Husband brutally attacked wife and left her bruised and bleeding in the street

Frail Mary Morris was found slumped against railings with two black eyes and blood streaming from a vicious cut on her forehead that dripped down her face and onto her shoulders.

Mr Justice Bowen condemned her heartless attacker William Jewell for treating her worse than the vilest animal on earth.

"She was in pain, weak and miserable, and in a state I cannot doubt you knew perfectly well, and because she was not able for a moment to follow you, you fell about her, beat her about the head, ears and eyes, and defaced her."

Tragically she was not in court to hear the stinging rebuke. She had died in the weeks leading up to the trial but the prosecutor stressed in opening his case her passing was not caused by the beating.

Car 53 in Portswood

Initially Jewell, 38, pleaded guilty but his confession was indistinct and the judge asked him to clarify what he said.

In a clearer tone, he then declared 'not guilty' and the hearing began with the majority of the evidence delivered by witnesses who had not seen the actual assault but were aware of the pair shortly before and after the incident.

Painter Thomas Bunker described how he was working on a house in Portswood, Southampton, when he heard Jewell demand Morris to "come on" and then threaten to "smash her brains." Shortly afterwards, he saw her injured.

Charles Mintram was so appalled at what he saw that he stopped the dram car he was driving and grabbed hold of Jewell.

"As I was passing, I saw the woman coming away bleeding from the ear and forehead. He said it was his wife and I told him he ought to be served like that himself. He complained she had annoyed him and he gave her a good hiding but added he was very sorry. I took hold of his right hand and finding it covered with blood, I said: 'That shows you struck her."

Jewell was arrested at the Queen Charlotte pub in Simnel Street without resisting arrest, saying in interview he had been aggravated by Miller not giving him some of her money.

Directing the jury as to the law at Jewell's trial at Hampshire Assizes in 1881, the judge said that while they could acquit him of the graver offence and return a verdict of just wounding, it must be remembered that a man was responsible for his acts of violence.

Jewell was convicted of the substantive charge within seconds, leading the judge to deliver not only his condemnation but also a warning to the public that anyone coming before him, they would find him resolute and the long arm of the law would be felt in cases of brutality.

He then passed a sentence of seven years penal servitude.