The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-29 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

On Thursday James SiliiiiSoll, a tradesman in Kent-
street, was charged, before Mr. Cottingham, with com-
mitting a violent assault on Eleanor Biag, under curious
circumstinees.

Miss Brag, a lady to whom the words " fair, fat, and
forty," might be justly applied, stated that she was in-
troduced to the defendant by friends, who assured her
that he would make a very comfortable husband for a
woman possessed of a mild and amiable temper. know-
ing that she possessed those qualifications in an eminent
degree, they carried on a courtship for some time, and
she had no reason to repent of her choice until within
the last few days, when the banns for the celebration of
their marriage were put up at St. George's Church, and
they were to have been united on Sunday lowa. On
Thurseay last she was visited by her lover, who for
some unaccountable cause began to abuse her, and ulti-
mately struck and kicked her, and she could assure the
magistrate that she was still suffering from the eff-cts of
his violence, as she could prove by the marks on her
person.
The defendant, who seemed to be suffering a good
deal of mental anguish during hiss weetheart's sot tenient,
at its coneusion declared that he was ready and willing
to marry her that day, if she only promised to curb
her temper. He then stated that a few evenings since
he called upon Miss Brag rather later than usual, having
been detained t.king a parting glass with a friend. The
moment, however, he entered her apartment she began
to abuse him, and, in fact, took more airs upon her•elf
than a wife would presume to do ; and, not cont,nt
with that, she flung some crockery articles at his head.
from which he had a narrow escape of sustaining serious
injury. He did seizes her arms to prevent further ads-
chief, and there might be marks of his grasp in securing
her, but he could declare he did not do it in anger ; and
as a proof that he still retained a
.§trong affection for
Miss Brag, he only anticipAttil the happy day when she
changed it to ;Mrs. Smithson. He repeated that he was
prepar. d to lead her at once to the hymeneal altar,- and
had purchased the weddinge-ing, which he pulled out of
his waistcoat pocket, and holding it between his finger
and his thumb, exhibited it to the gazing multitude,
whose attention was excited by the singularity of the
case, exclaiming at the same time, "See there, that 13 a
proof that I mean what I say. No other woman shall
have the Lonour of wearing that ring on her finger ex
cept Miss Brag."—(Laughter.)
Mr. COTTINGIIABI said he thought if a reconciliation
could be eff-cted between the parties it would be more
prudent than punishing the detendant for the alleged
assault, especially as he had evinced by his behaviour
that day that he still retained a strong regard for the
lady who had adopted the present proceedings. -The
magistrate then appealed toMiss Brag, the complain-lit,
to know if she was willing to forego the present pro-
ceedings, the defend4nt having expt essed his wiliingness
to he married to her forthwith.

Miss Brag, with emphasis—No, if he was hung wilt
diamonds I would not marry him after such conduct. I
feel thank'ul to your Worship for the kindness you
have expressed in endeavouring to bring about a recon-
ciliation between us, but I should endanger my future
happiness if I consented to be that man's wife (p,,intint:
to the defendant) after the manner in which I have been
treated.,
Here a scene occurred, the det.;nBlitit, on his i.chees
ploring the complainant, to dismiss from her memory ibe
trifling circumstance of Thursday 'light, and ono- to
think of the happiness that was in store for them if she
availed herself of the magistrate's kind advice. ,

Miss Brag, however, was obdurate, and refused to
listen to the defendant's entreaties ; upon which the
magistrate said, that under the very peculiar circum-
stances of the case he should let the matter stand over
for a week, at,d probably before the expiration of that
time the complainant would alter her mind on the subject.
The parties then withdrew, Miss Brag flouncing out ut
the Court, and not noticing the detendant.