The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-20 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

Yesterday Madame Maria Lemaire, the wife of the
proprietor of an exhibition at the Rotunda, in the
Blackfriar's-road, was brought before Mr. Hammill,
charged with attempting to throw herself into the
river at Blackfriars-bridge.
William Clarke, a young man, stated that on the
preceding night, as he was returning home about nine
o'clock, his attention was called to the defendant,
whom he saw descend the steps of Blackfriars•bridge,
on the south side. Suspecting that her intention was
to commit suicide he followed her quickly down the
steps ; and she was about to precipitate herself into
the river, having thrown off her bonnet and shawl,
when he seized the back portion of her dress and held
her firmly, notwithstanding her efforts to disengage
herself from his grasp. He then led her up the steps,
and gave her into the charge of a policeman, who took
her to the station-house, and she seemed to witness to
be under the influence of liquor at the time.
Mr. Binns said that he appeared for M. Lemaire,
the husband of the defendant, who rented the pre-
mises known by the name of the Rotunda; that on
being apprised that his wife had made the attempt to
drown herself, he immediately repaired to the• station-
house, and there had an interview with her. M.
Lemaire had instructed him to state that the defen-
dant was, unfortunately, addicted to habits of in-
toxication, and that he could not possibly live with
her any longer, finding that all his efforts to break
her of the propensity were unavailing. That on the
preceding day she left home, saying that she was
going a short distance, at which time she was per-
fectly sober, adding that sbe should return shortly.
She, however, did not come back until the morning,
being out all day, and she was then under the influ-
ence of liquor and quite incapable of superintending
any portion of the exhibition that was then going
forward; that her husband was so disgusted with
her conduct that he refused her admission, and it
appears that it was subsequently to that refusal
that she proceeded to Blackfriars-bridge, and made
the attempt upon her life as described by the wit-
ness who had prevented her. M. Lemaire had,
however, instructed him to state that he was
perfectly willing to grant his wife a separate mainte-
nance, an offer which he had frequently made to her,
and that as it was quite impossible for him to live any
longer with her, as sbe would inevitably bring ruin
upon him and his children, he was now prepared to
enter upon any arrangement for that purpose ; that
they had been married fourteen years, thirteen out
of which she was in the habit of drinking to excess,
and this was not the first time she had attempted self-
destruction, for not very long ago she precipitated her-
self from Hungerford-bridge into the river, and on
that occasion was with difficulty saved.
M. Lemaire stood forward, and, addressing the ma-
gistrate in imperfect English, expressed himself to the
effect that he was compelled to adopt the line of con-
duct towards his wife as described by his solicitor, for
it was quite out of the question that he could live any
longer with a woman so completely devoid of all feel-
ing for him and his family in consequence of her
drunken habits.

The defendant, who stood at the bar crying, on
being asked whether she was willing to agree to her
husband's offer of allowing her a separate maintenance,
replied in the affirmative ; and

Mr. HAMMILL then said that he should give them
an opportunity of arranging the affair ; and Mr.
Binns subsequently announced that the defendant had
agreed to live with her mother.

The MAGISTRATE gave her a serious lecture on her
conduct, which, if persisted in, must eventually lead
to her utter ruin ; and, as she promised not to repeat
the attempt upon her life, she was liberated, and left
the court with some of her relatives.

William Osborne, a private in the 30th Foot, on
route to Walmer, was placed at the bar charged with
riotous conduct in drawing his bayonet, and threaten-
ing to stab some persons in a public-house in which
he was billeted.

Joseph Walsh, police•constable 283 M, stated—
This morning I was on duty, at half- past one o'clock,
at Stone's-end, and I saw the prisoner go into the
Waggon and Horses, and he had his firelock on his
shoulder. I afterwards heard a noise within, and
then saw the prisoner, with his bayonet fixed, in
front of the bar, threatening to run it through
different persons, and amongst them some women,
who were standing near at hand. I interfered,
and requested the prisoner to unfix his bayonet, and
put it up in the scabbard, telling him that he ought,
to know better, as a soldier, than to act as he
was doing. The prisoner, however, refused to
do as he was desired, and exclaimed that he would
not mind stabbing me with it ; and as he still con-
tinued to flourish such a dangerous weapon about, and
to threaten those in the house, I seized his musket
and bayonet from him, and observing that he was not
sober I took him to the station-house. On the way
to the station-house the prisoner was extremely riot-
ous in his behaviour.

