The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1873-02-15 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

CONCERT AT THE TOWN-HALL.---A. number of "'amateurs," who hailed hem 'Bradford, gave a performance in the Townhall, ou Saturday evening last, to a very thin house. Among the artistes was Miss Annie Taylor, a young, but very talented serio-comic vocalist Mr. W. Taylor rendered himself conspicuous by singing out of tune, and to add to the agony of those present, the pianist made; whilst this young gentleman was attempting to sing something about" Flowers of ,May," several unfortunate slips. In our opinion, two' worse representatives of the " nigger " type mild net have been possibly imagined than Messrs. Derham and Peasham. Their voeces and "deportment being alike very disagreeable, and their puns stale and unppfitable. Mr. Harry Riley, who is possessed of pretty fair ventriloquial powers, stood next on the programme, and he entered into conversation with his two sons, alias dirty-looking dolls. We have witnessed and admired the performances of numerous .ventri, loqnists,:but we never heard such vulgarity put into the I mouths of imaginary persons as we did on Saturday night. To give one illustration; the youngest son, "Joey," eves made to insult everyoug.present by calling them "blooming haddocks." Such language is disgraceful, and cannot be too Severely condemned; and we trust that when Mr. Riley next visits Batley, he Will select an entirely new oleo.of fun, which does not alternate between stilted commonplace and sheer bathos. Of the other artistes we have nothing to say. ALLOWING CASES TO BE SETTLHD,—AIIOWitig "cases" to be "settled "is now becoming, in our Police-courts, a great evil. A husband can return home mad with drink, commit & diabolical assaul', on his wife ; in fact leave her in a half:Murdered condition, and this conduct is really sanctioned by numerous magistrates, who allow them to ," settle it." Are the magistrates aware of the fact that in a great number of cases, a terrible threat is held over the wife by the husband if, p.ftg having taken out a summons against him for his ill-usage, she 'attempts to speak anything like the truth? What they are aware of is this: that assaults must be very frequent. and of a serious nature before a wife will cause her,husbancl to be handcuffed. And still this conduct is sanctioned! On Wednesday, at the Batley Police-court, a ruffianly-looking individual named Michael Higgins, a mechanic, of New-street, Batley, was charged by his wife with haviug, on the 6th inst., assaulted her. The 'poor woman's right eye was blackened, and appeared to be seriously injured. On the defendant's name being called, Iso informed the magistrates, in anything but a gentlemanly manner, that " The case is settled; Oh, the case is settled." The m'ayor, however, was not inclined to take this view of the matter and demanded that the Complainant should give her evidence. This she did in a very reluctant manner, and the mayor then asked the man whether, if the case were dismissed, he would lead a better life. As a -matter of course the brute replied that he would ; 'it was policy to do ; but what guarantee have r the ' magistrates of this I None whatever. The mayor, doubtless with the best intenlions, believing him to be, sincere, allowed the csse to be "settled." This man is now at liberty to get drunk; thresh to his wife; and as his only excuse plead that " he did not know what he was doing on the night in question," which was the prisoner's defence, on Wednesday. The. magistrates, in deciding- these,cdses, are undoubtedly influenced by the best of motives, but common sense rebels against such a Course being pursued any longer.