The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-08-27 00:00:00

WIFE BEATING.

Michael Ashcroft was charged by his wife, Mary, for having
violently assaulted her. It was proved that the prisoner was
in the habit of getting drunk, and whilst in that state he used
to ill-use her very much. The previous night, as usual, he
beat her severely, without any provocation. It was shown
that the woman was a sober respectable person, whilst her
husband was a drunken worthless fellow ; and his children
begged the policeman to take hip 4 away, as they were afraid
of him, and when he was in custody they appeared quite
pleased. The prisoner gave an execuse, saying he was drunk.
Mr. Raffles said there was a man to be hung in a few days for
the murder of his wife, and his excuse was drunkenness also ;
and no doubt he did not intend to kill her, yet he was to be
hung. If you had killed this woman, you would be hung also.
If you persist in your drunkenness you may expect nothing
less. I will give you some time to reflect on your conduct, by
committing you to gaol for three months with hard labour.
HOUSE ROBBERY.

A young fellow, named William Dickenson, was charged
with having broken into the house of Mr. Brown, of 86,
Faulkner-street, and stolen thereout a considerable quantity
of property. It appeared that the family were at Southport,
and the house was closed up. On Friday, from information
received be Police-officer 4, he got into the house, and found
the prisoner in the yard, with the property packed up ready
for removal. There were two other persons in the place, but
they got away. The prisoner was sent for trial.

CORONER'S INQUESTS.-SATURDAY.

The Coroner held the following inquests:—

On the body of Thomas Stuart, twenty-three years of
age, who was engaged at Messrs. Mactle's sugar-house,
Batchelor-street. On the 3rd of this month he 'was
badly scalded, and although everything was done for
him (by order of his employers), he died in consequence
of the injuries received. The affair was purely accidental,
and the jury found accordingly.
On the body of a child named William Hampson,
twenty-one months old, the child of parents residing in
Kirkdale.. It appeared that on Thursday the child was
injured in the street by a horse going over it, and death
was the result. Verdict, accidental death.
On the body of Mary Read, 23 years of age, who was
the wife of a seafaring man, who had deserted her and
her child since last December, She was the sister-in-
law of Mr. Charles Anley, who keeps a photographic
establishment in Paradise-street, and it seemed that she,
in a fit of despondency,•took a quantity of prussic acid
(used in the operation of Mr. Anley's business), and
from the evidence of Surgeon Brown there was no doubt
that she died from the effects of that poison. She
knew what the poison was, and had been employed by
her brother-in-law for some time past. Verdict—
" Poisoned herself whilst labouring under temporary
insanity."
On the body of Thomas Cearns, five years old, the
son of a labourer in Collingwood-street. The lad went.
out on Tuesday last, and was not seen afterwards until
Saturday morning, when his body was found in the
Leeds Canal. Verdict, " Found drowned."
On the body of an unfortunate girl, named Elizabeth
Baty, 26 years of age, who died in a bad house in a
court off Gildart-street. She died suddenly, and from
the medical evidence no doubt remained that death was
the result of disease of the heart. Verdict accordingly.

[This. concluded, for ever, the business in the old
court, Lord-street,. as the business will henceforth be
carried on in the new court, Dale-street. The present
worthy coroner has held the office over twenty-five
years, and in that time has held nearly' ten thousand
inquests in this court.]