The Express. — 1867-01-29 (London, England)

SOUTHWARK.  Catherine Harris, a powerful-looking female, the wardswoman of the female casual ward in Bermondsey Workhouse, was placed at the bar before Mr. Burcham, charged with committing • shameful and violent assault upon Elizabeth Perkins, a poor creature who entered that place for food and shelter. The complainant, rather a decrepid looking woman, somewhat decently clad, said that on Sunday night she bad occasion to apply for admission into the casual ward of Bermondsey workhouse. The superintendent admitted her, and she was transferred, with several other female cahuals, to the prisoner, who ushered them into • very clean and wholesome ward. She had not been there many minutes before the prisoner commenced tearing at her clothes and knocking her about. Witness asked her what she wanted, when she replied in very foul language that she wanted her clothes. As soon as she was able to direst herself of them she banded them to her, when the prisoner set upon her like a tigress, polling her about and striking her on several parts of the body. Being in a state of nudity at the time she was unable to protect herself, but jumped into one of the sleeping berths to get out of her way, but the prisoner followed her tbere, fell upon her, and not only beat her about the head, but bit her neck. When the other unfortunate creatures came to her assistance she attacked them, and had not their cries brought in the assistance of the superintendent, witness would no doubt have been seriously injured. Mr. Burcham asked what state the prisoner was in. Witness replied that she was decidedly under the influence of liquor. The prisoner denied that, and said that ever since she had charge of the female casual ward she had been the kindest creature that ever could be. The facts were these. The complainant refused to give up her blothing according to the regulations, and all she dal was to take them from her. She denied assaulting her as stated. She was too kind-hearted for that.  William Brown, the superintendent of the casual wards at Bermondsey workhouse, said that he recollected the witness and several other females being admitted on the previous night, and handing them over to the prisoner, who was wardswoman in the female casual ward. Some time afterwards he heard cries of " Murder " and " Help " in the latter place, and on proceeding there he saw His prisoner on the top: of the complainant in her sleeping berth, beating her in a savage manner. He pulled her off, and finding that she was under the influence of liquor he gave her into custody. Mr. Burch= asked whether the prisoner was en inmate of the house ?  Mr. Brown replied in the affirmative, and that she waa selected by the guardians to be wardswoman of the casual ward on account of her previous good conduct. Witness added that when he entered the ward all the females complained of the prisoner's brutality towards them. Those women were all in court.  One of them here stepped forward, and s❑id she niver saw anything so brutal before in her life. She knocked the poor woman about as she was taking her clothes off, and kicked her. When they interfered she turned round upon them. Mr. Buroham had no doubt from the evidence of the complainant, supported by the other unfortunate female's and substantiated by the superintendent of the casual verde, that she had committed a most shameful and cruel assault. He therefore sentenced her to fourteen days hard labour in Wandsworth House of Correction.