Mr. John Bray said—As I was passing the above
house, hearing a noise within, I looked in and saw
the prisoner with his bayonet fixed, in the attitude
of charging some persons who stood at some distance
from him, and amongst whom were some women.
The latter were so frightened thatthey screamed out,
and from the state of excitement in which the
prisoner appeared, evidently from liquor, I was fear-
ful that he would have stabbed some of the people
present. I afterwards saw the policeman interfere,
and heard the prisoner exclaim that he would not
mind running his bayonet through any policeman.
In reply to the magistrate, the witness said that the
prisoner was under the influence of liquor, and that it
was only miraculous he had not stabbed some of the
persons whom he had threatened.
Mr. I-lammiLn to the prisoner.—What have you
to say in answer to the charge ? Prisoner
—I was drunk at the time, and do not know
what I did. I had been knocking about all the
afternoon, and got drinking. I got a billet on a
public-house, but, being a stranger, could not find
it; and, in fact, I did not know what I was doing,
and have no recollection that I drew my bayonet,
let alone fixing it, and threatening to make a charge
with it.
In answer to further questions, the prisoner said
that the regiment was passing through London from
Manchester on route to Walmer, and that he received
his billet, but could not find the house.
Mr. lIAMMILL said that a non-commissioned officer
ought to have been appointed to see that the privates
were at the houses in which they were billeted, in-
stead of allowing them to roam about the streets of
the metropolis, as this man was, armed with his mus-
ket and bayonet, and in a state of intoxication. The
Magistrate added that the prisoner had disgraced
himself by such behaviour rs that given in evidence
against him—namely, drawing his bayonet and
threatening to stab some ciN ilians who happened to
be near him, as well as the policeman who interfered,
and very properly so, for their protection. Such
misconduct on the part of the prisoner he (the magis-
trate) could not permit to go unpunished, and as an
example to him in future not to act in such a man-
ner, he should sentance him to be imprisoned for
seven days.
The prisoner was then removed.
LAMBETH.

BURGLARY AND ROBBERY.—Yesterday James
M'Nair and James Keer were placed at the bar be-
fore Mr. Norton, on a charge of burglary and rob-
bery at the Southampton Arms public-house, Nine-
elms.

From the evidence it appeared that so late as twelve
o'clock on Wednesday the prisoner M'Nair was seen

in front of the Southampton Arms, and at three
o'clock on Thursday morning Police-constable Rat-
cliff, 181 V, having heard the noise of some footsteps in
the yard looked over the yard gate, and saw AP.Nair
coming down the steps leading to the back door. In
a moment or two the prisoner came over the gate ;
and upon being asked what brought him there, he
said he expected some Norman cows by the rail Nay,
and he was waiting to receive them. The constable
very foolishly allowed him to go about his business.
Mr. Ilippesley, the landlord of the Southampton
Arms, deposed that about three o'clock on Thursday
morning he was called up by Ratcliff, the constable,
and on coming down stairs he found his bar door open,
also the back door, and the front door was only closed
by the ordinary latch. On examining the bar he
missed eight half-crowns, two five-shilling packages
of halfpence, about twenty cigars, and a quantity of
tobacco, some of which was made up into penny
screws. Oa comparing some of the latter with some
screws found in the possession of the prisoner they
exactly corresponded. In conclusion, Mr, Hippesley
said he knew the prisoner M'Nair from his being the
son of the former landlord of the Southampton Arms,
and saw him at his house as late as nine o'clock on
Wednesday night.
James Scudda, potman to the prosecutor, said that
on Wednesday night, while putting up his master's
shutters, he saw the prisoner M'Nair sitting in front
of the house, and spoke to hini, and after that he fas-
tened the back door in the usual way with both bolts.
He knew the other prisoner Keer, but bad not seen
him on the Wednesday night.
The only evidence against Keer was his being seen
with the other prisoner at an early hour on Thursday
morning, and having in his possession when taken
some screws of tobacco precisely similar to those
stolen from the bar of the prosecutor.
The prisoners were remanded to a future day.