoner cut the string that fastened the donkey to the cart; a struggle ensued, and the donkey got away; Saving started after the donkey, and, as he passed me, I saw blood running down his arm; they fought again, and Saving knocked Ingram down three times; on his getting up the last time, I saw a knife in his hand, and he said “D---n your eyes, I’ll cut your b---y throat;” the prisoner gave the knife to Mr. Winter, and I have kept it ever since.

John Spooner. – I am a labourer, and live at Shipton; on the night in question I heard a great noise, and went out, when I saw the prisoner strike Saving with a knife; Saving immediately cried out, “He has cut me.”

Ann Saving. – I am the wife of the prosecutor; I heard the prisoner and my husband quarrelling; I saw him strike my husband on the arm with a knife.

Mr Girdlestone. – I am an assistant to Messrs. Cowley and Son, surgeons, of Winslow; I examined the prosecutor’s arm; it was a superficial wound, about half an inch deep; it was a simple wound, but the most serious consequences sometimes arise from a trivial wound; it might have been made by such an instrument as the one produced.

Mr. Power very ably addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and called several respectable witnesses, who had known the prisoner for a considerable time, all of whom gave him a most excellent character for peaceableness.

The Chairman having summed up, the jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty.