The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-26 00:00:00

MoCKING ILL-TItE.4TMENT OF A FAMILI.

At the Manchester city police-court, yesterday, •
man named John Egan, a shoemaker, living in Dyke-
street, Angel-street, was charged under the new act with
ill-treating his wife and family, and neglecting to support
them. Inspectors Gifford and Wilson, of the Manchester
and Salford Sanitary Association, received information,
about 10 o'clock on Wednesday evening, that the prisoner
had turned his wife out of doors, and after beating his
children unmercifully, bad locked them in and left them to
starve. The officers broke into the house, and found two
children there in a most pitiable state, lying on the floor,
without either bedding or covering. There was not a par-
ticle of food iu the house, and the children had tasted no-
thing during the day. One of them was 12, and the otoer, a
girl..s years of age. They were taken to the workhouse,
where they were properly 'Decried to, and shortly after-
wards the prisoner was seen rolling about the streets in a
state of law:lonian, and w as taken into custody.
A woman, who lives next door to the prisoner, said the
latter bad subjected his family to constant ill-treatment.
About three weeks ago he was drunk and beating his wife,
who tied into witness's house; REM on Monday evening he
wait beating the eldest child about the face.
The prisoner's wife said her husband was able to earn
from 20s. to 2:is. per week, but had scarcely done any work
for the last four months. lle would sit down and work for
about two hours, occasionally, and then go as ay to the
public-house. lie had ill-treated her very much, and gave
her four cuts on the head the Hight before her last child
was burn. Of late he had been in the habit of lucking her
out of doors, and she was obliged to play a sort of hide and
seek with him to escape his violence.
The prisoner's son, whose appearance presented a shock-
ing combination of emaciation and bruises, was in court,
sad the magistrate observing that one of his eyes was
closid, inquired the reason, when it appeared tikt he had
been unable to open it since the previous morning, in con-
sequence of his father having kicked him in the face, and
the probability was that loss of sight would result. The
other eye was very much discoloured. The second child, a
girl, had been placed in • basket instead of • chair until its
spine hod !croon shockingly deformed. The whole family
were a sail picture of neglect and misery. One of the hue-
hand's modes of torturing his wile was to twist an instru-
ment in the long hair of her head, and drag her about the
house by it.
The prisoner said he was prevented from working be-
cause hls wife went away from home for a fortnight at a
time, and lie could not get on unless she were there to
bind his shoes fur him. fie was willing to support his
children.
Inspector Gifford said he heard something of the pri-
soner's conduct • fortnight ago, and went to remonstrate
with him, as he knew he could support his family if he
would.
Mr. Maude said, if it were not for the prisoner's intem-
perate habits, there was no reason why his family should
not be in as comfortable circumstances as that of any other
working man in tho town. Ile must certainly make an
example of the prisoner, who had been guilty of such acts
of cruelty as to bring bun fairly within the new act of par-
liament ; and the court was called upon to punish him to
the full extent of the law. lie was, therefore, sentenced to
bard labour for six al_•ndar months. Meantime, the
family would be taken care ul in the workhouse.

MELANCHOLY AND FATAL ACCIDENT O.V
THE THAMES.

Yesterday information was communicated to Mr.
Higgs, coroner for the Duchy of Lancaster, and to Mr.
Carter, coroner for Surrey, of the discovery yesterday
morning of the bodies of two young men, named Peter
Adams and Joseph Courtac, the former an apprentice, sod
the latter barman in the service of Mr. Fred. John Western,
licensed victualler and proprietor of the Bell Tavern,
Addle-street, Doctors -commons, who were drowned on
Sunday morning last under the following circumsttnees
It appeared that on the Sunday morning they left their
employers house for the purpose of bathing in the Thames.
They were accompanied by the potman, and hired n boat,
into which they all went. They proceeded to Westmin-
ster-bridge, when a match was proposed by the potman,
who offered to swim against Courtue to Vaushall-bridge
for a shilling. Previous to going into the water they
urged Adams, who had but • little notion of swimming,
not to leave the boat. Courtue and the potman were re-
Nrning, and they saw Adams stripping, but before they
could get up to him he had plunged into the stream. lie
almost immediately exclaimed, " Help me, help me."
Counts' went to his assistance, when Adams clasped him in
his arms. A frightful struggle took place on the part of
Courtus to dimmers himself from Adams, but who only
clung closer to him, and they both then disappeared. The
potman got into the boat and swam towards the spot,
several other boats offering their assistance at the same
time; but the unfortunate deceased sever again appeared.
Adams was 17 sad Cantu, 2'2 years of age. The body of
the former was found yesterday morning by Palmer, •
lighterman, off Somerset House, and that of Courts* wee
picked up on the Surrey side of the river, is the pariah of
Christchurch.
Last sight Mr. Higgs opened an Musky at the Three
Horse Shoes, Milford-lane,Stroud, which wee adjourned is
order to template the evidence.