The Attempted Murder of Rose Jane Beasley of Ardley by her Fiancé, William Cook, Alias Addison (1905, Oxfordshire)

On 15th August 1905, William Cook, alias William Addison, attempted to murder his 24 year old fiancé Rose Jane Beasley at his parents' home in Ardley.

Thankfully, Rose made a full recovery; she claimed that they'd been discussing their upcoming nuptials, when Cook had suddenly put his arm around her neck, and then proceeded to cut her throat. Cooks' parents happened to walk in at that exact moment, and intervened just in time.

At the trial, Rose presented a letter to the court, sent to her by Cook from his prison cell. In the letter, he "expressed his sorrow for the cruel way in which he had treated her, and attributed his action to Miss Beasley's father and mother, especially the latter, who had spoken badly of him."

According to Mrs Beasley, she had merely told Cook that he "ought not to have delayed in getting the certificate of the banns until the eve of the wedding", which was to take place the day after the incident occurred.

After a fairly long trial, the judge eventually sentenced Cook to 15 months' imprisonment with hard labour. Poor Rose was understandably 'in a state of anxiety', although the doctor confirmed that the wound was not a particularly serious one.

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