The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-28 00:00:00

FA MIL Y JARS.

Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, a fashionably-attired woman, the
wife of a tradesman in Teoley-street, was charged, before Mr.
Cottingham, 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 expt essed her determination not to
allow him to sleep in the same bed with her. As he did not
de►ire 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
Led 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 he 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. Cottingham—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 posession 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 bear 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, anti both parties left the Court
with their respective solicitors to arrange matters.