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mat My fFedeiu of time by myself in my own room, up-stairs.y wife and I occupied separate rooms. On Saturday, Jbruarr 11th, I passed the morning by myself, in my own room, till betwixt fire and six o’clock, when I went oat. I had not, at the time of going out, seen my wife or the prisoner. I returned about 11 o’clock, and went up-stairs to my own room without seeing any one. Finding that there was no fire in my room l went down stairs to the kitchen, and found my wife and the prisoner standing by the ftre. I said I had no fire, and then some words pissed betwixt me and my wife of rather of an irritating nature. I also spoke to the prisoner in the same strain. He had a stick in his hand. He held it out and said. “ Look at that,” or words to that effect. I had a u life-preserver ” in my hand. I was in the habit of carrying it out with me when I went out of an evening. I held up the life-preserver in such a way as the prisoner coaid not know but that 1 intended to strike him with it. He was going towards the passage when I advanced to him. He went into the passage, his mother having preceded him. I followed them, ana in a minute I felt that Iwas shot. The pistol must have been very dese to me, asThe passagedark, and I did not see who fired at me, but tne person inmy faoe was scorched with the powder. The passage wasthe passage could see me from the light which proceeded from the kitchen fire. I had not used the life-preserver when I was shot. When I found that I was shot, I struck the prisoner, but I do not know if I knocked him down. On going forward in the dark, I tripped over a mat, and after I was down the prisoner stood over me, and beat me on the head with the stick. On recovering myself, I said that he had done for me now, or words to that effect, and on looking up, I saw a policeman stand beside me. I am not aware that there was a policeman near the premises. Mr. Richards, surgeon, Tewkesbury, was sent for, and I was also attended by Mr. Cother, of Gloucester.I was confined at Evington Cottage for a fortnight, and was then removed to Kimbarton.Cross-examined by Mr. Alexander.—I was married to Mrs. Rennett eight years ago. The prisoner was then 11fears of age. I was intimately acquainted with his father, stood as proxy for the prisoner’s godfather at his baptism. Both he and his brother were at school when the marriage took place. They were taken home, and have not been at school since. I lived at Evington Cottage for four or five years. I had lived previously at Hatherley, where I had a curacy. This is near the residence of Sir Matthew Wood.I ceased to hold the curacy when I went to Evington.I understand that the servants had left my house in the course of the Saturday. The room I occupied was oyer the drawing-room. The prisoner occupied a room beside my bed-room. My wife and her daughter occupied a room at the further end of the passage. There was one door to pass from the passage to Mrs. Rennett’b bedroom. When I found no fire, I believe I came down at once to the kitchen. When I came home that night I do not know who let me in. 1 knocked at the aoor and it was opened, but I do not know by whom. When I went up stairs I saw the prisoner go into the kitchen. I believe he is of a weakly constitution, and I believe of consumptive tendency. I do not recollect the particular words which I used, and which I considered to be irritating.I think the life-preserver was fixed to my hand by the string attached to it. [The life preserver was produced; it is about 12 inches long, with a knob at each end. Such weapons are elastic, and the knobs are understood to be composed of lead. ] When I came into the kitchen, and spoke to my wife about the want of ftre, I did not hold out the life-preserver to her, so far as I recollect, and I am sure I did not do it willingly. I do not recollect Mrs. Rennett taving, “ What are you going to do with that?” She isked me no question about it that I know of. I spoke in very harsh terms to the prisoner as well as to my wife.I was very angry at not finding a fire in my room. I did not use gesticulations so far as I know. The reason why I lo not recollect the particular words I used in the kitchen s, that such altercations were unfortunately too common, j [ did not, consequently, pay particular attention to what 1 massed upon this occasion. Mrs. Rennett said she would lot be a servant to me, or words to that effect. I recollect ler screaming out in the kitchen. I am sure I never said,4 You will not see the morning.” I used no threats; it vas merely names which I called to both of them. After I vas shot, my wife screamed several times, but I do not recollect what words she used. I think she screamed (murder” in the kitchen, but I did nothing to make her cream. As my wife was going from the kitchen I took lold of her arm, and she said, “ Now you have aised your hand against me.” When I complained f the want of fire, she said she would not be a servant o me. I do not know with what hand I touched her. I up pose it must have been with mv right hand. I iad the life-preserver in that hand. She said to her son omethinjr like “Clark, come away; do not let us listen o such nad language, or words to that effect. Upon tying this,-she left the kitchen, and her son quietly iol- J 5wed her. I then followed them, raising the life-preserver ~ n my right arm in a threatening manner, and said to the risoner, u If yoa do not go faster, I will make you.” I id not intend to strike him, but he could not foresee that, nd hemi^ht very readily have fired in self preservation, to | F uard against such an instrument. There was considerable larm felt in the neighbourhood in conseauence of a lurder which had taken place some time before, but this 8 ras not the reason why I carried a life-preserver P nth me. I had been in the practice of carrying it forA mtoM ¥ fVia .Anav f A f Via ntiutffi it illtiihc
Newspaper Details
London Standard
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Apr 15, 1843
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Lil F.
CA, USA 01 Apr 2018
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