The Sun. — 1849-10-30 (London, England)

THAMES.  James Cowderoy, a cab-driver, of No. 4, Bluegate. street, Shadwell, was charged before Mr. Yardley with beating his wife, Mary Ann, in a very savage manner, and breaking her arm. The wife, a dissipated-looking woman, about 30 years of age, with a child in her arms, stated that on Sunday night she was in the Bull's Head publichouse, in High-street, Shadwell, with a female acquaintance, and her husband came in there after her. lie was in a most fourious passion, and, after abusing tier and applying the most disgusting epithats towards her, he beat her severely with his fists about her hear] and face, and then knocked her down and kicked her on the side and chest until she was nearly disabled. He lastly seized her arm, wrenched it forcibly, and broke her wrist. The wretched woman, whose arm had been set in a splint in the London Hospital, added, that her husband had been convicted of assaulting her before ; that her life was in danger from his violence ; and that he had repeatedly threatened to murder her and held a knife over her.  Robert Durrant, barman at the Bull's llead, confirmed the statement of the complainant as to the brutal outrage committed on her on Sunday night, and said he had great difficulty in pulling the prisoner away from his wife, and preventing him from sacrificing her cn the spot, which appeared to be his intention.  The prisoner, in defence, said he had only been once convicted for beating his wife, and not three or four times, as she stated ; and that she wasted all the money he gave her for housekeeping in satisfying her propensities for gin and other strong drinks. She was in the frequent practice of getting drunk, and was so on Sunday night, when he found her in the Bull's Head. She began to abuse him, and provoked him to strike her. He came home several nights in succession, expecting to find a meal prepared for him, but his wife was from home at the public house. Potter, a police-constable, No. 212 K, said that he took the woman to the hospital, where her fractured limb was dressed, and that upon taking the prisoner into custody, he made use of the most repulsive expressions respecting his wife. Potter added that the wife kept a house of ill-fame, and the prisoner occupied a room in it. Mr. YARDLEY expressed the greatest astonishment on hearing this statement, and asked how it was that such a fellow was licensed to drive a cab ? The prisoner said he had driven a cab for many years, and had never been " pulled up" in his life. Roche, the gaoler of the court, said the prisoner was the greatest blackguard in the district; and when he (Roche) was in the police force, and stationed in Shadwell, he had to keep a constant watch on the prisoner, who was always a suspected person. Potter also said he knew the prisoner to be a sus • pected person, and that his mother-in law, an old woman named Hillman, who had been connected with many robberies, kept the worst brothel in the district. Mr. YARDLEY directed that the prisoner's badge, 2,813, should be taken from him, and delivered up to Inspector Bell, and that a statement relating to the prisoner and his conviction should be returned to the Registrar of Hackney Coaches and Cabs. He could not understand the system of licensing cab-drivers when such a ruffian as the one before him, who had been a suspected person for many years, and kept a brothel, was permitted to have a licence to drive a public conveyance. The licensing system was of no use at all if such persons were to have licences and badges. There was no doubt whatever that the wife was a most worthless woman ; but, if the prisoner was not restrained, he would commit a murder, and be hanged. If he were to allow the woman's misconduct, bad as it was, to be pleaded as an excuse for so much brutality, there would be no safety for her. lle,sentenced the prisoner to pay a fine of 51. for the assault on his wife, and, in default of payment, committed him to the House of Correction for two months. If the prisoner was again licensed to drive a cab, or allowed to- have a badge any more, it would not be his (the magistrate's) fault.