The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1887-09-10 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

UNG RATEFUL SON.  At the Borough Police Court, on Tuesday, before Mr. Preston, stipendiary magistrate, a young man named Richard Roberts, residing in Broomshill.street, was charged with having assaulted his mother. The prisoner was also charged with having been drunk and disorderly, and with having maliciously broken a door, the property of Edward Brayne, his step father, residing, at 41, Gladstone-street. Edward Brayne stated that the prisoner came to his house on Monday afternoon while he (the witness) was asleep in the chair, he not having been to his work in consequence of the inclement weather, and created a disturbance. He had no desire to press the charge against the prisoner; all that he wanted was that be should be bound over to keep the peace. The prisoner struck his mother, but he did not say anything to him (the witness) until he had caused a disturbance. They put him out of the house, and then he took his revenge by kicking the door open, damaging it to the ex• tent of five shillings. He did not know whether he was drunk or not, but when he did take any drink he was like a maniac. Sarah Brayne, the mother of the prisoner, stated that the prisoner was about to strike her husband and she went to prevent him when be assaulted her in the most shameful manner, in fact she was " black and blue," all over her body in consequence of his illusage. This was not the first time he had illtreated her. He struck her with his fists and knocked her to the floor many times. He said he had laid three low and he would do the same with the three who were in the house. When he was drunk he always came to their house and created a disturbance. She had kept him and his wife week after week, and all that she got in return was to have her furniture smashed by him. On Bank Holiday he came to the house and smashed a lot of articles. After they had put him out of the house and bolted the door he kicked it open. She was 56 years of age and worked hard, and it was not right that she should be treated in such a manner; he would either murder her or her husband. Sarah Armstrong said she was sister to the prisoner, and was married and lived at Newcastle. She was on a visit to her parents. She 9SW the prisoner in Price-street during the afternoon in low company, but she did not stop with him but went home with her mother. The prisoner afterwards came to the house and said lie had laid three low and he would lay three others. The prisoner struck his stepfather twice, when the latter said to him I don't want to have a row with you." The prisoner said he wanted to "do " for his mother. He seized hold of his mother and kicked and thumped her. He was not so drunk as he professed to be. When she was on a visit to her parents twelve months ago he did the same thing and struck her twice. P.C. 5 (Harris) stated that a little after four o'clock on Monday afternoon he was called to Gladstone-street in consequence of prisoner's conduct, but when he got there the prisoner had gone away, but soon afterwards the prisoner returned and commenced to kick at the door. He was very drunk and refused to go away when requested, consequently he was locked up. _ _  The prisoner alleged that he was drunk at the time and did not know what he was doing. Mr. Preston (to the prisoner) : I can say nothing for you, and I cannot make any excuse for 7ou behgaing in this cowardly way and striking your own mother. It is not the first time you have acted in this manner. You have never been in prison for an assault, but you have been here once or twice. I cannot allow this kind of work to go on. It is disgraceful for you as a man to carry on like this. You mfuosrt twheo cimalpenridsaornemdonanthds. kept to hard labour  Puss