The Sun. — 1865-09-02 (London, England)

THAMES.  SINGULAR AND ATROCIOUS ASSAULT ON A YOUNG  WOMAN.—Jeremiah Sullivan, an Irish labourer, and Caroline Sullivan, his wife, a dirty and dissipated couple, who have given much trouble to the police on many occasions, were brought before Mr. Paget, charged with violently assaulting Elizabeth Leary, a young Englishwoman, who is very respectably connected. The face of the complainant was one mass of bruises and contusions, and her eyes were blackened and swollen. Her husband is a seaman, and is now prosecuting a voyage at sea. She obtains a living as a sempstress, and inhabits a front room in the house, No. 68, Spencer-street, St. George-in-the-East. The prisoners with whom she could not and did not associate were living in the back room adjoining. On Wednesday night last they came home intoxicated and made a disturbance. They quarrelled with  the landlady, and used some very bad language respecting Mrs. Leary, who went into the kitchen, laid her hand on Mrs. Sullivan's arm, and said to her, " Now, my good woman, don't make a noise, and go to bed." This gentle expostulation aroused the fury of Mrs. Sullivan, who scratched Mrs. Leary's face and bit her on the arm, inflicting a severe wound. Mrs. Leary sought refuge in her own room and barricaded her door with chairs and tables. For threequarters of an hour was Mrs. Sullivan endeavouring to effect an entrance. She was armed with a pair of tongs, and knocked with great force at the door. Her husband called out, " Give it to her, Carry ; kno-ck the door in. Mrs. Sullivan at last got tired out and went to bed, leaving Mrs. Leary in a state of terror. The complainant sought no redress for this outrage. Yesterday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, the prisoner again came home intoxicated, and quarrelled with every ono in the house. Mrs. Sullivan knocked at the complainant's door, and with fearful oaths and threats ordered her to come out. Mrs. Leary begged her to retire to her own house. The male prisoner, who acted like a raving madman, called out "Burst open the door, Carry ; give it her." The door was forced, the prisoners entered Mrs. Leary's, and a most furious and savage attack was made upon her without the semblance of provocation. The male prisoner hit the complainant with his fist, and then took a large key off the complainant's washhand stand, and beat her with it over the head, face, and eyes. Mrs. Leary was bleeding very much, and went to the front window and called out " Murder!" Mr. Passmore, a respectable master hatter, No. 63, Sutton-street, opposite Spencer-street, and others, attempted to enter at the window and failed. Mr. Passmore then handed a poker to Mrs. Leary, and said "defend yourself." Mrs. Sullivan, who had her hand in Mrs. Leary's hair, and was beating her, took the poker away and handed it to her husband, who struck Mrs. Leary with it, and stunned her. The prisoners then left the room. They were soon afterwards captured by the police.  Several witnesses, including Mr. Passmore, confirmed the statement of the complainant.  Mr.Paget said the prisoners had committed a most savage, brutal, and unprovoked attack on the complainant, and but for the prompt and lucky assistance of neighbours she would have been murdered. A furious and deliberate attack was made on a young woman because she was quiet and inoffensive. He convicted the prisoners of an aggravated assault, and sentenced them each to four months' imprisonment and hard labour, and afterwards to find good bail to keep the peace for four months longer.