The Sun. — 1845-12-18 (London, England)

ARTICLES OF THE PEACE. Mr. WILDE exhibited articles of the peace on behalf of Elizabeth Chapman against her husband. He observed that this was a case of considerable aggravation, and called for the serious interposition of the Court. Mrs. Chapman was at present the keeper of a tavern, known as the Ship, which stood at the foot of the Hammersmith Suspension-bridge, and the violence of her husband's conduct at that place was the cause of her resorting to the present proceeding. It appeared that about the year 1836, the exhibitant being then a widow with eight children, was the owner of the Weavers' Arms, Spitalfields, and was possessed of the sum of 8001. The defendant made overtures of marriage, which were accepted, and the ceremony was performed. In the short space of three weeks, however, all the defendant's love appeared to have vanished, and thereupon he commenced a series of illtreatment which was presumed, and with good foundation, to have been caused by the refusal of the wife to sell her money out of the funds. Matters proceeded in this way until she was induced to give up her house in Spitalfields. They then went and took another house at Stratford, in Es,ex, and here the defendant assumed the gentleman, took out a license for shooting, and in the course of a comparatively short period ran through about 1,0001. This second house they now let, and then became the occupants of the Hanover Arms, in Inlroole'irmews. Whilst at this pia* the defendeent, amongst other aets of crnelty, threatened to throw his wife out of the garret window, and constantly drew and threw the spirits about the premises. He was also in the constant habit of taking women of bad character to the house, until matters had arrived at such a pitch as +,:u induce the wife to apply to the magistr..*L, at Marlborough-street, upon the sub;,Z-Ci. The result of this proceeding was, that an arrangetnelAt was entered into by which the wife vies IP he allowed to take certain articles f.,‘f fkral4tty with her and leave the defendant. koi,. foiir months this atnte of affairs was allowed to pass on with cogntrt to the wife, for during that petiosi she was n' Together released from the prehusband. About this time a Mrs. Bee, a - relative, or an intimate friend of the wife, being anxious that she should de something that was likely to be of service to herself and children, took the Ship Tavern, at Hammersmith-bridge, and put her into it as the land lady, by means of an outlay of about 4001. The wife, however, had not been very long in this house ere the d- fendant heard of it, who instantly sold his house in Brooke's-mews and went down to his wire's at Hammersmith, where he insisted on taking up his abode. Of course he did not pay much, if any, attention to the business, but, on the contrary, would have a number of his London friends down to dine and revel without any payment on their part. His next system of annoyance was tbat of drawing off the spirits and then throwing them into the streets ; which, upon being remonstrated with for doing, he followed up by violent threats that he would murder his wife and set fire to the house. Upon one occasion he went out and did not return until three o'clock in the morning, when he broke open the door by the use of some large stones. After having obtained his entrance, he walked up stairs and left the door wide open for the remaining part of the night, without having taken any precaution to prevent the admission of any persons who might think proper to enter. lie had also gone into the cellar and turned the cocks of all the spirit casks, so that the cellar, after a little time, was " deep in spirits." At length the wife was compelled to apply to the magistrates at Hammersmith, who, after hearing the case, directed that the defendant should enter into recognizances, not only to keep the peace, but to appear at these sessions to answer any complaint that might be made against him. The defendant had been already under sureties to keep the peace for six months, but had again broken it so soon as that term had expired. The defendant had not now appeared, and therefore the wife had been compelled to exhibit articles of the peace, in order to bring him within the control of that Court. The Learned JUDGE ordered the defendant to enter into his own recognizances to keep the peace for twelve months, himself in the sum of 2001. and two sureties of 1001. each.