The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-17 00:00:00

THAMES.

A RIVAL TO BLEAR-EYED MOLL.—An extraordinary
specimen of humanity, named Mary Ahearn, whose age it
would be difficult to tell, but who said she was 40, was
brought before Mr. Paget charged with stealing two new
kettles, valued at 3s. 6d., from the shop of Mr. George
Booth, tin-plate worker, of 70, High-street, Shadwell.
The prisoner has rendered herself perfectly repulsive by
strong drinks, dissipation, violence, and disease. Her nose
was a perfect grog blossom, her face was disfigured with
contusions, her mouth was cut, and the remains of the few
teeth in her mouth were black. In a voice husky with gin
she kept a running commentary on the evidence. In her
ugliness and language she more than equalled the famous
Blear-eyed Moll, described by the great novelist Fielding
in his "Amelia." The prosecutor said a poor and respect-
able woman came into his shop yesterday evening, and
said the prisoner had struck her and robbed her of a shawl,
and, continued the womp, I think she has robbed you, for
she has two new tin kettles in her hands. He looked about
the shop and missed two kettles. He went after the pri-
soner and overtook her with the kettles in her possession.
She then made a furious attack upon him and beat him.for
a quarter of an hour.
Mr. Paget—Beat you, what did she beat you with ?
Mr. Booth—With her shoe, your worship. I never met
with such a desperate and furious woman in my life.
The prisoner—Och, you murthering villain. You
wanted to take advantage of me weakness. He did, yer
hanner's wertchip. (Laughter.) He has asked me to go
and live with him, and said he would furnish a nice little
parlour for me, pots, kettles, and all. (Laughter.)
Mr. Booth, who is a respectable married man, with a
family, looked astounded, and said there was not a word
of truth in what the prisoner said.
The prisoner—Och, jist hear that. You villain, didn't
ye tell me to take a new kettle, and didn't I take the one
besides the other you gave me.
Mr. Booth—Nothing of the kind.
The prisoner—Didn't you gave me a pint of gin ?
(Laughter.)
Mr. Booth—Certainly not.
Mr. George Booth, jun., a respectable young man, con-
ruled the evidence of his father in every particular.

The prisoner now altered her defence, and said she was
drunk yesterday, and the " little dhrop taken" put the
kettles into her hands.
James Stockley, a police-constable, No. 164 K, said he
saw the prisoner beating Mr. Booth. She was a most des-
perate woman.
The depositions having been read over by Mr. Bowdler,
the clerk, the prisoner said "Do as you like with me. I
was stone blind drunk, and did't know what I was doing ?
Mr. Paget—l shall commit you for trial.
The prisoner—Do what you like. Be me cowl, I must
have gin.
Mr. Paget—You will have none here.
The prisoner was beginning to abuse the witnesses when
the gaoler removed her to the lock-up.

The Duke de Luynes has sent a sum of I,ooof. to
the subscription for the monument to M. H. Flandrin, the
painter.

Major LYON thought the committee had arrived at their
conclusion from newspaper reports and vestry documents,
and not from the whole of the charges which had beenmade
against the board. He urged that as the contract was prac-
tically completed, there could be no further wrong-doing,
even if there had been anything wrong done. He believed
Mr. Bazalgette had inefficiently answered the questions put
to him in committee by Sir Joseph Paxton. The report stated
that the board had accepted Mr. Furness's tender contrary
to the advice of the engineer; but that was an error. He
defied anyone to prove such to hi the fact. The statement
of the engineer as to Mr. Furness could not be made to
agree with the report. He complained that the paid ser-
vants were becoming the board, and the board becoming
nothing at all. The report had been drawn up by some
officer of the board, and then but slightly altered in com-
mittee. He supported the amendment of Mr. Richardson.
Mr. Dourffox, M.P., would have supported the amend-
ment, that it was not expedient to make any answer to the
charges contained in the report, as he believed it was be-
neath the dignity of the Board to take any notice of them.
But when those charges came before a committee of the
House of Commons it was right this board should make such
a reply as would show the board was without reproach.
Mr. SAUNDERS went through the report of the committee
at great length, and contended that it was inexpedient to
answer many of the statements in it, which were untrue,
although he did not believe that the committeeknew it was
so. He thought the whole correspondence should be left to
the consideration of a discerning public.

Mr. FREEMAN said he should vote for the adoption of the
report.
Mr. NICROLAY thought the board had not acted with
fairness towards Mr. Ridley, and held that the Odessa affair
was the dead weight around the neck of the Board.
Mr. NEWTON replied upon the whole of the discussion.
A show of hands was taken, and the amendment declared
to be lost.

Vv
Major LYos then proposed, " That it is inexpedient at
the present time to make any reply to the charges referred
to in the report of the committee."
Mr. WESTERTON seconded this amendment, which was
also lost.
"' ' '

w.
A division then took place on the original resolution for
the adoption of the report, when there appeared—
For the motion ... ... 21
Against it ... ... ... 6
Majority ... •. • ... ... —l5
Upon the motion of Mr. DOVLTON, it was ordered that a
copy of the report be sent to every member of committee,
and of the Court of Common Council, in addition to the
vestries.
The Board adjourned at 6 o'clock.