The Sun. — 1849-10-22 (London, England)

MARYLEBOIVE.  Samuel Peppit, a man having the appearance of a groom, and who resides at 27, Mitcham-street, Lisson. grove, was charged before Mr. Long, on a warrant, with having assaulted Anne Hungeman under circumstances of a somewhat singular nature. Complainant deposed that on Wednesday night la3t, at 12 o'clock, she, accompanied by her son and a gentleman named Anthony, repaired to the defendant's house, in consquence of information communicated to her that he (the defendant) was living in adultery with her son's wife. She ascertained, upon her entering the premises, that such was really the case, and on the wife making her appearance with nothing on her but her nightgown, she (complainant) said to her, " Anna, dear Anna, are you not ashamed of yourself to act in this way ? why don't you come home to your husband ?" She had no sooner uttered the words than the defendant rushed forward, almost naked, and, after abusing her, gave her a violent blow in the face ; he also made an attempt to strike her a second time, but she fortunately avoided him, and she then screamed out " Murder" as loud as she posssibly could.  - William Stephenson, (the husband), a very respectable-looking man," said that he had not lived with his wife for the last ten years, owing to the violence of her temper and her general bad conduct, but that during the whole of the period alluded to he had paid to the parish officers of St. Pancras 58. per week for her support. He had heard many reports respecting her of late, but was unable to satisfy himself fully as to where she was until Wednesday, upon which night he went with his mother and a friend to defendant's dwelling. Mr. Anthony gave evidence to the effect that in order to induce the wife of Stephenson to come down stairs he sent up a message to her that her mother had died suddenly, and that she had better lose no time in going off in a cab. The ruse had the desired effect— viz., that of proving that she was cohabiting with the defendant, as she had evidently just got out of bed, and was attired in nothing more than her nightgown and cap. As soon as her husband saw her, he exclaimed, " Oh, Anna, I've caught you at last,":and defendant then gave complainant a severe blow upon the head. Defendant on being asked what he had to say, replied that he merely attempted to part the complainant and his wife, who were struggling with each other in the passage ; he denied having inflicted any blow.  He called witnesses, who swore that complainant in the struggle which took place tore off the nightgown and a great portion of the chemise from the woman. They could not state positively that the defendant had not committed the assault with which he was charged. The wife, a portly woman, got into the witnessbox, and said she wished to state to the bench that she had not lived with defendant for a longer period than from March last; her husband deserted her as soon as he found out that he could not obtain from her father any more money than that which he received from him on the day of their marriage. The MAGISTRATE fined defendant 20s. for the assault, in default of payment fourteen days' imprisonment.