The Sun. — 1846-08-24 (London, England)

CLERKENWELL.  On Saturday, Maria Cooh, a repulsive-looking woman, was finally examined, charged by Mary Ann Montgo • mery, the wife of a carpenter, residing in Warwickcourt, Whitecross-street, St. Luke's, with having violently assaulted her, with intent to murder her. The prosecutrix was brought to the Court in a cabriolet, from the hospital, in a very weakly state. It appeared that the prisoner was in the habit of quarrelling with the prosecutrix, and had caused her husband's jealousy, by, spreading false reports about her. On Tuesday fortnight they met together in a public-house, when their quarrel was renewed, and, after a great deal of recrimination, &c., on both sides, the prisoner struck prosecu trix on the head with a quart-pot, and rendered her insensible, She was conveyed to the hospital, where she had since been in a dangerous state. Several witnesses corroborated her evidence. The prisoner said nothing, and she was fully committed for trial. Mary Taylor, an elderly respectable-looking woman, was charged with robbing children. Mr. Paul, a tradesman of John's-place, Bedfordrow, Holborn, sent his little girl, six years of age, with a bundle of clothes to a neighbour, when she was stopped by the prisoner in Lamb's Conduit-street, who promised her a penny to knock at a door whilst she minded her bundle. She took the property and was leaving, when a gentleman who had observed her conduct gave her into the custody of Sergeant Fuller, E division, who took her to the station-house. The evidence in this case being clear and satisfactory, the prisoner was committed for trial upon it. Sergeant Fuller said if she was remanded he had no doubt he could procure numerous charges against her, as information had been received that a person answering the prisoner's description had perpetrated innumerable depredations on children under similar circumstances. She was accordingly remanded. A person named Bird, the tenant of the Spafields burial ground, appealed to a bench of magistrates in petty session, assembled at the Clerkenwell Sessionhouse, against a poor-rate which the authorities of the parish had called on him to pay. Mr. Wakeling, the vestry-clerk, suiported the rate. He said that the burial ground occupied upwards of an acre, and besides that, the defendant had a dwellinghouse and garden. The appellant answered that, in consequence of the falling off of the funerals in the ground, the rate had been reduced from 1001. to 651., and the latter, he now contended, was too much, for he could prove that during the last year he had sustained a loss of 1171., from the false rumours that had been raised against the property. Only about a quarter of an sere was now used for interments, for he had been bound down not to open any other portion of the ground for a certain period. Mr. KNIGHT, the magistrate, regretted that the law had not stopped the pest, for it was a disgrace to the metropolis. He inquired how many bodies had been interred within the last month ? Bird said—About thirty. Mr. KNIGHT was of opinion that the present rate (651. a year) was too low, and he trusted his brother magistrates would not, at all events, lower it. The bench unanimously affirmed the rate.