Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1884-11-21 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON • WIFL—At the Borough Police-court on Friday, before the Mayor (Mr. R. Thomas), Mr. T. Abbott, Dr. Nathan, Mr. J. A. Talbot, Mr. J. Vincent, Mr. J. G. Rowe, Mr. G. Rolls, and Mr. R. N. Howard,—Henry Roper was summoned by his wife Harriet for assaulting and beating her on Saturday, the 25th of October. —Mr. Bowen, who appeared for the complainant, said the assault was of a moat aggravated character, and he asked for an order of separation.—Mrs. Roper, who retained marks of her husband's ill-treatment, said she had been married, about 26 years. On Saturday, October 25th, she went to a publichonse in Park-street, the Prince of Wales, and asked if her husband was there. He then came out of the house, followed her up the street, and kicked her on the stomach and side several times. He called her bad names, and said he would murder her. He kicked her to the ground. She got up and walked to her house 5, West-terrace, when he knocked her down and said he would murder her, kicking her on the hand and face. She showed her right hand, on which there was even now a great knob. She screamed "Murder," and begged him not to ill-treat her any more. On going indoors he gave her a slap in the face, and then went upstairs. She had been compelled to go to a doctor for advice. For three weeks she had been obliged to be fed with a spoon, and her mouth had bled from time to time. Her husband had beaten her ever since she had been married. The bleeding from the mouth was brought on by blows which he had given her. Her jaw was injured in July last by a blow from her husband, for wilich she had two doctors to attend her—Dr. Lush and Mr. Colmer. She was suffering from that injury now. On Saturday defendant squared off at her, spit at her in the face, and struck her. She ran away, but he followed and threatened to murder her. From the way in which he treated her she went in danger of her life. Cross-examined : The blow on her hand was not caused by a fall between the sofa and table, but by her husband's treatment.—Defendant said his wife had not been fresh two nights for the last three weeks. —Ann Billett, who lived close to Mrs. Roper, said on the evening in question, hearing loud talking out ot doors, she went to see what was the matter, and found Mrs Roper on the ground. She afterwar is saw defendent push her, and she told him not to strike Of hurt his wife.—Mr. Colmer, surgeon, said he had attended Mrs. Roper In June last for injuries to her face, the result of a blow of some description, and she was under his care for about tom weeks. On the 11th of November she came to him again, this time respecting a blow on the right hand, which might have been caused by a blow, kick, or fall. The injuries were such as to cause considerable pain. He noticed a bruise on the face, but the discoloration was passing away.—ln his defence, Roper said he had tried his wife in every shape and form, both by kindness and otherwise. She got so drunk as to make life unbearable, even as late as last week coming home dead drunk in a cab at one in the morning. She aggravated him so much that he really did not know what he was shout. If a woman stayed away 13 nights out of 15 from her husband, it was euough to make a man do what he otherwise would not.—A man named Alfred Andrews was calk d in his behalf. —The Bench were of opinion the best course would be to grant a judicial separation,—Roper : " With the greatest pleasure."—Mr. Bowen said Mrs. Roper was prepared to make her husband an allowance of £1 a week, as the business she had was entirely here.— Defendant said he was not going to be pensioned off like that he wanted his house of furniture.—The