Times (London)
13 March 1903

At the Stepney Borough Coroner's Court yesterday, Mr. Wynne E. Baxter, Coroner for the Eastern Division of London, resumed his inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Mary Donovan, aged 35 years, who is alleged to have been stabbed at her home, 27 Lucas street, St. George in the East, on Saturday night last by her husband, Timothy Donovan, a dock labourer, who stands charged with the crime. The accused was present in Court in the custody of two warders. Mr. Ridley, solicitor, appeared on his behalf. Dr. Frederick Spurr, of 170 Commercial road, said that he was called on Saturday night to the house where the accused lived. He was shown into a first floor room and saw Mrs. Donovan lying on the floor with her head near the bed. She was fully dressed and quite dead. The blows must have been given by a sharp instrument with great violence, and death was due to injuries to the head, which he described. Dr. Charles Graham Grant, divisional surgeon, gave corroborative evidence. He saw the accused at the station where he said he had been drinking, "but not so heavily as usual." His answers were coherent and in the witness's opinion the man was sane. His hands seemed to have been recently washed. On Sunday the witness examined his clothing, which he found was stained with blood. From further evidence it appeared that the accused went down to his landlady and said, "I believe I have done it." She said, "Done what?" He replied, "Come and see." They went up together and witness saw the woman lying in the room. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against the accused, who was committed for trial on the coroner's warrant.