Times (London)
1 July 1889

At GREENWICH, PERCY CHATTERTON, 47, physician, of the Mount, Sydenham, was charged on remand, on a warrant, with assaulting his daughter Grace. Mr. Pook appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Hodson was counsel for the defence. The prisoner, who had been in the prison infirmary since the previous week, was allowed to be seated during the hearing of the case. Grace Chatterton, aged 15, said the prisoner was thrashing her mother, and she went to her mother's assistance, when the prisoner struck her several times on the face and gave her black eyes. He took a piece of wood from the fire and struck her mother. After returning from the police-station witness was afraid to go in. She did so, however, and her father said that unless she told him what she had said at the police-station he would rip her up, saying "Jack the Ripper" would be nothing to it, and that she should kneel down and say her prayers, for she had only five minutes more to live. He got out a knife and sharpened it. Cross-examined, witness said she had lived at home all her life, but once she ran away. Her stepmother had never complained of her conduct. Prisoner "thumped" her, but did not say that if she behaved in that way towards her stepmother he would punish her. He did not send for the cane. Amy Chatterton, aged 13, another daughter of the prisoner's, said that on the day in question the prisoner came home. She did not see the assault on her mother, but saw the prisoner beating Grace, striking her on the eyes about four times, and telling her not to interfere. Witness corroborated her sister's statement as to the threat to rip up Grace and as to the sharpening of the knife. Mr. Marsham again remanded the prisoner, saying he would accept bail in £50 and his own recognizances in the same amount.