The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-26 00:00:00

FAMILY JARS.

Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, a fashionably-attired woman, the
wife of a tradesman in Teoley-street, was charged, before Mr.
Cottingbam, at Southwark Police-court, with assaulting and
threatening the life of her husband.
The complainant, a diminutive man in comparison to his
wife, a robust, hearty-looking woman, stated that he had been
married for ten years, and that for some time past had led a
very uncomfortable life, owing to the capricious disposition of
his wife. That she had of late, he was sorry to say, indulged
in liquor, and when under its influence was quite unbearable.
A few nights since she returned home slightly inebriated, and
on entering the room where he was sitting waiting patiently
for her return, she expressed her determination not to
allow him to sleep in the same bed with her. As he did not
desire to oppose her wishes on the subject, he intimated that he
would sleeep in an adjoining room, and accordingly proceeded
up stairs for that purpose. He, however, had scarcely got into
bed when Mrs. Taylor rushed into the apartment, smashed the
chimney ornaments, and demolished the water jug and basin.
He implored her to tranquillise herself, but all to no purpose ;
and not satisfied with the damage she had already committed,
she flew to the bed where he was lying, dragged him out by the
hair of his head, and in order to avoid further violence, he ran
down stairs naked as ho was, but she followed closely after him,
and renewed the attack until he was at length compelled to call
for assistance. When the policeman came he refused to take
the charge, on the ground that he had not witnessed the assault,
and the complainant, therefore, procured a warrant against her.
Mr. Cottingham asked the complainant his trade, and he
replied, a tobacconist ; but that his business was going to ruin,
owing to Mrs. Taylor's love for drink and fine dress.
Mr. Cottingliam—But why not prevent her, at all events,
from liquor? Complainant—lt's quite out of my power. She
gets it on the sly. It was only a few days since, when I expos-
tulated with her on the ruinous consequences of her conduct,
that she cut my head open with a china mug. The complainant
here exhibited the back of his head, saying it was quite bald,
owing to Mrs. Taylor having pulled all the hair out by the
roots. He added, that she also carried a loaded pistol about,
and that he was afraid to move about the house, in case she
should have a shot at.him.
Mrs. Taylor's solicitor said that he was instructed that the
defendant had taken the pistol away from her husband, know-
ing that he carried one about him.

The defendant declared that her solicitor had spoken the
truth, and that knowing her husband's fiery temper, and that
he always carried a loaded pistol, she took possession of it to
prevent its being turned against herself. She vowed that she
had no intention to do her husband a serious injury, but at the
same time she was determined he should not have it all his
own way. That she married him when he was insolvent, and
had not a halfpenny to help himself, put him into a good shop
of business, but he now wanted to exercise such control over
her and her property, that flesh and blood could boar it
no longer.
The complainant, in reply to the Magistrate, stated that
his wife had not only assaulted him in the way described, but
she had also threatened to blow his brains out, and he was
fearful she would carry her threats into effect. He also added
that she had some deeds belonging to him, which she refused
to deliver up.

Here an angry altercation took place between the parties, on
the subject of the deeds alluded to, which was at length put a
stop to by Mr. Cottingham, who said that it was impossible he
could sit there all day, to the hindrance of other public busi-
ness, to decide upon their domestic grievances; that it was
quite evident they could not live together with any degree of
comfort the way they were going on, and his advice was that
they agree to separate, the husband allowing the wife a main-
tenance.

The Magistrate's suggestion being agreed to, the defendant
was fined 20s. for the assault, and both parties left the Court
with their respective solicitors to arrange matters.

CONCERT ROOM►f MANNERS.—Madame Dorus Gras
is warbling one of those exquisite arias from Aleyerbeer's
Robert le Diable, in the execution of which we thought
she was unrivalled, until we heard the more voluminous
voice of the gifted Laborde in the same thrilling passages ;
now your friend, although not a very frequent visitor of the
concert room, nor remarkable for the accuracy of his judg-
ment in musical matters, is not backward at giving his opinion;
when the piece is concluded, therefore, he waits till the ap-
plause is over, and all being quiet, he remarks to you, in a
loud self-satisfied tone, that it was very well sung, but that
for his own part he preferred Staudigl's rendering of that com-
position ! A half-suppressed titter is heard around you, and
again you become conscious of the eyes of your neighbours.
You look about to see if there is any possibility of escape—but
the company have closed you completely in, and you resign
yourself to your tormentor with the patience of a martyr.
Presently, during the performance of a vocal quartet, your
friend in the coloured gloves turns round to you with the
inquiry, " Who are these ? Are they the Distin
family ?" What is the use of a programme to such an " uncom-
fortable man !" he makes you at once his programme and his
scapegoat, and instead of enjoying a pleasant evening, you are
sensible that your friend is making himself look very much
like a fool, and that you, his victim, arc perhaps by this time
beginning to obtain a small portion of pity from the half-
amused half-disgusted persons by whom you are surrounded.—
Dramatic and Musical Review.