William Brooks

341

Maureen Withey on 2nd February 2023

CUTTING AND MAIMING William Brooks, aged 33, was indicted for having, on the night of the 2d of April, wilfully and maliciously stabbed and cut Margaret, the wife of John Rhodes, with intent to do her some grievous bodily harm. Although the interest of this case was of a very trifling nature, the facts were, nevertheless, of a very aggravated description. It appeared there had been a quarrel among the parties, in the course of which the prisoner, who stated he had been struck by the prosecutrix with the edge of a patten (which, by the bye, was not proved in evidence), became very much enraged and in the midst of the tumult, Margaret Rhodes was cut by the prisoner on the spine, shoulder, neck, and other parts with a Sharp instrument, Which, the prisoner wished to make appear, was a spur he then had accidentally in his hand. The Surgeon proved the nature of the wounds; and the prisoner produced testimony of rather an equivocal description in his defence. The Chief Justice, in summing op the evidence, said that the Jury would consider whether the prisoner contemplated, at the time he struck her, doing her some grievous bodily harm. He was of opinion there was a strong case against him. It was not necessary that the wound should be of such a description that death might ensue in order to make out, the charge, and he thought there could be little doubt but that the object of the prisoner was to do her some bodily injury. It was proved that the wounds were of such a nature that she could not attend on the Magistrates to undergo an examination. The Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty. The Chief Justice - Let him be put down for the present. I shall not now pass sentence. I can hold out but little hope for him. Age (London), 4 Sept 1825. -------------------------------------------------- National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/30/1001825 Prisoner name(s): William Brooks. Prisoner age: 33. Prisoner occupation: Labourer. Court and date of trial: Chester Summer Assizes 1825. Crime: Cutting and maiming Peggy Rhodes, wife of John Rhodes of Stockport. Initial sentence: Death commuted to transportation for life. Annotated (Outcome): Day of execution Saturday 17 September 1825. Petitioner(s): Prisoner 16 people of Stockport including the prosecutor; George Brooks, father; 39 members of the Stockport Troop of Hussars of the King's Volunteer Legion. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): Prisoner had served 12 years with the 3rd King's Own regiment of Dragoons; was discharged and returned home to his parents; was previously respectable; feels the disgrace he has brought on himself and the need to reform; good character in the Volunteers. Other papers: Note of a respite for Brooks (no names), day of execution Saturday 17 September 1825; Jonathan Hunt forwarding certificate. Additional Information: In the Castle of Chester. --------------------------------------------------