The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-21 00:00:00

ILI-T1L841116 A WIF AND FAMILY.

At the Greenwich police-court yesterday, before
Mr. Maude, Thelma Owen, a young man described as a
law writer, and who appeared himself to be well nou-
rished, was brought up on • warrant charged with that,
being of sufficient ability to maintain his wife and five
children, he had allowed them to become chargeable to
the Greenwich union. He was also charged on a summons
with assaulting his wife.
Mr. ratte, relieving offi•ar for Deptford, said that in
the early part of last week his attention was Called to the
wife and five children of the prisoner, living in a house in
Adolphus-street, Deptford. On proceeding to the house
be found everything in a very destitute condition, and
the whole of the children were almostut a state of nudity,
having only an old garment on them. He inquired
of the wife respecting her husband, and she said
he was a law writer, having three " seats "
at an office in Serle's-place, Lincoln's-inn-fields,
where lie employed others to work, and that his
earnings were from three to four guineas per week, He
at once relieved the wife and children, and on bringing
her case before the board of gurdians relief was ordered
to the extent of 2s. 6d. and three loaves of bread per week,
his instructions being to summon the husband, and failing
to appear to Which a warrant was issued for his apprehen-
sion. The day after the relief was given he again visited
the house, and found that two of the three loaves had been
taken to another house for safety, as the prisoner had
threatened to throw anything away that was obtained
from the " parish." A more shocking case had never
wine under his notice, and on asking the eldest of the
children, a boy eight ;Tars of age, if he could read, he
replied that he could not.
Sarah Owen, the wife, a young woman, who made her
statement with reluctance, was then sworn. She said that
when the summons for the assault was called on for hear-
ing she ilea expressed a wish nut to prowed with it, but
only that morning the prisoner had struck her in the
mouth, and was continually beating her. During the sit-
ting of parliament the prisoner earned a great deal of
money, taking work from law stationers and employing
others to do the work. Generally she had only a few
shillings weekly to keep herself and family, and in four
weeks all that she had received from him was be. 111 d.
He boasted that he was keeping another woman,by whom
he bad two children, and that all he had to do was to
walk about the park, as he could have enough to keep
himself. Of late be had given way to drink, and came
home at all hours of the night and morning, going to
London regularly daily. She d
id not wish him to beim-
prisoned, but to allow her a maintenance, and so enable
her to take away her children, there being another family
of six children in the same house belonging to a man also
a law writer, and the language used being such as not fit
for children to hear.

Mr. Mande—What ! Another family of six children in
the same house

The Wife—Yes, there are eleven children altogether
in the same house.

Mr. Patte—And the other family is in se destitute and
neglected a state as that of the prisoner's, but no applica-
tion has been made to me for their relief.
The prisoner said he had had no work since theproro-
gation of parliament, and daring the sitting of parliament
his earnings were only 2.55. or 30s. weekly.
Mr. Mande said that of all the came of the kind that
had oome before him the present was the worst. The
wife had given her evidence in a cool and proper manner,
and evidently with a desire to say as little as possible
ILipkot ktr. husband AuCtllACTen„!"wrXl.a. tlr.t
he should not be I)unlated. Tre "(the prisonel had
asserted that he was at present out of employmen and
that his wages when employed were not so large as had
been stated. Into the truth of this he would have every
inquiry Made; and for this purpose he should remand the
et:es until a future day.
Mr. Patte said he would again bring the case before
the board of guardians that afternoon, and on leaving the
court Mr. Boustred, the chief clerk, by direction of Mr.
Maude, banded the wife some money for her use.

ADMIRALTY, AUOI7t3T 20.—APPOISTMENT8.—
Commander : John Barge*s to the Pandora, vice
Stratt : and Lieutenant Cesar H. Hawkins to the Endy-
mien.

------
BANWItrPTCY CorkT JUSTICE.—The Commie-
rton donee of the Sheffield Bankruptcy Court (Mr. A )
has made some remarks as to the alleged failure of L natio('
in bankruptcy courts generally. A. giving judgment
in the case of F. C. Machen, solicitor, Sheffield, in which
serious charges had been made against the bankrupt, but
bad notloee:troved, the learned commissioner said:
Having disposed of this particular case, I wish to make a
few general observations concerning the manner in which
charges against bankrupts under section 159 are got
up. Such a charge as that made against Mr. Machen
is one which, if true, is utterly disgraceful, and renders
him unfit for the company of honest men. If such a
charge cannot be supported by distinct evidence it
should not be made at all, but it too often occurs that
it is clear to every man of common sense in the court
that a great offence ha• been in fact committed, and
that there is plenty of evidence to support the charge,
if only pains were taken to bring forward the evidence
in a proper manner. But it too generally happens this is
not done, the result being that the court cannot declare
the offender guilty, owing to the careless manner in which
the case is conducted, and the slovenly manner in which
the so-called evidence is placed on record. Now, this
state of things occurs far too frequently, and that portion
of the public that attends courts of bankruptcy, or reads
' reports of the proceedings in the newspapers, cannot avoid
forming an opinion that there is too often a failure of
justice in thew courts. I see from the newspapers that it
has become quite a sort of fashion of late for persons who
ought to know better to blame the commissioner for these
failures, whereas, in truth, the failure of justice is partly
owing to the manner in which clause 159 is drawn, and
partly owing to a want of care in getting up evidence.
LAYBETR-BRIVOE 00bIPANY. —The ordinary
half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in the above com-
pany was held yesterday afternoon, at 41. Great G
street, Westminster. Viscount Torrington wasienoTe
chair. The Chairman moved the ad cm of the report.
VII6OWI circumatanoes had the development of
their traffic, but when the main road was open between
Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges he hoped their bridge
would be more used. Doubtless, also, when the new hos-
pital of St. Thomas's was
.completed a new traffic would
be created, and the same might lbe said respecting the sew
market at Harlington. He congratulated the share-
holders and directors on the good effucts of taking the tolls
into their own hands. Mr. Hemming seconded the motion,
which was agreed to, as was also a resolution declaring a
dividend of 3/. per cent., payable on September 20. A re-
port has been received from Mr. Peter Barlow, the engi-
neer, pronouncing even with more confidence than before
the entire stability of the bridge.

InsaTrux and Co. Bedfast, are the largest
holder, of Wltiekr in the world: Their Old !Anil Whisk,. la room-
mended by the reediest prufeexion In preference to P4enah Brandy.
PniThed in rash* and mare for borne ewe lby exportation. Quota-
= oo= to Illeepre. Pwaville and Clo., What; or 4.
gonad. Loam, W.C.—Wherliscassat]