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Surnames: CATLOW
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
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Message Board Post:
Burnley Express 3rd July 1897
CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AGAINST A BURNLEY MAN.
WANTED TO LIVE UNTIL MORNING. A SENSATIONAL INCIDENT. THE ACCUSED BEFORE THE
MAGISTRTES.
A sensational affair in which the parties concerned were man and his wife occurred on
Wednesday night in the Wet end of Burnley, when a weaver named Samuel Catlow is alleged to
have attempted to take the life of his wife. The victim, Sophia Catlow, summoned her
husband some time ago on account of his having assaulted her. Catlow was then fined 20s.
and costs, and a separation order, with 8s. a week for the maintenance of his wife, was
made against him. Since that time Mrs. Catlow has lived with her sister at 24,
Allerton-street Whittlefield, whilst the prisoner on the other hand has resided with his
mother in Back Lane.
It is stated that on Thursday, just before midnight, Catlow went to the house where his
wife was staying, broke one of the kitchen windows, and obtained an entrance into the
house. The inmates-prisoner’s wife and her sister – heard a noise, and being somewhat
alarmed they both got out of bed. Edith Rose Aunger, sister of Mrs. Catlow, shouted out,
“Hallo, hallo”, but no one replied. In the meantime prisoner had ascended the stairs, and
on going there both sisters were met by him. Prisoner then brandished a razor in the air.
When Mrs. Catlow saw the implement she said, “Oh, Sam, do not kill me tonight. Let me
live till morning.” She endeavoured to ward off the blow, and in doing so had her hand
severely cut. Notwithstanding her excitement Mrs. Catlow had the presence of mind to
realise her dangerous position, and succeeded in getting out of her husband’s clutches,
and rushed into the neighbouring house. An alarm !
was then raised, and a medical man was summoned to attend to Mrs. Catlow’s injury.
Catlow afterwards went to the police station, and gave himself up.
PRISONER BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES,
On Thursday morning, at the Burnley Borough Police ourt, before R.J. Hurtley, J.
Hargreaves and J. Berry, Esqrs., the prisoner appeared in the dock to answer a charge of
wounding his wife, Sophia Catlow, 24 Allerton-street, with intent to murder her.
The Chief Constable (Mr. Harrop) in opening the case said the wife of the prisoner was
unable to attend court, and he would ask for the case to be adjourned. He would, however,
call one witness.
Edith Rose Eunger stated that the prisoner’s wife was her sister, and lived with her.
Both went to bed about 11-30 the previous night, at which time the windows and doors were
securely fastened. Shortly afterwards they heard a creaking of the windows and both got
out of bed. Witness called out, “Hallo, hallo”, but there was no answer. They went to
the stairs-top, where her sister was seized by prisoner, who held a razor in his hand.
Prisoner’s wife said, “Oh, Sam, do not kill me to-night, let me live till to-morrow.”
Prisoner replied, “I will finish you,” and got hold of her and attempted to cut her
throat. Witness made an attempt to stop the prisoner from committing the deed, and one of
her fingers was cut in consequence.
The case was adjourned for a week.