The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1882-06-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

BRUTALITY AT BEACOMBE.  A MIDNIGHT ROW.  AT the Wallasey Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, .William Reynolds, an exciteable little man, said to be a joiner, was charged with unlawfully wounding Hannah Ireland, an elderly woman, at Seacombe, on June 7th. . . . . . . .  Pi osecutrix said that she was a married woman living at 9, Larch-road, Seacombe. The prisoner lived next door to her. She had been abused by a neighbour about a table, and, having let her husband in went to the neighbour and said that if she continued her annoyance she would give her in charge. Two shells were thrown at her by the person, and prisoner's daughter called her some violent names, and spat in her face. Prisoner was standing at his own door. Prosecutrix chased the girl down the street. As prosecutrix was returning, prisoner came running down the street with a teacup in his right hand and a saucer in his left. Coming out with a foul expression, he said "I'll murder you," and struck her on the head and twice on the temple with the tea cup. The tea cup broke with the second blow he struck. She then went faint and fell, after which prisoner and his daughter ran at her and kicked her as she lay in the street. She was helped into a neighbour's house, and assisted to the hospital, which she left about three in the morning. The assaults were committed at a quarter to twelve at night. A woman having given corroborative evidence, Constable Bryan said that he met Mrs. Ireland going to the hospital about half. past twelve on Sunday morning. She was bleeding very much and in a very weak state. The woman at the hospital on seeing the wound said that she could do nothing to stop the flow of blood, and Dr. Craigmile had to be sent for. Witness took the woman home at three o'clock in the morning. There was nothing about the woman to lead him to suppose she was drunk. After bringing the woman from the hospital, he apprehended Reynolds, who was not sober. On being charged with cutting and wounding Mrs. Ireland, prisoner said that "he was sorry he did not kill her." The wound was a very bad one, about three inches in depth, and had had to be. vewn up with silver wire. •  Prisoner said that prosecutrix came into his house and nearly " killed " everybody in it. In the afternoon she was crying " murder " from her husband, who was, as usual, " killing " her. She had been driudt all day, and creating a disturbance. Prisoner had once protected her from her husband, who had rewarded him for his interference by giving him a black eye. Letitia Evans said that prosecutrix began to ran-tan with her first at Reynolds' door at eleven o'clock in the morning. On being asked what was up, Mrs. I, eend replied, "oh, nothing but a bit of devilment." In the afternoon Mrs. Ireland again "ran-tanned" at the door, Mr. Reynolds being in bed. Mr. Rey. molds ran down stairs and said to his wife "Sarah, what's up." As he was in drink, his wife tried to put him off. In the evening, Mrs. Ireland entered Mr. Reynolds' house for the third time, and tried to drag Mrs. Reynolds into the street to fight. Mr. Reynolds thee went into the street, but before he did so Mrs. haled hit him on the face with her list, splitting his lip. Mr. Reynolds then threw the cup at the prosecutrix. The Bench ordered the prisoner to go to gaol for two months, saying that but for the fact that the prosecutrix bore the character of being a drunken and violent woman their sentence would have been heavier. . .  Prisoner (clasping his hands) : Oh, my God! My wife will be dead before that. As he was escorted below he bade his friend in the court "good bye." A. female, presumably his wife, left the building in hysterics.  Try BEW'S REMEDY for