The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-18 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

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AWFUL OCCURRENCE. -
Yesterday, Thomas Couch, a middle-aged man oranest
repulsive appearance, and who was described 10 the
police-sheet as a wheelwright, was charged at Lau ,eth
Police-court with being drunk on that morning, iand
obstructing a police-constable in the execution of his
duty. Thomas Messer, police-constable L 39, deposed
that about half-past two o'clock on that morning he
heard a disturbance in Fore-street, Lambeth, and on
going to the house No. 28, in that street, be found the
prisoner at the door, endeavouring to force his way
in, while the occupier was endeavouring to keep him
out, and, at the same time persuading his wife, wbo
was fit a state of intoxication, to go up stair s to bed.
The w:fe declared that she should not, anal that if
the husband did not think proper to admit the prisoner
into the house, she should leave it, for that wherover he
was there she 'hould be also. The husband, upon .seeing
him (witness) complained bitterly of the conduct of his
wife, and said that though the mother of six children, k:he
had formed an improper intimacy with the prisoner—
that she had been away from her home all the evening
and night with him, until that hour, and that he knew
not on earth what to do with her. Witness, upon hear-
ing this, told the prisoner that unless he went quietly
about his business, so as to put an end to the disturbance,
he should take him to the station-house. The prisoner
still persisted in forcing his way into the house, and
pushed witness about once or twice. He then said ha
certainly would take him to the station-house, when: ha
woman inside said she should be taken there too, and
repeated, that witerever the prisoner was there she
would be. Her hm7band, the instant she had uttered
these expressions, was in the act of falling, when witness
caught him in his arms, and on procuring a light found
that he was quite dead.
Mr. Norton—Do you know of your own know-
ledge whether the parties had any struggle in the pas-
sage, or whether the deceased received a:ly injuries ?
Witness—l don't think he did, Sir. There was no mark
of violence on him, and the doctor who examtled hi n is
of opinion that he died from some internal cas'se. He
told me himself, a moment or two before his death, that
his heart was quite broken with the conduct of hi% wife ;
and when some person said " the man is dead," hits wife
exclaimed, " Thank God for it."
Mr. Norton—Did the unfortunate man seem made
excited immediately preceding his death ? Witness—
Not very much so, Sir. He seemed to me to be very de-
jected and low in spirits; in fact, quite cut up.
Mr. Norton—Have you ascertained what the deceased
was, and what his name is ? Witness—Yes, Sir, his
name is Charles Ingas ; he was a harness-maker by
trade, and ai,out 60 years of age.
James Mills. a boat-builder. said he had seen -the pri-
soner and Mrs. Ingas drinking together at several
public-houses on the nilccitt before. He first saw them
about half-past six in tiff, evening, and heard the pri-
soner say he had come to take her away from her hus-
band. He also saw them go into the house of the de-
ceased about two o'clock in the worning, and immedi
ately after heard them both singing in the lower part of
the house. This caused Mr. Ingas to cOme down stairs,
and he (witness) heard the deceased frequently tell the
prisoner to leave his house, else he shOu24 give him
into custody. The other part of the witnees-S testimony
was confirmatory of the constable's.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said that lie hod
known Mrs. Ingas for about twelve months and !I:Lel, he
should not have acted as he had done had he not, i'eun
very much intoxicated.

Sir. Norton observed that the case was one of a shock-
ing and lamentable character, and ordered the prisoner to.
find bail for his good conduct for three months, and also
to pay ss. for being drunk.
The prisoner not being prepared with the reqnfred
sureties was sent to Horsemonger-lane Gaol.