Star.
London, England, 1821-11-20 00:00:00

FOUL FIGHTING.

In an affray at Chappel, in Weardale, Durham, on Saturday,
Jacob Dent, of Rigg-side, had his nose completely bitten off by
his antagonist.—On the same night, in a quarrel at Westgate, in
the same County, Thomas Hodgson, of Fiddhead, was stabbed
in the belly with a pig-killer's knife—he is, however, expected
to recover.

A MILITARY MARRIAGE !—Yesterday, a very in-
teresting and rather beautiful female, in an advanced
state of pregnancy, named Dorothea Fleming, other-
wise Burke, was brought up to Mary-la-Bonne Office,
charged with assaulting her husband, Mr. Edward
Burke, foreman to Mr. -Raymond, builder, of Glou-
cester-place, Portman-square. The poor young woman
being placed at the bar, seemingly in great distress,
Mr. Burke stood forward, and deposed, that about the month
of October, 18l 6, he was a Serjeant in a Royal Scotch Regiment,
then in the City of Edinburgh, where he became acquainted with
the defendant, who lived servant in the family of Dr. Bryce, in
St. Andrew's-square. A correspondence was carried on for a
considerable time, till at length she proved pregnant. The regi-
ment was then about to go to Ireland, and on the defendant
being made acquainted with the orders, she expressed a desire to
return to her mother at Berwick, provided the complainant
would give her a document in writing to answer the purpose of
a marriage certificate, in order to make it appear to her parents
that she had been lawfully married. This proposition he at first
had a great objection to, but being over-persuaded, he at length
agreed to give her the required document, which was drawn up
by Serjeant Clarke, belonging to the same regiment, and a mock
ceremony was performed by a sailor, named Robertson, in a
tolbooth, which enables any man to marry as many wives as he
pleases without being subject to the laws, provided he can pew
cure a bottle of good Scotch whiskey! Here the mock certificaes
was handed to the Magistrate; the following is a literal copy t
" This Is to sartifye that F.adwerd Burke, Sargent of light
company Royal Scots, hand Dorelhe Fleming, both singei people
of the leer Colton, according to the law of sanguinanimity, have
been married by me, " JOSEPH ROBERTSON.
" Witness, Serjeant Clarke."
After the marriage had been solemnized, the evening was spot
in dancing and carousing. He, considering the marriage was an
act of accommodation, did not sleep with the defendant that
night ; and next day she came to the Barracks, and behaved in
the most outrageous manner, demanding her conjugal rights as
his lawful wife. He was very much surprised, expecting that she
was to return to her friends as was agreed, and under that idea
he bad been induced to give her the mock certificate. On his
refusal to comply with her request, she declared she would ac-
quaint his Officers of her treatment. Fearing the corporal punish-
ment that he would inevitably receive, had it been made known
to the Officers of his Regiment, he, instead of going to Ireland
with the same, provided two substitutes and left them, pro- ,
ceeded to England, and was recommended by the late Duke of
Kent to Mr. Firth, the King's carpenter, and by whom he was I
eat to work at Kensington Palace, where he continued four years.
His soi-disant wife pursued him thither, and created a great dis-
Whence at the Palace, and he was obliged to procure a lodging
Ike her in Westminster, where she was delivered of a male child,
1 which was placed out at nurse and she went into service; but
only remained a short time when she again annoyed him, and
agreed if be would give her five guineas she would return to
Scotland. This he willingly did, in hopes he should get rid of
her; but, alas! in a few weeks she again made her appearance,
and resumed her former demand, and on his refusal, she created
a considerable disturbance, and caused him to be ridiculed by
the other workmen. She was in the constant practice of doing
so, and yesterday morning she came as usual and commenced a
violent attack on him with her fists, when he was induced to
give her in custody. This was the nature of the complaint.
The defendant put in several letters, which she had received 1
at various times from the complainant, which were read by the
Magistrates, and in which he addressed her as his dear, dear wife,
and his behoved
The Magistrate said, by the epistles just read he clearly admit-
ted her to be his wife, and therefore he advised them to settle
matters, and live together amicably.
Mr. Burke refused to do so, upon Which the Magistrate dis-
missed the complaint.