The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-12 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

CLERICENWELL. HEARTRENDING CASE. A
BRUTE.—Shortly after Mr. Corrie took his seat on the
bench, the workhouse van of St. Pancras parish drove
up to the door of the court,. when a crowd assembled,
and seemed to be highly incensed at a most harrowing
sight. A poor emaciated woman, who was evidently
suffering under disease and starvation, was assisted out
of the van, seated on a chair. She was covered with a
blanket, and had more the appearance of a corpse than
a living being. She was lifted on the chair upon the
table appropriate.] for the solicitors, and her head dropped
as if she was in a dying state.
Mr. Birchmore, the overseer of St. Pancras, who was
accompanied by Dr. Davis, connected with the parish,
addressing the Bench, said be had brought before the
Court the poor woman now before his worship, who ,vas
the wife of a person named Charles Thompson, a com-
positor, employed upon one of the morning newspapers,
and resided in a two-roomed house in North-crescent-
mews, Burton-crescent. The Rev. Canon Dale, vicar
of St. Pancras, bad received communications that the
husband of the unfortunate woman had ill-treated and
starved her. He (the rev, gentleman) made the case
known to him (gr. Birchmore), who instantly proceeded
to the house, accompanied by Dr. Davis, when they
found the poor woman now before his worship, in a state
of nudity, with the exception of an old shift. She was
in a state of disease and filth, and evidently dying fur the
want of proper attention and nourishment. She was
immediately wrapped in blankets, placed in a chair, and
brought in the van to this establishment. The attenuated
and miserable appearance of the poor creature, who had
the remnants of former beauty in her countenance,
caused an involuntary shudder in the spectators ; in fact,
she was nothing but skin and bone. Her limbs were
partially exposed from the ankle, and she burst out into
tears.
Mr. Birchmore said that her husband was said to be a
clever person at his trade, and could earn a good in-
come, although he acted in this extraordinary manner
towards his family.
Mr. Corrie—Where is the husband
Mr. Birchmore—He is now in court, your worship.
Mr. Corrie—Then put him in the bar.
A person of respectable appearance was introduced
to the bar, when
Mr. James Turton, of No. 3, York-road, King's-cross,
brother to the poor woman, said the defendant, the per-
son now at the bar, had been in the habit of ill-using his
wife in a most inhuman manner. He lived in debauch-
ery, and bad
i communicated to hienr
tahicsomwapyla.intHuenhdaerd
which she had suffered for 12 years, and was still labour-
ing under • and some of her children had been given
birth to while she was afflicted
rendered her all the assistance in his power. She was
in the habit of taking laudanum to lull the pain under
which she was suffering ; and one of his daughters had
attempted to poison herself in consequence of the
ill-
usage of the defendant. He (the brother) visited the
house yesterday morning, and she was unconscious of
his being in her apartment whilst she was in bed. She
said, in an exhausted tone, "I am starving." She was
evidently in a paroxysm of pain and madness.
Dr. Davis said the poor woman was labouring under
syphilis, and_had been grossly neglected. No medical
attendance or assistance bad been paid to her.
Mr. Birchmore said that there were five children from
3 to 16 years of Age, all of whom appeared healthy and
properly nourished.
Dr.. Davis said that the cldren only had 2. pounds
of bacon and-a few potatoe call day.
Mr. Birchmore—The defendant could earn 355. or 2/.
per week, and he was informed that sometimes he could
earn 2s. 6d. per holt.
After hearing further evidence of a most harrowing
description, with reference to the ill-treatment of the un-
fortunate wife and her peculiar sufferings,
Mr. Corrie, who evidently sympathised for her, de-
cided that the defendant should allow 10s. per week to-
wards the maintenance of his wife, who should in future
be under the protection of her brother, and that the
children might remain with the father, and Mr. Birch-
more should keep an attentive watch over the prisoner's
conduct towards them. And if you do not act up strictly
to this arrangement, said Mr. Corrie, I shall have you
brought before me, and see whether you shall be com-
mitted for trial.
The prisoner hoped that his case would not appear in
the newspapers, and insinuated that the charge was get
up against him through prejudice on the part of the wife's
relations.
The wretched woman was taken away by her brother.

'CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING' DAY, ThUrsday,
Oct. 11.--Admissions on payment; 2,397 ; ditto by sea-
son tickets, 266 • total visitors, 2,663. Corresponding
day last year, 2697.

THE LONDON COFFEE AND EATING-
HOUSEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of members of the above association took
place last night at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-
street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, for the purpose of presenting
Mr. Yates, who lately filled the offices of Vice-President
and President of the Association, with a testimonial of
the high esteem entertained for him by the body, in con-
sideration of the great services which he had been the
means of conferring upon the trade, by the manner in
which he discharged the duties of those offices, awl as an
acknowledgment of the zeal, ability, and high integrity
which he exhibited in all his transactions in advocacy of
the charity.
In the course of the communications of the evening it
was stated that the association now numbers between
two and three thousand members, that their charitable
institution for the support of reduced members of the
body continues to prosper, and that the distribution of
their pension fund continues to operate with most bene-
ficial effect. To that pension fund, the press, and
numerous members of the wealthy portion of society,
had, it was added, generously and considerately contri-
buted. _ _ _

An excellent supper was prepared for the occasion.
Mr. Baker, successor to Mr. Yates, in the presiden-
tial chair, occupied the position of chairman on the pre-
sent occasion, and Mr. Harding discharged the duties
of vice-chairman. .

Mr. Rogers, the indefatigable Secretary of the Asso-
ciation, discharged the duties of his position with his
accustomed affability and intelligence.
The cloth having been drawn,
The CHAIRMAN, who was supported on his right by
Mr. Yates, the guest of the evening, gave the health of
" Her Majesty the Queen," which was drunk with en-
thusiasm, and all the honours.
The other loyal toasts were also duly honoured.
Mr. HARE, one of the founders of the association,
gave "the Army and Navy and our gallant Allies."
The CHAIRMAN then intimated to the company that
the next toast on his list was the toast of the evening--
a toast to which he was quite sure the company were
prepared to do full justice, and to honour in a manner
worthy of theassociationand of the gentleman whom they
were met that evening to express their warmest regard
for, and the high estem in which they held him for his un-
tiring zeal, and the great service which he had rendered
by his exertions to the objects of their institution. It
was to him (the chairman) a feeling of the graatest sa-
.

tisfaction, filling, as he now did, the position which Mr.
Yates had previously most ably filled, to have the gra-
tification of proposing such a toast ; and in doing so, he
would take that opportunity of humbly expressing a

hope that he might conduct himself i❑ a similar manner,
and thus entitle him to the approbation of the associa-
tion and the public. Mr. Yates had conducted himself
in the discharge of his duties with the highest integrity,
and while the association was conducted on such prin-

ciples they could fail to prosper. He should not
further trespass upon the company with any observa-
tions of his own. They were all acquainted with Mr.
Yates—his qualities and private worth ; and he would
therefore conclude by proposing " Health and prosperity
to Mr. Yates, the former President of the Association."
(Drunk with enthusiastic cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then presented Mr. Yates with a tes-
timonial, expressive of the approbation of the members
of the society for the steps taken by him to advance the
objects of the London Coffee and Eating-housekeepers'
Benevolent Institution. It was a beautifully engraved
testimonial, tastefully framed, and elegantly mounted.
Mr. YATES, in expressing the great degree of pleasure
which he felt in receiving a testimonial so complimen-
tary to him, said he was unable to give adequate expres-
sion to the feelings which at that moment filled his mind.
He had been apprised that such a testimonial would be
presented to him, and he should through life feel proud
of it, and should band it down to his children as a me-
mento of the esteem in which their father was held by a
respectable and useful body of men. (Applause, amidst
which Mr. Yates resumed his chair.)
Several other toasts were disposed of, after which the
company separated, highly gratified with the evening
they had passed, and with the event which had brought
them together.