The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-28 00:00:00

ASSAULT ON MRS. ITHITMEE.

Yesterday, at Union-11111, Mary Anne Bail, who cohabits with
a person named Ilonyman, was brought before the sitting 3la-
eistmte, R. Chestnuts, Esq. charged with having violently
assanhed Mrs. Whitmce, who, it will be recollected, attended at
this office on Friday last, accompanied by her husband, for the put-
pose of applying for a warrant for her apprehension.
Mr. IiAR ME it's flak attended on the part of Mrs. Whitrnee.
The defendant is a young woman, of very slender and delicate
form. On being placed at the bar. the Magistrate asked be whether
she admitted having assaulted Mrs. Whinnee? The defendant
declared that she had not, until she was in the Mat instance struck
by the lady, who, together with het husband, Mr. Whitmee, used
her shamefully.
Mr. %Tbitmee requested that the Magistrate wouldemunine their
servant girl, who was present during the whole of the circum-
stances.
Maris Foster was then called—She recollects. on Friday evening
last, the defendant calling on her mistress. She (witness) opened
the door when she knocked, and the moment her mistress made her
appearance in the passage, the young woman at the bar, who ap-
peared to be in a dreadful passion, rushed towards her, exclaiming,
Oh, you wretch, you have taken my man from me, have you? but
I will give it to you now." Witness at this 17110a3C114 in the con-
fusion which occurred, was pushed cut of the passage Into the
street, and had the door shut against her.
The Magistrate asked her if she could take upon herself to swear
that she saw the defendant strike her mistress first?-.She replied.
that in consequence of her having been shoved out when the "row"
commenced, she could not state who struck the first blow.

Mrs. Whitmee here produced the remains of her lace tap, and
handfuls of her hair, which had been torn (min her head in the
scuffle, as evidence of the desperate assault which had been com-
mittal on her person.
The defendant said that if she was allowed she would give the
31agistrate a true statement of what had occurred on the night in
question. She then proceeded tostate, that she had been, for the
last five years, living with a person named flonyman, who had lat-
terly become acquainted with Mrs. ll'hitniec. When she first
discovered the intimacy that subsisted between the man upon whom
she had placed her affections and Mrs. Whitmee. she met that lady
in the siren, and cautioned her against eneouneging him ; but, not-
withstanding the caution, she had since met them together, and
more than once traced them to a house in Blaskfriars'.road, of the
worst description, and saw them enter together. Having expostu.
lated with llonyman on the subject of his infidelity towards her,
and seeing no prospect of breaking off the connexion but by inform.
Ing Mr. 11-hi:mead the gross conduct of his wife, she (defendant)
determined upon letting him into the scent, sal for that purpose
called at his house on Thursday night and inquired for him, but M..
stead of his appearing, his wife came running into the passage, and
the moment she saw her (the defendant) she screamed out—"
der !" as loud as site could bawl, and then spat in her face, and
struck her; upon which she (the defendant) rutted her strength,
and managed to get the lace cap off her head. together with some of
her hair. Whilst the 7 were scuffling together, up conies Mr.
Whitmee and 'Mrs. SS hitruee's brother. both of whom attacked
her, and beat her in a barbarous manner. (Here the defendant,
addressing Mr. IS-hitmee, said, that he should ha* been the last
man to strike her, as she had come to his house for no other purpose
than that of acquainting him with the conduct of his wife towards
him ; but, she added, some men will be contented cuckolds, and I
believe you are one of that class, Mr. ll'hitmet.)
Mr. It-hitt:we said, that in all his life he never beheld such a
varlet its the defendant was. If. us she mid, she had conic to his
house for the purpose of giving him a hint respecting the conduct
of his wife, why commence an attack upon her the moment she got
inside the door " I saw the wretch," said Mr. Whitmee,
"strike her several times."

The 3itgistrate asked him which of the two ',Wier he WIN! the
" wretch"—whether it was his wife or the detendant ?

Mr. 14-I.lunce replied, that he certainly did not mean to call his
wife a wretch ; that term, he mid, was au appropriate one for such
u the defendant.

The Maginrate observed, that he amid not really see a shade of
difference between the characters of the two women ; for it was
obvious to every one who heard the whole case, that they were
both of the same profession, and that this quarrel arose in conse-
quence of a man with whom both the women seemed to be on the
most intimre footing. The 31agistrate repeated that ha thought
the one was just as bad as the other, and as the assault was not
proved to have been committed at first by the defendant, he could
not think of holding her to beiL
Mr. Whinnoe hoped the Magistrate would not discharge her,
for if that was the case, his wife would be subject to a simiter out-
rage. The assault, he thought, was el-arly proved, and the pro-
duction of his wite's lace cap and hair, he fluently submitted, were
conclusive, as to the danger which threatened her, if he had not
most fortunately been at home when the fracas took place. The
defendant, 31r. Whitmee added, wee quite drunk on the tight of
the assault.

The defendant persisted that she was r.s sober then as ahc was
at the present Wile. . .

The constable who took the defendant into custody being called,
swore that she bad not the slightest appearanax of having drank
are liquor when she was given into his custody.
The Magistrate again observed, that there was no evidence to
prove that 3lary Ante Ball had committed the first assault.
lfere a mutual recrimination conitaenecl between the defendant
and Mrs. Witham*.
The defendant was then discharged.

ROBBERY OF TIIE STIRLING AND zarvruntm

Mil L.