The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-05-29 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.

At the Hertford county magistrates' bench on Saturday,
Mr. John Bruce, of the London Stock-Exchatige, and of Ant.
wick Manor, Hatfield, was charged with as.aulting and boat-
ing Angelina Prior, his housemaid.
It appeared from the statements of the complainant
and several of her fellow-servants, that on the night of
Saturday, the Bth loot, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce came
down into the scullery, and, calling the cook out of the
kitchen, told her that the complainant had spoken
disrespectfully of her. The cook said she could not
believe it, and the irlaintiff went into the scullery to
her mistress and toll her she was a "wicked woman"
for telling such untruths of her. Upon this, Mr.
Bruce said, " will settle her," and, rushing at the coin-
plainant, struck-her scrum the face and knocked her
down. 091 her getting up he struck her again, and she
then struck him twice in her own defence. After that,
Mr. Bruce knocked her down again; and on her attempt-
ing to get up, he kicked her three times. While she
was lying, half insensible, she heard something said
about her being in a tit, to which her mistress replied,
"Oh, never mind. Johnny dear, she is only pretend-
ing ; that is how the others have gone on." Mr. Bruce
then went out of the room, but soon returned, and
ordered the complainant to get up, and threw water
and beer over her. He also threatened to take her up
and put her under the pump. Ultimately he lifted her
up, and she lay down on her bed all night, but could
not sleep, being in great pain. Early next morning
she went to the Hatfield police-station, where Inspector
Chapman gave her shelter, and in the course of the
day he sent a policeman with her to Mr. Bruce to ask
for her boxes.
The inspector stated that the complainant was much
exhausted when she came to him, that there were
bniises on her face, and that she said she was afraid to
go to Mr. Bruce's by herself.
Other evidence was given to show that the defendant,
on finding that the girl's friends were respectable
people, offered to compromise the affair, but that the
offer V/3/4 refused.
A solicitor who appeared for the defendant said he
was instructed that it was the complainant who as-
saulted his client. He merely attempted to remove her
from the room, which she refused to leave after she had
insulted Mrs. Biuce, when the girl flew at him like a
fury. There was then some sort of a struggle, and the
girt fell. He would prove these facts at the next meet-
ing of the Bench, as he intended to apply for a sum-
mons against the complainant.
The magistrates having consulted for some time, the
chairman said they considered the charge had been
fully proved, and one of their number was of opinion
that the case was one in which they ought to commit
the prisoner without the option of paying a tine. The
majority, however, thought differently, and the de-
cision of the Bench was that the defendant should
pay a fine of £lO. The money was paid.
The defendant's solicitor then applied for a summons
against Angelina Prior, which the magistrates refused.
In connection with the above case, Mr. Edward A.
Marsden, 30, Walbrook, London, writes
Is reference to the report purporting to be an account of
the prrneedin,..s in a charge of assault, preferred on Satur-
day last before the bench of magistrates at Hertford against
my client. Mr. John Bruce ;who in incorrectly described as
being of the Stock Exchanges, I beg to request the favour of
the insertion of the following remarks. Before the hearing at
the summons I applied to the magistrates' clerk for a summ..ins
against the complainant, and mmequently pressed the bench
to grant it, arid hear the two summonses together. This,
however, was refused. I desire to speak with all respect of
the gentlemen who constituted the bench; but I roust be
allowed to say that, had this been done, anti my client
allowed to give evidence on oath, a very different result,
anti one more consonant with Justice, would have been
arrived at. My client denies positively the statements of
the complainant arid her witnesses, and is determined to
follow the matter rip, anti to put himself rhtnt with the
public. I would ask, therefore. that, till he is allowed to
give on oath his own version Of the matter, the justice of a
suspeosion of judgment on the expai te statement of the
complainant and her witnesses may be accorded to him.

ordered