West Hartlepool on 24th March 1875 John Tully a 42 year old labourer was charged with wilful murder of his wife Bridget. A grand jury dismissed that charge and changed it to grievous bodily harm. A string of witnesses at his trial all testified to the sadistic behaviour of John Tully towards his wife Bridget. One witness said on the 15th March, Bridget Tully was lying on the floor with her hair wrapped tightly in one hand of her husband, in his other hand was a poker he was about to hit her with. John Tully then kicked her in the stomach. Other witnesses then told what they had seen John doing to Bridget with his heavy boots.
Their 15 year old daughter told the court she had seen her mother smashed against a wall. Another witness told how on the 16th March they had heard loud screams and found Bridget, her mouth teaming with blood. Later that night Bridget was seen with a bruised nose and two black eyes. A week after these beatings Bridget died. The doctor who had examined her testified that the husbands violence was not the cause of death and denied any of her injuries caused by the husband, had anything to do with her death. John Tully was found guilty of assault and was given a nine month sentence with hard labour.
