The Sun. — 1848-01-26 (London, England)

SOUTHWARK.  Yesterday seven healthy-looking young women, named Catherine Lennard, Elizabeth Sullivan, Mary Gould, Emma Reid, Caroline Wood, Sarah Foster, and Catherine Cronan, inmates of Bermondsey Workhouse, were brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged with creating a riot, and threatening to murder the master. One of the porters of the workhouse stated that the prisoners had been brought up from their infancy in that place. They had been placed in different situations, but, so violent was their conduct, that no person would keep them. They were, in fact, a complete terror to all the inmates, and everything has been done by the guardians to reform them. On Sunday morning they refused to attend divine service, and during its performance they sang obscene songs old infirm paupersandusedsuch horrible in h te nextlangu ward.ag A eas to frighten the the service, the chaplain conversed with them, but they treated him in a disgusting manner, which led the officers to place them under restraint. That morning [they were released, and in passing the lobby they bloke 250 panes of glass. I'r hen remonstrated with, three of them took from under their garments open knives, and, flourishing them over their heads, threatened to rip up the master's belly or murder any person who dared to attack them. Fortunately a police constable was on the spot, and with his assistance they were all secured, and the knives taken from the three ringleaders. The prisoners here exclaimed, in a riotous manner, " Yes, we will rip the master's belly open, if we get hung for it—he is a tyrant, and ought to be murdered." Mr. COTTINGIIAM asked the porter whether any meeting of the guardians had been held since the disgraceful conduct on Sunday ? The porter replied in the negative. Mr. COTTINGIUM remarked that it was useless for them to bring such incorrigible characters before him for punishment. Nothing that he could inflict would be of any service to them. Prisoners—We would sooner be in prison than in a workhouse. Police-constable 210 M was called, and informed the magistrate that, when he entered the workhouse he found the prisoners in a menacing attitude, and that three of them had knives in their hands, with which they threatened to stab the master or any other person who interfered. It was with great difficulty that he wrested the weapons from their grasp and secured them. Mr. CorrnsanAat informed the porter of the workhouse that it was a case of too serious a nature for him to dispose of. He was in possession of no power sufficient to restrain their violence, and, if something was not done, he really believed they would in their furious frenzy commit a serious act. It was absolutely necessary that they should be severely dealt with, as what could be more shocking than to see strong, hearty-looking young girls like these, living on the bounty of the public, and arming themselves with knives to attack their protectors? It was consequently necessary that they should be sent to a higher tribunal, where they would receive such punishment as would render them sensible of their disgraceful behaviour. He (the worthy magistrate) directed the porter to inform the guardians of his determination, and request them to attend before him to-morrow, as he should remand the prisoners for such attendance.