The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-11 00:00:00

THAMES.

William Sheridan, a cowkeeper, of No. 28, Spring-
street, Shad well, was brought before Mr. Yardley on
a warrant, charged with threatening to murder his
wife, Emma Sheridan.
The complainant, a very respectable young woman,
who appeared to be very thin and careworn, stated
that on Monday last her husband mislaid his gloves,
and he accused her of concealing them, and said he
would break everything in the house. She searched
in all directions for them, but her husband would not
be pacified, and, after striking her in the back, kicking
her out of doors several times, and otherwise ill-using
her, he threatened to murder her. She then sought
refuge in the house of her sister, by whose advice
she purchased a new pair of gloves for her husband,
who went to a ball with a female relative, an Irish-
woman, who was formerly his housekeeper, and her
brother, and did not re' urn till a late hour,
when he commenced ill-using her again, and
made use of the mo .; dreadful threats towards
her. On Tuesday night her husband went to a raffle
with his cousin, and did not return home till three
o'clock the next morning. A few minutes after he
had get into his bed his cousin entered with a light,
and, after making use of a vile expression, laid hold
of the complainant's night-cap, and after tearing it off,
seized her by the hair of the head, which she tore out
by the roots, and beat and scratched her in a most
savage manner, without any interference on the part
of her husband , who was lying by her side. The
cousin then seized a chair, and was about to strike her
with it, when she was prevented by the entrance of
her (the cousin's) sister, and was with difficulty re-
moved from the room. In the morning, when she
arose, her husband again kicked her and beat her, and
threatened that he would murder her on his return.
She was so terrified by his threats, and had received so
much ill-usage from him, that she took the oppor-
tunity of his absence a few hours afterwards, to run
away from her home, and had since been living with
her sister. The complainant then went over an in-
ventory of her husband's effects, and said she had been
married to him 15 months, and brought him a house
full of furniture, and 601. in money—that he was
possessed of three cows, six pigs, a goat, a mare, and a
cart, and that he had done everything in his power to
render her miserable, break her heart, and drive her
from her home, that he might introduce into his house
his Irish counsin, who lived with him as his house-
keeper before complainant was married to him.
Among other acts of brutality he had frequently held
knives to her throat, and horsewhipped her in bed.
The sister of the complainant stated that Mrs.
Sheridan had frequently come to her house for
safety, with bruises on her face, and that her person
was now covered with marks and discolours.tions
caused by the defendant's brutal treatment:
The defendant, in reply to the chsrge, said his wife

was jealous of his cousin, who ha?been his house-
keeper before his marriage, and that his wife had
slandered her, arid that she came on Wednesday
morning to ask for an explanation, and attempted to
strike his wife. He caught the blow on his eye in
defending her. He denied in the most positive
manner that he had ever ill-used his wife, and said
the goods she had brought him were still in the house,
and that he had-laid out M. in cows and pigs.
Bridget Hall, a cousin of the defendant's, and sister
of the woman who appeared to have made all the
strife, was then called, and she objected to take the
oath.

Sheridan—Take hold of the book and swear

for me.
The young woman was then sworn, and said she
had been two months only from Ireland, and was
servant to Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan. She never saw
her cousin raise his hand to strike his wife, or heard
him make use of any threats; but had heard him
speak very harshly to her. She heard them disputing
about the gloves which her mistress took out of
her master's pocket. The witness further stated that
her sister came late on Tuesday night to her
master's bedside, to inquire about her wages.—
(Laughter.)
Mr. YARDLEY was not surprised that such a state-
silent should be received with a smile of incredulity,
and he was afraid the defendant had married the
victim of his brutality for the money and property
she brought him. The parties were ill matched, and
he would advise Sheridan to allow his wife a separate
maintenance.
Mr,. Sheridan said she could not live with such a
brutal tyrant again, and would be satisfied with os.
per week.
Mr. YARDLEY said that was little enough.
Sheridan said he could not afford so much.
Mr. YARDLEY said if the defendant did not properly
maintain his wife, and the parish officers lodged a
complaint against him, he would compelled him to
support her in a proper manner or commit him to
prison. The health of the wife was impaired by her
husband's brutality, and he had not heard of a case
of such cruelty and profligacy for some time. Ile
called upon Sheridan to find hail, himself in 401. and
two sureties of 201., to keep the peace towards his
wife for the next six months.
2lfary Wall, the cousin, was next charged with
assaulting Mrs. Sheridan while she was in bed, on
Wednesday morning.
Mr. YARDLEY fined her 405., and said the conduct
of the defendant and her relative had been most out-
rageous.