The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-25 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day,

THAMES.
A DOMESTIC TYRANT.— William Thorpe, a carman about
40 years of age, was brought before Mr. Partridge, charged
with violently assaulting his wife Jane, a woman of slender
make, who appeared to have been half starved.

The parties have been dwelling at 1, William-street
North, Stepney, where the prisoner was struggling with
and beating his wife for an hour yesterday afternoon, and
her appearance indicated that she had been very roughly
used, and her face and neck were marked with bruises and
contusions. She had been married to her husband 18 years,
and had borne him nine children.

The prisoner, a rough and boisterous fellow, here bawled
out, " Tell the truth, madam ! You have had ten children!
Mrs. Thorpe said her married life had been
one of great sorrow and persecution. Her husband
was a confirmed drunkard. He had frequently beaten and
disabled her. He was once before Mr. Woolrych for
savagely assaulting her, and she interceded for him, and
he promised to leave her and allow her 10s. per week. He
paid one week's allowance only, returned to his home, and
resumed his brutality. A warrant was applied for and
granted, but he kept out of the way until the time for exe-
cuting the process expired. He then returned to his dwel-
ling, and commenced a course of savage tyranny. He
frequently came home intoxicated, broke up chairs and
tables, and took out things to pawn to enable him to in-
dulge his propensity for strong drinks. He had not con-
tributed anything towards the support of his family for
some time. She procured a scanty living by her own
needlework and labour of her three boys. There were
three other young children at. home who could not work.
Last evening (Friday) her husband came home partially
intoxicated, and after abusing her he took away her
last shawl and dress for the purpose of raising
money upon them at the pawnbroker's shop. She at-
tempted to snatch them from him, and he beat her with
his fists, kicked her, dragged her into the yard, where he
beat her head against the stones, and run out of the house.
She caught him at the door, took the things from him, and
threw them into the parlour through the window. He
then struggled with her again, and used her so badly that
the bystanders interfered and took him into custody.
Police-constable Wm. Elson, 609 A, was called into a
baker's shop last night and found the woman covered with
blood, the children about her crying, and a mob of 200 or
300 persons assembled about the place. The people said
the prisoner had seized his wife by the throat and nearly
strangled her.
Several respectable witnesses, some neighbours and
others living at a distance, confirmed the complainant's
evidence in every particular. The complainant was de-
scribed as an industrious, sober, and well-conducted
woman.

The prisoner cross-examined the witnesses very rudely,
and he asked Mrs. Jane Fergusson, a master baker's wife
if he was not entitled to clean shirts, to which she replied
"If my husband acted like you and did not bring me money
on Saturday night he should not have one."

Mr. Partridge, in a feeling and eloquent manner, des-
canted on the serious nature of the prisoner's offence,
revelling in sensual gratifications, neglecting his home,
subjecting his wife to insupportable tyranny and persecu-
tion, and actually converting his wife and children's
clothes into money to procure strong drinks. No wonder
the poor and ill-used wife resisted her husband in taking
away her shawl and dress. The complainant and her
children were in a state of semi-starvation. The prisoner
was a savage and wicked man, and he (M. Partridge) felt
bound to put the law in force with great severity. He
sentenced the prisoner to six months' imprisonment and
hard labour in the House of Correction.

WESTMINSTER.
A GANG OF YOITNG DEPREDATORS AND A VIOLENT
MonrEß.—Five youngsters, named Joseph Finch, 11;
Frank Cox, 9 ; Michael Boyce, 9 ; Patrick Reardon, 14
and William Bull, Hoven charged with stealing a quantity
of scissors and razors.
John Simpson, another boy, 13 years of age, who gave
his evidence in a very straightforward manner, said that on
the previous evening he was coming down South-street,
Chelsea, with a parcel in his pocket containing the articles
in question, which had been ground, and which he was re-
taking to his master, when he stopped to play with these
boys and another named Connor. Suddenly he felt some
one at his pocket, and looking round saw Finch running
away with the pareel. Reardon afterwards gave him one
razor, and all the articles were recovered but a pair of
scissors, which Cox sold in Marlborough-road. He was
certain th:e parcel did not fall out, as it was in a very deep
pocket. Did not think the boys took them for a lark, as