The trial of Mr. Jno. Wakefield, for the wilful murder of Richard Maddock, at Winnington : in the Assize court at Chester ... on Friday, April third, 1818 ... / Taken in court by the editor of the Chester Chronicle.

  • Wakefield, John
Date:
[1818?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The trial of Mr. Jno. Wakefield, for the wilful murder of Richard Maddock, at Winnington : in the Assize court at Chester ... on Friday, April third, 1818 ... / Taken in court by the editor of the Chester Chronicle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that he went out sometimes to look how things were there. The pro** posal I mentioned was made to me sometime before the fatal matter hap¬ pened ; it was a very short time before: perhaps it might be a week. Pie made the proposal only once to me, I had told him if he would give me my wages, I would go away, but not at that time. It was sometime before that I asked him for my wages. I had not on the night of the wake asked my fellow-servant to sit up for roe. I did not come home later than I expected I was never locked out, for I had never been out so late before at night in the town, as I recollect. I met with Maddoek in the town, in the street. He was a flatman onboard one of the Northwich flats. I cannot exactly say how long lie had courted me ; not for a year before: perhaps a month or two. I met him at my master’s house; he had been there sometimes. I was with Maddoek that evening about two hours* I had been at a public house with him, and at his sister’s house. It was about 11 o’clock, when I entered my master’s gate; and it was about 9 when we first met. It was then between dark and light, not to call dark. I cannot tell how far we were from my master’s door, when he made his ap¬ pearance, but we were nearer the house than the gate. When I thought I was locked out, I said I would turn hack and go to a friend’s house to sleep.—We were in conversation, but I cannot say, that those in the house could have heard us.—The struggle between the Prisoner and Mad- dock did not last long, but I cannot say whether it lasted one minute or five minutes. I looked on till it was over. I was not further off than the middle of the [Counsel] table.* I had an opportunity of seeing it was a pretty violent struggle, one to keep hold, and the other to get away. They were both struggling as hard as they could. I will not swear that Maddoek did not take hold of Mr. Wakefield, but I did not see him do so. I never said I saw the Prisoner strike Maddoek with the dagger. I know nothing of the dagger. There are no marks by which I should know it. I did not notice whether it was very bright, hut I will swear I saw it in Wakefield’s hand. I saw the deceased run towards the gate, and never saw Wakefield near him afterwards.— He might have stuck the dag¬ ger into Maddoek, and I not have seen him. I heard Mr. Wakefield call out for Ansdell, hut I did not know he was the Constable. I heard him pall out once.—I beard him before say, that if Maddoek came about the house, he would shoot him,—The Prisoner had not been complaining to me of flatmen being about the house.— I cannot pretend to say how the fatal act was done. Re-examined, by Mr. Evans> I suppose he said he would shoot the deceased, because he perhaps saw him with me before. I don’t recollect he did mention Maddoek bv name; hut * About three yards and a half.
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