The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-12-20 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

REFUSAL TO MAINTAIN A WIFE ON THE GROUND OF HER
INFIORLITY.—James Brown, a serjeaut in the 2d regiment of
Coldstream Guards, appeared on Monday before Sir F. Roe, Mr.
Halls, the Rev. Mr. Thursby, and Mr. Grove, charged by the
officers of St. Martin's parish with refusing to maintain his wife.
She stated that her name was Mary Ann Brown, and that the
defendant was her, husband. About three. weeks ago he turned
her out of doors, and had since refused fotiiaTuraiii7tier, in con-
seqtience of which she was obliged to become chargeable to the
parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
The defendant, when asked by Sir F. Roe why be refused to
maintain his wife, replied that he had been married to her for
eight years, arid they lived happily together until lately, when
he had reason to suspect her fidelity, and in fact discovered that
she was carrying on an adulterous intercom se with a coirral
who belonged to the company to which he was attached. L oder
these circumstances he had made up his mind not to pay for the
support of a wernan who had forfeited all claim upon him by her
gross misconduct.
Sir F. line said that the fact of his wife's misconduct, even
if it could be proved to the extent he had stated, could not. alter
the law, and the only question which the magistrates were called
upon to decide was the amount which he ought to pay for the
maintenance of his wife, in order that she might not become a
burden to the parish.
Defendant.---I leave it to your worship's judgment whether
I am bound, either in law or justice, to. support a woman for
another man? lam sure it is neither reason nor common sense
that I should do so. •

Sir F.-floe.—lf your statement be true I fully admit the hard-
ship of your case, and no man can feel it more than I do. But,
on the other hand, the woman is not to be twined out into the
street to starve, neither must she become chargeable to the pa-
rish.
The fact is, you are bound by law to support her. •
The wife, in general terms, denied the charge, anti said he
could not prove that she had ever been improperly intimate with
the corporal. The trot" was, she said, that her husband wished
long ago to get rid of her.
Defendant—l am prepared with evidence now to prove her
guilt if his worship will allow me to bling it far ward. There
is the schoolmaster of the regiment ( pointing to another ser-
jeant who stood'in the body of the office), anti he can prove that
when we were quartered in Dublin she slept with the corporal
whenever 1 was obliged to be on guard; and he will also prove
that.their guilty intercourse is still kept up, without much at-
tempt to disguise it either.
'The wife, in a faint and rather tremulous voice, denied her
husband's statement, who again requested 'that his witness
might be heard. •
Sir F. Roe, after consulting his brother magistrates, said
that the bench could not try the question as to the guilt or
innocence of his wife; but if,le observed, what you have stated
to be correct, the magistrates are not disposed to press hard
upon you. They therefore will not at tirizesent make any order
in the case; but as your wife must not starved they recom-
mend you to make such reasonable provL,ion for her support as
the parish may, under the circumstances, feel disposed to ac-
cept; for which purpose you had bettem go to the workhouse to-
morrow morning, and confer with the overseers on the subject.
Defendant—lt is no use, your worship; lam determined to
make no allowance. He then added, in a low but determined
under tone—l would rot in prison first.

Sir F. Roe—lf you persist, serjeant, in refusing to support
put. wife, I shotl be obliged to adopt measures to compel you,
You had better see and make terms with the parish;
Defendant—l am convinced in my own mind .of her guilt,
and nothing can alter my determination.
The defendant then bowed respectfully to the bench, and left
the office with three of his brother serjeants.