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.
