The Sun. — 1852-12-13 (London, England)

CRUEL TREATMENT OF A WIFE.  On Saturday a long inquiry took place before Mr. Baker, at the Queen's Head, Fleet-street, Bethnal-green, on view of the body of Sarah Parrott, aged thirty-eight, who was alleged to have died in consequence of several brutal and savage assaults upon her by her husband, and of starvation. Elizabeth Beed, a married woman, No. 15, George-street, the landlady, said that deceased and her husband resided in the garret. He had been a master butcher, but was latterly a huckster of meat and ox-tails in the street. Witness saw the deceased the last time on Tuesday morning, when she came down to witness in the parlour. She had a quantity of hair in her hand, and she stated that it had been pulled out of her head by her husband, who had been dragging her about the rbom, and while on the floor he struck her about the head. Her face was red as from blows. On Wednesday morning, about seven o'clock, witness was alarmed by hearing the de-: ceased screaming, " Murder." There was a constant disturbance from that time till half-past nine o'clock, when her screams were dreadful. She was calling upon some one to assist her. She was not heard of after that. About six o'clock her husband called witness to go to his wife, saying that he did not know what was the matter with her. She proceeded to her room, and found her lying upon a mattress having a bit of quilt as her only covering. She was dead, and appeared to have been so for some considerable time. He observed that he spoke to her only two minutes before to have her tea, when she said—" Ido not know where I am." He had only, he observed, a few minutes previously lighted the fire, but witness saw that it had been lighted some time. Two months ago deceased was in witness's room, when she was pulled out by her husband by the hair of her head, at the same time striking her, and he threatened to strike witness for interfering. Witness has heard him remark, that he would jump her soul out, and he constantly used the most awful expressions towards her. She has often stated to witness, that she was afraid he would some day murder her. Latterly witness has heard her frequently screaming.— Mr. John Godfrey, Mount-place, Whitechapel, said that he had made a post mortal:, examination, and found coagulated blood under the scalp on the left side, which was the effect of some vessels having been torn. That might have occurred by the deceased having been dragged by the hair of the head. The lungs were blacker than usual, as if from pressure. The body was emaciated, and the stomach was smaller than usual, showing that it had not been distended with food for some time. The peritoneum covering was separated from the liver,, as if it had been caused by the deceased having been dragged. Under the liver was also a bruise. Death was the effect of the injuries she received in her emaciated state. The injury on the head was not by a fall, but from the cause he had stated. The hair being pulled would be likely to cause the vessels to be torn.—The coroner observed that, though there was no moral doubt of the conduct of the husband, yet he thought there was not sufficient evidence to ensure a conviction before a higher tribunal. Verdict—" That the deceased's death was the effect of violence, but how caused thdre was not sufficient evidence to show." The husband was called in, and was told that it was owing to the merciful consideration of the jury that he was not sent to a higher tribunal. He was severely reprimanded.