The separation of two Rushden lovers had a startling sequel, culminating in the appearance at the Rushden Police Station on Tuesday of Walter Buckby on a charge of entering the girl’s bedroom during the night for an unlawful purpose. Buckby at the time had on him two razors and a knife.

It appears that the prisoner, who is an Irishman, has for the last two months or so been walking out with Miss Lily Mead, an exceedingly respectable young lady living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mead, of Victoria-road, Rushden. On Sunday night last the prisoner asked his sweetheart to go into a club and have a drink with him. She retorted, “I am not going to start that game. I am not one of that sort. You must pick up with some other girl if you want someone to drink with.”

Thereupon she left him. On Monday night she went to bed, as usual, sleeping with her sister. At about 2.30 a.m. she was awakened by the handle of the bedroom door being turned. The moonlight at the time was brilliant, and the gas was turned on a little, so that Miss Mead had no difficulty in recognising the prisoner, who threatened to murder her. She called out to her father, who at once came to her assistance, pulling the prisoner down and kept him under until the arrival of the police, who were at once called and responded promptly, the police station being only a short distance away. Buckby, whose home is at Kettering, has been working at Rushden, for the Coxton Boot Manufacturing Co. After having entered the house and before ascending the stairs he removed his boots, which were found at the foot of the stairs.

Magisterial Proceedings

On Tuesday morning Walter Buckey was charged at the Police Station, Rushden, before Mr. Fred Knight, with having entered enclosed private premises for an unlawful purpose.

Lily Mead, single woman, living with her parents at 41, Victoria-road, Rushden, said: On Monday I went to bed at 11 p.m., and slept with my sister Rose. About half-past two on Tuesday morning I awoke and found the prisoner entering the bedroom. The moon shone on his face, and the gas was alight so that I could see him quite distinctly. I asked him what he wanted. He replied “It is nothing. I am Buckby.” I called out “Dad!” and the prisoner said he would murder me if I made a noise. My father pulled him down and pinned him to the bed until the police arrived. I walked out with him for two months, and on Sunday night we decided to separate. He asked me to go in a club and have a drink with him. I said “You must pick up with some other girl if you want someone to drink with.” I left him on the Hayway-road.

Supt. McLeod: Did he ever threaten to murder you?

Witness: He said about a fortnight ago he would murder me, but I did not take any notice of him.

Supt. McLeod asked for a remand until Friday.

Prisoner asked for bail, but the Superintendent opposed it.

Buckby was remanded in custody until to-day.

Prisoner, who is an Irishman, was found to have in his pocket two razors and a knife with two blades, one of which was bright and sharp.

To-Day’s Hearing

To-day (Friday) Buckby, who was described as a shoe-hand, of Rushden, was charged with being found in a dwelling house at night in the occupation of John Mead for an unlawful purpose, and was further charged with using threats to Lily Mead.

Prisoner admitted being there, but not with criminal intent.

Lily Mead repeated her evidence of Tuesday.

Rose Mead, sister of Lily Mead, said: An arrangement had been made for me to leave home for a situation, but my mistress wrote me that she would not want me so soon. On Monday night, Oct. 13, I slept with my sister and at 2.30 a.m. on Oct. 14th I heard someone enter the bedroom and I heard my sister ask who it was, I recognised prisoner, who said “It is Buckby.” We called out to father, and prisoner said “Silence, or it will be murder!” Prisoner started to walk from the room and was met outside the door by my father, who pulled prisoner into his bedroom. I heard father ask prisoner what he was doing in our bedroom and prisoner replied “I have come to commit murder, that’s all.” Father held prisoner by force and told me to fetch a policeman from the police-station, which I did.

John Mead, father of the previous witness, said: On Monday, Oct. 13, at 2.30a.m. I was awakened by my daughters calling out. I sprang out of bed and proceeded to their room, and met prisoner coming out of the door. I asked him what he was doing there, and he said “I have come to commit murder, that’s all.” He was in his stocking feet and had his right hand in his pocket. I seized his wrist and pulled him into my bedroom and held him till the police arrived. I asked him if he was mad, and he said “If I am, she has drove me mad.” When searched, two razors and a knife were found on prisoner. The policeman arrived and took him into custody, and prisoner said to me “If I get time it won’t be safe for you to walk about when I come out.” He entered my house by the front window, which I had left unfastened.

P.C. Norton, Rushden, said: On Oct. 14 at 2.40 a.m. I was on duty at Rushden Police Station. The matter was reported to me and I proceeded to Victoria-road, where I found prisoner detained by last witness. I searched him and found a razor in his hip pocket and I had previously received another razor and knife found on the prisoner by Mr. Mead, who handed them to me.

Addressing the Bench, prisoner said he only intended to frighten complainant.

On the first charge prisoner was sent to prison for three months, and on the second charge he was bound over in two sureties of £10 each and himself in £20 to keep the peace for twelve months.