Morning Advertiser (London)
12 December 1888
MR.MANSFIELD AT DERBY
At Derby, on Monday, an enthusiastic reception was accorded to Mr. Richard Mansfield on the occasion of his visit to the Grand Theatre, to give two performances in behalf of the new racquet court at Derby School, where he received his education. After the performance of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in the evening, before a crowded house, the boys attending Derby School drew Mr. Mansfield's carriage through the streets, amidst cheers, to the school house, where the Rev. Walter Clark the headmaster, entertained Mr. Mansfield and an influential company at supper. Mr. Mansfield afterwards addressed the boys, urging them to persevere with their studies and make a name in the world.
William Atkins, 21, labourer, was charged before Mr. Sheil at the Southwark Police Court, yesterday, with feloniously cutting and wounding Lucretia Pembroke, with intent to inflict upon her grievous bodily harm.
Detective Sergeant Bradford said that in consequence of information received on the previous night, he went, in company with Detective Haigh, to 21 Sumersole street, Bermondsey, and there he saw the prisoner. They told him they were going to take him into custody for cutting a girl's throat in a coffee house at Spa road. The prisoner said, "Is she dead?" and the witness said, "No, but she is very dangerously ill in Guy's Hospital, Her throat is cut, and she says you did it with a knife you took out of your pocket." The prisoner then produced a knife, and said, "Yes, this is the knife." He (witness) took the prisoner into custody, and then went to Guy's Hospital and saw the injured girl, who made a statement to him. He then returned to the police station, and said to the prisoner, "I have just come from the hospital, where I saw Lucretia Pembroke, and I asked her if she knew the man who had wound her, and she said, 'Yes, I know him well. It was Bill Atkins - we call him Silly Bill. He whitewashed and papered a room for us a fortnight ago. He came in at 4.30 this afternoon, and asked for a pennyworth of tea, which I gave him, and as I was walking away I saw him take a knife from his pocket. He cut my throat with it. I screamed, and he ran out into the back yard.'" The prisoner replied, "yes, that is true. I did whitewash and paper the room." When the prisoner was searched only the knife, which was free from blood, was found on him.
In answer to Mr. Sheil, the witness said the wound from which the girl was suffering was a very extensive one - the throat was cut and the lobe of the left ear was cut off.
The prisoner was remanded.
On inquiring at Guy's Hospital last evening we were informed that the girl Pembroke is not in such a critical condition as was at first supposed. There is every probability that she will recover, although she has an ugly gash in her throat, and bubbles of air at the orifice of the wound show that the windpipe has been scratched. "Silly Billy" is a well known character in Bermondsey, and he has hitherto been regarded as a harmless idiot.
