The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-13 00:00:00

THAMES.

THUMB KISSING.—A DOUBIFUL CASE.—Eleanor
Birthright, a very intelligent and respectable young woman,
the wife of a labourer who is at present dwelling at 1, Lee-
street, Stratford, appeared on het recognisances before Mr.
Partridge to answer the charge of assaulting an aged Irish-
man named Jeremiah Cronin and breaking his leg.
The affray which led to the present investigation occurred
on the 6th of August last, at 1, Payne's-buildings, Old
Ford, Bow, where the prisoner and her husband occupied a
room. The landlady of the house was the daughter of the
man Cronin, and between her and the prisoner there was a
quarrel. The old man came by while the " debate," as he
called it, was going on, and said, "What is this about ?"
The prisoner said, " What is that to you, you old ---
He replied, "If I was the landlord I would soon have you
out." The prisoner said " You would, would you, you old
—I " His old woman (wife) was alongside of him, and
the prisoner put her out of the passage of the house down
several steps, and she was only saved from injury by falling
on a boy who was passing, The prisoner then came back
and put her hands on the shoulders of the old man and
shoved him down the steps. He fell on the pavement and
put his hip out. He was raised by the bystanders and
carried to the London Hospital, where ho remained under
medical treatment until Tuesday, the 30th ult, He was
carried into court by policemen and seated in a chair, and
it is probable from his advanced age (upwards of 80 years)
he will be a cripple for the remainder of his days.
Several witnesses, including the prosecutor's wife, con-
firmed his statement, and gave their evidence in a very
exaggerated style. Mrs. Cronin refused to take the book
in her hand when it was tendered to her, and said she took
the oath on a former occasion. Mr. Partridge said she
must take the oath again ; and when it was administered to
her, and she was desired to kiss the testament, she spread
her thumb over the book and kissed that. The prisoner
respectfully Palled the magistrate's attention to the evasion,
and said, " Please, sir, she kissed her thumb." The old
woman scowled at the prisoner, groaned repeatedly as if she
was in great distress of mind, and said she had not kissed
her thumb. Mr. Joseph Smith, Mr. Charles Young, soli-
citors, and the captain of a ship, seated at the table, said the
witness had kissed her thumb. She was desired to kiss the
book, and again kissed her thumb on the book. Mr. Par-
tridge said the silly artifice of the woman would not ab-
solve her from her oath, and after she had kissed her thumb
a third time amidst derisive laughter in court, the Magis-
trate said—You must take the oath in a proper manner.
After sundry groans and looking about her, she found there
was no escape, and kiseed the book. Her evidence con-
firmed that of her husband, but was different in some mate-
rial particulars to the evidence she gave two months ago.
The prisoner cross-examined the witnesses with much
tact' They answered her snappishly, but she involved
them in many contradic" The prisoner denied that
she Was guilty of the violence imputed
mputedther or that she
used the offensive expressions sworn to by the' old man and
his witnesses. 'I here was a row going on, in which she
had no wish to joie, She made her appearance, and the
old man called her
"a --- English " and said the
English had sold his country. She said "'Mr. Cronin, I
know nothing about these matters," and he struck her a
blow on the eye. The old man and his wife then dashed
at her, and ix trying to shako them off all three rolled down
the steps together. She was very sorry the old man was
injured, but she was not the cause of it. The occurrence
was quite accidental, and all the violence was on the other
side. Mrs. Birthright made her defence in a clear, melo-
dious voice, and wits great propriety. She left a favour-
able impression on every one. Iwo respectable witnesses
confirmed her in every particular. They saw the old man
strike Mrs. Birthright and lay ho'd of her, and the three fell
thebdeoewnnm ad es tteoptsh. Apnriostohneerro witnessthe stated
part thato,the Cronies to
overtures had
settle the matter for £5, and she refused to give any money
to thew.

Mr. Partridge said it was a very doubtful case indeed, and
one that he should send before a jury. He remitted the
caso to the Middlesex Sessions, and took bail for the pri-
soner's appearance there, herself in £3O and two sureties of
£25 each. Bail was tendered and accepted,