A man who pushed his wife when she failed to have his supper ready for him was treated very leniently by the judge when he was convicted of manslaughter.
In the early hours of 3rd September 1867 cab driver John Corris returned to his home in Napier Street, off Low Hill, which he shared with his wife Margaret. When he asked where his supper was, she told him that he could 'go to the devil' for it.
Corris reacted angrily and pushed Margaret on her side, causing her to fall against the arm of a rocking chair. Just two hours later she died from a haemorrhage, leading to Corris's arrest and committal for trial at the assizes.
On 14th December Corris appeared before Baron Martin and pleaded guilty, but insisted he had not intended to cause any harm or injury to his wife. The judge said it was 'only a very slight case' of manslaughter and that there had been no intent to cause harm, imposing a sentence of one weeks imprisonment.
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