Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-10-20

lSt, has Sketched the following sharp and
truthful scene, to understand the point of
which the eaboyeintroductio has appeared
necessary:
LAMBETH POLICE COURT.
81 have no rights; have only wrongs.-C Norton
| George Norton was brought up before
the Hon. Mr.. Norton, charged with a
series of mcst cruel and unmanly assaults
upon his wife. The worthy magistrate
appeared to take the liyelicst interest in
the case.
The complainant said che had been
most grievously assaulted by Der husband.
He had struck at her reputation.
The Hon. Mr.. Norton: What! Repu-
tation. Bless me. | thought this was
case of assault.
The complainant wished t. know if
there could be more cowardly assault
inflicted than the SANDER of husband
who
The Hon. Mr.. Norton: Ny good wo-
man, the law has nothing to do with
assaults like these. IF your husband
had given you black eye, 1 could have
adJudicatcd thereupon, and would have
sent him TO jail for six months in de-
ference to the majesty of the law which
thanks to Lord Mclbournc-I sit here to
dispense.
Complainant: Then | am to under
stand that my Observation-Disclosures he has
sworn TO cherish and protect me-may
persecute me with falsehood, may endca-
vor to crush me with the weight of cal
umny, and
The Hon. Mr.. Norton: 1t is no as
sault-bctween husband and wife, no
assault whatever. If husband uses his
fist, why the law can lay hold of him.
But if he merely makes use Of his pen or
his tongue; if he only libels his wife and
the mother of his children, and keeps his
hands off her, why the woman has no
remedy. No. She has sworn to love,
honor, and obey the man: and therefore
must bear with any calumny her husband
may feel disposed to put upon her.
Complainant. And so my husband
may break every moral covenant
The Hon. Mr.. Norton: My good lady,
there are no morals between nan and
wife. If husband breaks his wifc's
ribs, why, the law. as have said before,
can reach him; but if he only tries to
break her heart, why the law looks upon
the woman's heart as the mans property;
and to quote an axiom of noble authority,
a man may do what he likes with his
own.
Complainant: And | may still be vii
lifted 10y my husband; and | have no
release, no remedy
The Hon. MIR. Norton My good lady,
how can you ash such question | real
ly must refer you to the marriage SER
vice. Your husband may abuse YOU, as
sault your rcputatiOn-aS you call it
to his hearts content, until death shall
you part. You arc bone of his bone, and
flesh of his flesh; and so he does not
break the bone, or bruise the flesh, he
may give the hardest words he likes to
thom. But beg to refer you to the mar
riage ceremony.
Complainant: And my husband NAV
not beat but he may to his hearts con-
tent traduce me? And [ have no remc-
dy !
The Hon. Mr.. Norton. Certainly not.
Man and wife being one, what man
says to his wife does somehow apply to
himself. For that reason, have observ-
ed, during my long and useful magistra-
cy, that husbands are tender ofthe names
of their wives. But when it happens
otherwise, why man may knock down
his wife's fair fame, pinch her reputation
black and blue
Husband (rery eonfdcntly.) And she
has no remedy !
The Hon. Mr.. Norton, (with sigmf-
cant emphosis.( She hasn't the leastrem-
edy, and know it.
Complainant. And that is the law
The Hon. Mr.. Norton. | am very sor-
ry to say it, my dear madam. very sorry.
But sit here, not to make the laws, but
thanks to the late Lord Melbourne-to
administer them. We can take cogni-
zancc of a black eye, but not bruised
reputation we can meet case of broken
ribs, but broken heart is beyond our
jurisdiction.
The complainant then retired, and the
Hon. Mr. Norton then addressed himself
to the next caSe-One of vulgar assault,
in which, in terms of great indignation,
the worthy magistrate sentenced coster-
monger to six months Imprisonment for