The Sun.
London, England, 1829-09-10 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Yesterday a poor Irishwoman came before Sir R.
BIRNIE and Mr. MINSHULL, and complained that
the parish-officers of St.• Martin's-in-the-fields had
refused to inter her infant child in the parish burial-
ground, where seven of her children had been al-
ready buried. The poor woman appeared in great
affliction, and Sir R. Birnie immediately directed
that some person connected with the parish should
be sent for. Soon after Mr. Earle, clerk to the
overseers, attended the Magistrate's summons.
Sir R. BIRNIE asked him why the request of the
poor woman had not been complied with. Mr.
Earle replied, that he believed the churchwarden to
whom she had applied objected to the child being
buried in a particular spot, and was desirous also
that a coffin should be provided for it at the expence
of the parish. This she had refused to comply with,
and the churchwardens had therefore declined ac-
ceeding to her desire.

Mr. MINSHULL observed, that it was very cruel
to trifle with the poor woman's feelings merely be-
cause she did not choose to be provided with a
coffin at the parish expence.
The applicant said, she had buried seven children
in one spot, and all she wished was that the one
which was now lying dead might be buried there
also. As to the coffin, she had bought it herself,
and as long as she had hands to earn a penny, no
child of per's should be put into the ground in a pa-
rish coffin. The poor creature wept bitterly while
she spoke.
Sir It. BIHNIE: told Mr. Earle to say to the
churchwardens that the Magistrates would take it
as a favour if they would attend to the request of
the applicant, who had asked for nothing but what
ought to have been granted in the first instance.
The feelings which the applicant had displayed
were highly creditable to her.
Mr. Earle said he would take care that the
churchwarden in question should be made acquainted
with the Magistrate's opinion.
The poor woman expressed her thanks to the
Magistrates for their humane intercession, and left

the office apparently overjoyed in being permitted
to bury her children all in one grave.

WORSHIP-STREET.

MATRIBIONY.—Yesterday George Rogers, a
young man about 30 years of age, was re-examined
before Mr. BROUGHTON, on a charge of bigamy, but
there being no evidence against him he was dis-
charged.
Elizabeth Attfield, the prisoner's wife's sister,
was about to repeat the story she related on the last
examination, which merely amounted to her assist-
ing to support the prisoner's wife for the last two or
three years, when the husband cf the witness came
forward, and thus addressed the Magistrate :
Attfield—This is my wife, your Worship; she is
a common prostitute.
Mr. BROUGHTON—WeII, you don't seem to speak
very well of her. She has told me a very plausible
story. Now, I should like to hear what you have to
say ; for if you tell the truth, I shall perhaps be in-
clined to alter my opinion of your wife.
Attfield—l'll tell the truth, Sir. I was married
to this woman about nine years ago. I took her out
of the Magdalen, where she had been about eleven
months an inmate. A short time after I married her
she left me, and went to live with a compositor, and
afterwards with a man named Cooke; and, indeed,
since that with six or seven other men. She pawn-
ed and sold every article I had.
Mr. BROUGHTON—WeII, if that's true I'm very
much deceived in your wife. I took her to be a
very decent young woman.
Mrs. Attfield, with uplifted eyes, said, it's all
false, your Worship; the reason I left him was be-
cause he made me support him by my own prostitu-
tion. He used to go out with me every night, and
wait till I came out of houses of ill fame with gen-
tlemen, and receive the money I had earned; since
I have left him I positively declare I have not cur-
ried on that course of life, but I take in needle-work,
and am now making some shirts for Mr. Thomas, of
Greek-street, Soho.
Mr. BROUGHTON—Both stories are truly horri-
ble; did not your husband take you from the Mag-
dalen ? Mrs. Attfield—Oh, the wretch, he did.
Mr. BROUGATON—Then you ought not again to
have followed such a horrid course of life after
coming out of there as a repentant sinner ! How
old where you when you were married ? Mrs.
Attfield—Only seventeen, sir.

Mr. BRouGaTim--What ! and been in the Mag-
dalen a twelvemonth previous to that I How old
were you when you were first seduced ? Mrs. Att-
field—l can't tell, sir.
Attfield—l don't think you can.
Mrs. Attfield—When I came out of the Magda-
len I received a guinea and two entire suits of
clothes, as a reward for good conduct.
The overseer of St. Andrew, Holborn, attended,
the prisoner's wife having become chargeable to that
parish, he said he had made inquiries, and found that
the prisoner's wife was living in a court in Shoe-
lane, with some of the most abandoned characters.
Mr. Platts, who appeared for the prisoner, said
his client had lost his situation in Whitbread's brew-
house, which he had held for six years, through the
bad conduct of his wife she used to pawn all his
clothes, and was constantly drunk; surely a man
ought not to support a woman of such character.—
He (Mr. Platts) also understood she had been con-
victed of felony.
Mr. BROUGHTON—I have nothing to do with her
misconduct—her husband is bound to support her.
I say a man dressed like the prisoner with a good
coat, and a clean shirt, ought to be made to support
his wife.

Mr. Platte—Well Sir, if a man is bound to sup-
port a wife of her character because he appears here
in a good coat, and a clean shirt, I would advise my
client to come in his dirty working jacket next time.
A drayman belonging to Whitbread's brewhouse,
who was standing near the prisoner, said—Ah, sir,
you maunt always take a mon by the look of his
coat, because I knows as how my old smock frock
cost a nation sight more than his coat.—(A laugh.)
Mr. BROUGHTON—Something new for a smock-
frock to be worth more than a cloth coat. He must
support his wife? Rogers—Well, I'll allow her ss.
per week. She shall never live in my house again.
Mr. BROUGHTON—That will do.

Brown, an officer, here said, that a short time
ago, outside this office, he heard the witness Att-
field, threaten to murder his wife whenever he caught
her out.

Attfield did not deny it, but said it should not hap-
pen again.
Mr. BROUGHTON—If a woman is ever so had, sir,
her life is not to be threatened—you must find bail.
Attfield not having bail present, was locked up ;
the rest of the party left the office.