The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1890-10-16 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

THE SOLDIER AND HIS SWEETHEART.  Thomas Heath, a colour-sergeant in the 4th Border Regiment, who was represented by Mr McKeever, was summoned for assaulting a young woman named Ellen Lawson, residing at Drover's Lane, and who was represented by Mr Ryley. A cross-summons had also been taken out by Heath against Lawson, charging her with assault.—The case having been opened by Mr Ryley, the woman Lawson said that she had an appointment with Heath on Monday, to go to the registrar's office to put in their names to be married. As he did not turn up, she went to the barracks and also to his lodgings, but he did not come home until nearly twelve o'clock at night. When she saw him, he told her to go into his room; she went, and then he started to ill-use her. He knocked her down on the floor. She called out, add P.C. Taylor afterwards came and took them to the station. Heath gave her £2 3s the day before to buy some things with.—ln reply to Mr McKeever, witness said she knew it was an offence for a woman to be found in a soldier's quarters, but that was not the first time she had been there. She had not had to be forcibly removed from the Barracks' gate by the sergeant on guard. She did not make a rush to get into his room when he came home; he asked her in, and he also picked up her shawl. She did not lie down on the floor and shout murder. It was not her intention to make a disturbance in order to attract attention. She could have got him into trouble the prey ious Thursday night if she had wanted.—Mr McKeever: Yes, but you thought you were to be married then, you know.— She did not tell Sergeant Brown that she was only bringing this charge in order to get him into trouble. Sergeant Brown had come to see if she would settle the case.— Isabella Nixon, shopkeeper, said she saw Lawson waiting about during the evening, and when Sergeant Heath came home she saw him pick up the girl's shawl. Shortly after she heard screaming, and sent her (hvn girl for a policeman. Lawson was being used shamefully. Witness saw Lawson lying on the floor, but she did not see Heath strike her.—P.C. Taylor said he was sent for at twenty minutes past twelve on 'Tuesday morning, but his attention had previously been attracted by some one screaming "murder." On going to the place he saw the defendant and complainant struggling at the top of Ike stairs. Sergeant Heath told him to put the woman out, but witness said he could not do that unless she was given in charge. He afterwards got her in charge, and he took her to the Police Station.—Sergeant Heath was then put into the box by Mr McKeever. He admitted that he had made an appointment to meet Lawson at three o'clock on Monday afternoon, but it was only to get her out of the way; he did not intend to keep it. He had been told by the picket that she had been inquiring for him, and that she had had to be removed from the Barracks' gate. Mr McKeever: Have you kept company with her for about three years? Witness: Yes, off and on. When she came to him drunk at his quarters in Annetwell Street he told her that it was no use staying there. He used no violence. He merely pushed her, when she lay down upon the floor and screamed. In reply to Mr Ryley, witness said he had given her some money, but not with the intention of marrying her. It was merely a present.—Some evidence having been given by a man named Mc.lntee, Heath's landlord, the Mayor said they had considered the evidence very carefully, and they had come to the conclusion that it was not sufficient to convict. Both cases would therefore be dismissed.