The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-28 00:00:00

SOUTH WARK.

Yesterday James Smithson, a tradesman in Kent-
street, was charged, before Mr. Cottingham, with com-
mitting a violent assault on Eleanor Brag, under curious
circumstances.

Miss Brag, a lady to whom the words " fair, fat, and
forty," might be justly applied, stated that sho was in-
troduced to the defendant by friends, who assured her
that be 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 en a courtship for some time, and
she had no reason to repent of her choice until vi ithin
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 next. On
Thursday last she was visited by her lover, who for
some unaccountable cause began to abuse her, and ulti-
mately struck and k'cked her, and she could assure the
magistrate that she was still suffering from the effects 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 his sweetheart's statement,
at its conclusion 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 taking 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 herself
than a wife would presume to do ; and, not contentA
with that, she flung some crockery articles at his head,
from which he had a narrow escape of sustaining serious
injury. He did seiza her arms to prevent further mis-
chief, and there might be marks of his grasp in securing
her, but he could decline he did not do it in anger ; and
as a proof that he still retained a strong affection for
Miss Brag, he only anticipated the happy day when she
changed it to Mrs. Smithson. He repeated that he was
prepared to lead her at once to the hymeneal altar, and
had purchased the wedding•ring, 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, " :iee there, that is a
proof that I mean what I say. No other woman shall
have the honour of wearing that ring on her fi:ger ex
cept Miss Brag."--(Laughter.)
Mr. COTTINGIIAM said he thought if a reconciliation
could be effected between the parties it would be more
prudent than punishing the defendant 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 to Miss Brag, the complainant,
to know if she was willing to forego the present pro-
ceedings, the defendant having expressed his willingness
to be married to her forthwith.

Miss Brag, with emphasis—No, if he was hung with
diamonds I would not marry him after such conduct. I
feel thanlOul 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 cont,ented to be that man's wife (pointing
to the defendant) after the manner in which I have been
treated.

Here a scene occurred, the defendant on his knees im-
ploring the complainant to dismiss from her memory the
trifling circumstance of Thursday night, and only to
think of the happiness that was in store for them if she
availed herself of the magistrate's kind advice.
Miss Brag, however, wa3 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, and probably before the expiration of that
time the complainant would alter her mind on the subject.
The parties then withdrew, Miss Brag flouncing out of
the Cuurt, and not noticing the defendant.