James Goggin

  General Notes:

JAMES GOGGIN, Breaking Peace > wounding, 4th February 1889
216. JAMES GOGGIN(45) , Feloniously wounding Maria Goggin, with intent to murder her. Second Count, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm.
MR. HUTTON Prosecuted.
MARIA GOGGIN . I live at 18, Fitzroy Place— I am the prisoner's wife— on Sunday morning, 6th January, between twelve and one, I was with the prisoner— he had been lodging away in the Euston Road— I have been married to him twenty-six or twenty-seven years— we lived together except when we quarrelled— I was sitting by the fire, and my son was asleep by the side of the bed— I stood up to make some arrangements, when my husband jumped up, exclaiming, "Clear out"— I retorted rather snappishly, "You had better clear out yourself"— I found myself stabbed— I did not notice more knives than are usually about— I fainted— the police came— the prisoner had been drinking very hard for a week.
Cross-examined by the Prisoner. For three weeks you gave me one five shillings— I was not drinking, and had not the means— you have seen me worse for drink, but that is no reason you should kill me— I was perfectlysober— your dinner was ready— you would not eat it, but went back to the beershop and brought back some herrings, and were more cheeky than ever— you denied the charge.
JOSEPH GOGGIN . I live at 18, Fitzroy Place— I am the prisoner's son— on Sunday morning, 6th January, I was in the room with father and mother— I was sitting by the side of the fireplace— my mother was making one bed, and my father lying on another— father woke up and said, "I'll show you how to use the knife"— he took a knife from his pocket, opened the blade, and made a rush at mother and stabbed her— mother fell back— I went to take the knife away— here it is (produced)— my brother fetched the police— mother was taken to the hospital and father to prison.
Cross-examined by the Prisoner. I heard you say "Clear out"— you said, "I deny the charge."
By the COURT. Mother was sober.
THOMAS BAWDON (Policeman S 234). I went to 18, Fitzroy Place on 6th January, about 12.30— when I entered, the prosecutrix fell back against me, and would have fallen on the bed had I not held her— she was unconscious— I had been fetched by the prisoner's son— I laid the woman on the floor and sent for assistance; a doctor and a constable— I staunched the blood, and bound her round the body— the prisoner was lying on the bed as if stupefied by drink— when I entered the prisoner said, "All right, governor, you are not wanted here; there is nothing the matter"— I took the prisoner into custody— I saw a knife on the table.Cross-examined by the Prisoner. I told the Magistrate, after you said there was nothing the matter you went to sleep— I did not hear you say you did it.
CHARLES O'SHEA (Police Sergeant). I was called in, and saw the prosecutrix lying on the floor, bleeding— I directed the prisoner to be taken to the station— when the charge was read over the prisoner said, "I am innocent"— he had been drinking.
LOUIS EDWARD BEER . I am a surgeon, practising at 23, Hampstead Road— I was called in about 12.45— I saw the prosecutrix lying on the floor— I examined her— she had an incised wound, three-quarters of an inch long and a third of an inch deep, on the left side of the neck; it had ceased bleeding— I dressed the wound and sent her to the hospital— the wound was not dangerous— it could have been done by the knife produced.
Cross-examined by the Prisoner. If considerable force had been used the wound might have been deeper— the knife is blunt.
The Prisoner in his Defence said he could not have used such a weapon, the wound could not have been caused by it; he had no intention of inflicting bodily harm, much less to murder her; he was not sober; but his home was not comfortable, do what he might, and he slept from exhaustion after an attack from her when she scratched his face, in which attack she might have been accidentally wounded; but the knife was made bloody by the constable and doctor having it when they attended to her; he was a respectable working man, and had been punished worst of all by being shut up in idleness.
GUILTY of unlawfully wounding — i Three Months' Hard Labour.

James married Maria Ann Sheill, daughter of James Sheill and Unknown, on 7 Jun 1863 in St John the Evangelist, Charlotte Street, Camden. (Maria Ann Sheill was born about 1844 in Southwark and died Jun Q 1898 in St Giles, Bloomsbury.)