The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-06 00:00:00

LAMBETH- STREET.

William Silvester, a journeyman copper-plate
printer, was yesterday charged before Mr. HARD-
WICK and the Rev. D. MATHIAS, with assaulting his
wife and giving her a black eye.
The complainant, who is rather a good-looking
woman, stated that since her marriage with the de-
fendant in July, 1831, scarcely a day passed, cer-
tainly a week did not elapse, without his assaulting
and beating her in the most cruel manner ; and,
such was the extreme of his temper and violence,
that her life was in danger if she continued longer
to live with him. On going to bed at night, it was
his constant habit to place the poker alongside him,
or in such a situation that he could lay hold of it
without the necessity of getting out of bed, if any-
thing occurred to disturb his temper. On Monday
evening, without her giving him the slightest pro-
vocation, he beat her most unmercifully, and gave
her the black eye she then had.
The defendant, in reply to the charge, said that
he had had the misfortune to be cajoled into a mar-
riage with the complainant by the payment of 71
from the officers of the parish to which she be-
longed ; and he had had ever since to curse his fate for
doing so, for he had not only got hold of an invete-
rate gin-drinker, but a --. The money, at the
time, was a tempts•ion to him, he being then, and
for some time previously, out of employment; but,
on discovering the sort of bargain which he had
got, he offered the money back to the overseers,
and entreated they would take her off his hands, but
they refused to do so. On Monday last, while on
his return from the west-end of the town, he saw
her come out of a lane near Temple-bar, arm-in-
arm with a man who was a perfect stranger to him.
Determined to watch their proceedings, he fol-
lowed them along Fleet-street into Farringdon-
street, when they entered a gin-shop and remained
there some time. They afterwards went into Fri-
day-street, where her companion went into a ware-
house, and remained for 20 minutes, during which
time she waited for him at the end of the street.
Ou his again joining her, they proceeded to Rose-
mary-lane, where he (defendant) left them, being
tired of the pursuit, and it was nearly two hours
afterwards when she reached home, in a state of ex-
treme intoxication. Being naturally exasperated at
her conduct, and she having refused to state who
her companion was on the occasion, he had, he would
confess, given her a sound beating. With respect
to the poker, and his taking it to bed with him, he
did so, he said, in consequence of her having a num-
ber of male followers, some of whom were so impu-
dent and daring as to enter his apartment, even
while he was there, and he was determined to serve
them our.

Mr. HARDWICK requested that the complainant
would state the particulars of her acquaintance and
marriage with the defendant.
She said she had been left a widow with two
children at the death of her late husband, and she
had sub-equently had the misfortune to have an
of which she was delivered in the
workhouse of the parish of St. Mildred, Bread-
street, city. Alter tier delivery she got a ittiation
as wet nurse in South-street, Finsbury-square, and
subsequently went to reside over the water, when
she became acquainted with the defendant. Having
occasion to call ou one of the overseers of St. Mil-
dred's, from which parish she had an allowance for
her child, he recommended her to get settled, and
she then told him that there was a young may pay-
ing her attentions, and he (he overseer) then told
her that the parish would allow him 71. if he mar-
ried her. Site told this to the defendant, who ap-
proved of it, and they were accordingly married.
The complainant stopped here, and did not make
a single observation in reply to the accusation of
her husband, of being escorted from Temple-bar to
Resemary-lane, and getting drunk with a stranger
to him.

Mr. HARDWICK expressed considerable surprise
at this mode of marrying paupers, but
Mr. MATHIAS observed, that he believed it to be

common practice with most of the parishes in th
metropolis, if not in the country. Their object evi-e
dently was to get rid of the females, as they alway
took care that the husband had a legal claim on ano
ther parish, and that parish would also have to sup
port the wife.
The Magistrates ultimately discharged the warrant,
recommending the parties, if they could not contrive
to live on amicable terms, to separate.