23 April 1880 Shocking Outrage on Woman - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

23 April 1880 Shocking Outrage on Woman

During Sunday and Monday considerable consternation prevailed in the city
owing to a rumour that a woman had been murdered on the Sands on Saturday
evening. Happily the rumour was unfounded.

A shocking outrage however, had been committed on a young woman named Mary
BOYD, an idle girl, who was found in an insensible condition near Mr. ROBINSON’
s Auction Mart, about nine o’clock on Saturday night. She was conveyed to the
Police Office, and examined by Dr. WALKER, who advised her removal to the
infirmary. This was done.

It appeared the young woman, who was drunk, was suffering from a number of
wounds on the head, and her face was so much swollen and disfigured that the
police, who have often had to apprehend her, were unable to recognise her. Some
of the wounds suggest that they had been administered with a blunt
instrument like a clog.

Mr. MACKAY, the chief constable, and his subordinates made inquiry
respecting the movements of the girl during the evening; they found that she had been
drinking with several men in a public house in the vicinity of Corporation
Road, and that she was subsequently seen in company with a labourer named John
DALEY, who lives in Old Grapes Lane. A quarrel is said to have taken place
between them, the unfortunate woman not only being treated in a brutal manner,
but having her pockets rifled. Her groans attracted the attention of a
passer-by, who informed the police.

On Monday afternoon, DALEY was apprehended while at work at one of the
auction marts, and will be brought before the magistrates at the Town Hall this
Friday morning. BOYD lives in Finkle Street. She has been leading a sad life for
several years. She was one of the chief witnesses in a local divorce case a
few weeks ago, and while in London she was in the hands of the police through
drink; indeed, a special application was necessary to obtain her release
from gaol to give evidence.