Mary Emily Shaw

Mary Emily Shaw died from an injury whilst trying to break up a fight at her home in Endle Street, Southampton.

However, it was not known who caused her injuries. 

Her husband was tried for her manslaughter at the Hampshire Assizes, but acquitted after the judge pointed out that he might not have touched her at all.

Mary Shaw was taken to hospital, but later died from blood poisoning.

The court heard that Mary Shaw's husband had been a ship's fireman and a greaser, and that on 17 February 1921 he had been paid off and that he and another man had gone home and that there was then a battle royal during which the man was knocked down and rendered unconscious.

When the man came to later at about 6pm Mary Shaw was lying in the corner of the room with injuries, however, the defence noted that it was not possible to say exactly how she received the injuries.

It was said to have been largely a matter of drink.

The man was said to have then gone out but to have later returned and to have stayed at the house that night.

The following day Mary Shaw refused to be examined by a doctor.

She told him that her husband and the man had been drunk and had had a row and that she had got between them and that that was how she received her injuries.

However, the prosecution noted that Mary Shaw and her husband had not lived happily and that there had been previous assaults.

A man that later spoke to Mary Shaw's husband said that he said to him:

The man also said that he said to him:

To which he said Mary Shaw's husband replied:

After hearing the evidence, the judge remarked that the people had been drinking and were practically mad drunk and that they had fought, and that according to Mary Shaw, she had got in between them but had got the worst of it, but noted that it might be that her husband had not touched her at all and directed that a formal not guilty verdict be returned.

He then addressed Mary Shaw's husband, stating that his disgusting conduct was responsible for Mary Shaw's death and that although he might not be criminally liable, as there was no proof that he had hit her, that he and the other man had both been drunk and although it would never been known who had struck her, the moral guilt was on them, adding:

The houses in Endle Street have since been demolished and the area redeveloped and is now industrial.