The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-08 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

1 A TRADESMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HIS
WIFE.—Mr Jas William Dexter, milliner, of No. 1, Cran-
bourn-street, was charged before Mr Knox with assaulting
his wife, Jane.
The complainant, who gave her evidence in a very pe-
culiar manner, said —I have only been confined three
weeks.. My husband last night caught hold of my throat
and nearly choked me, and then told a policeman what ha
had done, and the policeman refused to take my husband
because I had no marks an me, We then went indoors,
and my husband gave me a blow on the nose and tore my
clothes. He was drunk, and always is drunk.
Defendant—How many half-quarterns of brandy did
you have yesterday ?
Complainant—Oh, fifty,
Defendant—Were
You notput to bad yesterday at dinner
time insensibly drunk ?
Complainant—Oh, yes.
Inspector Walker—The complainant has been drinking
this morning.
Police-constable, 51 o—About half-past 12 last night
the complainant asked me to take the defendant into cue..
tody, but as she had no marks about her I refused, telling
her she could come this morning to the court.
Mr Knox—You were perfectly right in doing so.
Constable—The defendant said be had not illused his
wife. The defendant had been drinking a little, but his
wife was very excited. On going round my beat again I
found the complainants nose bleeding, and on her charging
her husband with having again assaulted her I took him
into custody. The defendant said his wife had fallen in the

passage.
Defendant—Did I not try to avoid my wife?
Constable.—You did.
Defendant—Look at my hands
your worship. She is
always clawing me. Yesterday she had five half quarterns
of brandy before dinner, and was then put to bed. Later
in the day she throw several things at me, and I went out
till night to avoid her. On returning she again clawed me,
being intoxicated at the time. We have been married
seven years, and I attend to business and keep the books.
A young woman was called, and said that Mrs Dexter
had been drinking and fell, and
but for her would have
broken her neck.
Mr linox—lt is quite clear to ma that Mrs Dexter, who
was said not to be sober yesterday, is not sober today, and
had her husband attempted to strangle her she would have
some marks on her throat. It is pretty evident what sort
of a woman she is by the answer as to the 50 half quarterns
of brandy. It is not a case for a ---MO2-,istrato's interference,
and I am sorry the defendant has such a drunken wife.
The defendant was then discharged, and as he was leav-
ing the court his wife attempted to assault him, but was
prevented.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE THROUGII JEALOUSY. - Jane
Reed, a respectab;y attired married woman, living in
Chapel-mews, Portland-place, was charged before Mr.
Knox, with the following determined attempt to destroy
herself: --

From the evidence of a young man named Wm. Summers,
residi
prngienviCohuas afternoonrlto h
ntreet,eF heard ltzroy-square, it appeared that
on the screams
proceeding from
the house where the prisoner resided, and on going to see
the cause, he was informed that a female was hanging in a
back room. He immediately went to the room and saw the
prisoner being held from the floor by two or three women,
a cord attached to a beam being tied round her neck. The
prisoner was quite insensible at the time.

In answcr Co Mr. Knox witness said the prisoner was the
wife of the foreman of a yard.

Mrs. Mary Ann Robbins, residingresidingin the same house,
said her daughter informed her that Mrs. Reed was hang-
ing in the room, and on going down she found it to be the
ease. She then gave, an alarm, and Summers cut her
down.

William Moorcroft, 165 E, said the prisoner told him that
her husb,&nd had threatened to cut her throat, and she did
it because she would not give him the chance.
The husband of the prisoner said the fact was his wife
had made the attempt on her life through jealousy. He
went into a public-house with a friend to have a glass, and
two women were there, and some kind person went and told
his wife he was drinking with women. He believed that a
feeling of jealousy and a little drink had induced his wife
to act as she had done.

Mr. Knox said it was a serious matter, for if the prisoner
had not been seen, as she fortunately was, she would have
been a dead woman. Ho did not think the prisoner's mind
could be in a right state if she did such a thing for such a
trivial cause. He should remand her for a week that she
might be seen 'ay the physician and the chaplain of the
House of Detention.