The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-06 00:00:00

TEE POLICE COURTS.

Elizabeth L'aderhay, described as a domestic servant out
of a situation, was charged before Mr. Barker with attempt-
ing to commit suicide by taking a quantity of litudmium, at
the Back-mad, Kingsland.
The defendant, who is far advanced in pregnancy, is a
servant out of a situation, and she stated that she was a
single woman, and that the father of her child is a soldier
stationed at Woolwich. last Friday night she went to bed
rather depressed in spirits, and the following morning at an
early hour the landlady was alarmed at hearing that the
defendant had taken a quantity of poison. She found the
defendant in a very bad state, and had not the surgeon
promptly attended and applied restoratives, she would have
lost her life. As it was, when abs was brought to this
court some hours afterwards, she waa in such a weak state
that it was found necessary to here her removed to the
workhouse.

litiaTeer to the charge the defendant Paid that she was
very sorry for what she had done. She did it because she
was very much depressel ie spirits, in consequence of the
state she was now io.

The mother of the defeodant, a respectable country
woman, said she was very sorry at her daughter's disgrace,
and she would again take her home.
Mr. Barker, after animadvertiog upon the folly of the
defendant's act, discharged her on her promising to go home
with her mother.
_ _ _

Dr. Williamson, of Ball's-pond-road, applied to Mr.
Barker for his expenses. He stated that in addition to
attending upon the young woman at her residence, he had
been twice at that court. He had to apply for his costs not
only in justice to himself but to the other members of the
profession.
Mr. Barker said he bad no fund at his disposal for
the payment of medical or other witnesses. It hap-
pened that in very distressing cases he sometimes paid •
witness out of the funds that were placed at his disposal to
give to the poor.
Dr. Williamson remarked that it was very hard on medi-
cal men that they should give their time end trouble without
any remuneration. if when they were called to such cases
as the present they refused to attend, then they were consi-
dered as brutes.
Mr. Barker said that Dr. Williamson could write to the
Secretary of State. arid represent that he (Mr. Barker) bad
refused the application for expenses, oil the ground that he
had no funds at his disposal for that purpose.
Dr. Williamson said that he should do so, not for his own
sake but for the sake of the profession.
Mr. Barker remarked that he had no doubt the application
would be referred back to him, and the matter theu termi-
nated.

George Matthew; aged 41, ► early, brutal-looking fellow,
• plasterer, residing at 40, Eagle-street, Red Lion-square,
who has before been convicted of &amanita on women, was
charged with being drunk, and violentl7 assaulting Mrs.
Elizabeth Bruton, • warned woman, residing in the same
house.

The evidence went to show that the prisoner is con-
stantly in the habit of ill-using his' wife and family. On
Tuesday he went home the worse for liquor, and began
beating his wife and family; the lodgers interfered for
their protection, and the prisoner cut at them with a
cane, and struck them over their heads and arms. He fol-
lowed up this violence with kicking at all who came
near him. Whilst ou the stairs he kicked the complainant,
who had only just got out of her confinement, in the
stomach, and knocked her down. Whilst on the ground
be kicked at her again, and would have followed it up had
be not been prevented. In the struggle he assaulted the
complainant's infant, and both the infant and its mother
had been unwell the whole of the night from the effects of
the prisoner's violence.
The landlord of the house said the prisoner had been
sentenced to three months' imprisonment fur assaulting his
wife, and had been Revere' times in custody for assaults on
women. He was very violent, and kicked at every one
who Came Dear him.

The prisoner's wife said she had to work to support the
family. The prisoner was always getting drunk and ill.
using her and the children.
In defence the prisoner said that he was not aware that
be bad kicked the complainant. What he did was to get
away from the women that were surrounding him.
Mr. Balker said, if be had thought that the prisoner bad
intended to kick the complainant he should have been more
severe. He then sentenced the prisoner to two months'
hard labour in the House of Correction, without the option
of a fine.