Weekly News. — 1891-03-05 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MONSTER IN HUMAN SHAPE.  On Wednesday midnight, Police-constable Charles Spinney noticed a man place a woman against a wall in Liverpool-street and debt .rately kkock her down. She appeared insensible. The fellow then picked her up, and again placed her against the wall, when the officer went up, called him a coward, and took him in custody. While the charge was being taken at Bishopsgate Station, the prisoner , said to the woman, "If you go against me, you will be sorry for it afterwards.—On Thursday the culprit, William Donoghue, 24, a tall, powerfully. built man, was placed in the dock at the Guildhall before Mr. Alderman Renals, to answer the charge. —Spinney having given evidence, informed the magistrate that the woman—who was afraid on to appear—was all over bruises.—A little later an nfiicer of the court said the prosecutrix was outside. —The Alderman: Bring her in.—Mamo Leary, a poorlv-clad little woman, then entered the box. She appeared in great fear, stating that she knew she should be killed for giving evidence. She then stated Grit she had lived with the prisoner four years. and had been subject to his brutality during the whole of that time. On Wednesday night, without any provocation whatever, he knocked her down like a sheep.—The Alderman: What with?—Prosecutrix: His fist, sir. I am sore all over where he has beat me. Last Christmas .1 had to go to the London Hospital, and have three stitches in in eye, alter one of his assaults. I am in fear. His brothers and sisters will murder me when they know I have spoken against him.—The Alderman: They had better not touch you.—The prisoner made a rambling statement to the effect that the la oman got drunk, and called him all sorts of names.—The Alderman: You are a monster in human form. You struck the woman you should have protected. You will go to prison for three months with hard labour: and (to the woman) if any of this man's relations annoy you they will be brought here, and will be sent to prison.—The constable said that a man had threatened the prosecutrix on her way to the court. The Alderman issued a warrant against him.  On Thursday morning a five-storey block of brick buildings in Minneapolis, htiolonging to Sol Smith Russell, the actor, who is the owner besides of a four-storey block adjoining, was burned to the ground. The fire extended to the fifth floor of the Lumber Exchange, one of the finest buildings in the country. It stands 12 storeys high, and cost a million dollars to construct. The Exchange was at one time expected to prove a total loss, and the E.lison buildings in immediate proximity were also in flames. The fire after a time spent its force, the firemen having previously succeeded in restricting the area to the building which it was impossible to save. The Lumber Exchange was, however, partially burnt down. The loss is estimated at a million of dollars.  Advice, from Honolulu state that an anonymous letter was printed on the 18th inst., addressed to Justice Judd, warning him that the Queen's life was in danger. The letter is believed to have been written by Robert Wilcox, the Revolutionist, with the intention of starting a demonstration against the Queen.  A plague of rats has recently manifested itself at Methold and adjoining parishes in Norfolk, amd. in some farms the depredations ha, been exten. sive. On one farm alone 7,550 m: have been killed since October last, and the w, of destruction is still going on. For this slaughter the farmer has paid £34 15s.