The Sun. — 1847-07-29 (London, England)

STMINS7 ER.  Yesterday Joseph Sykes, a man about fifty years of age, described as a copper-plate printer, was charged with having attempted to strangle his daughter, and with other conduct of a most atrocious character.  Catharine Sykes, a very genteel-looking girl, about eighteen years of age, said that on the previous day she paid a visit to her parents at No. 6, Lewisham-street, Westminster. Between one and two o'clock in the afternoon her father came home intoxicated and lay down for three or four hours. On getting up he declared, with horrid imprecations, that if her (witness's) mother or brother, who were from home, came in, he would murder them. He then commenced throwing the things about the place, during which time complainant sat motionless, fearful that he woul,l attack her; nor were her apprehensions in this respect groundless, for after having broken a quantity of glass he seized a ehair and was about hurling it at her, when she rose from her seat and took it out of his hands. He then declared in the mast violent language that he would be the death of her, grasped her ferociously by the throat and dragged her across the room. At first she screamed for assistance, but he then held her so tightly that she was unable any longer to do so. She felt that she could scarcely breathe, and would have been strangled but that two persons, who had been attracted by her screams, broke into the apartment and released her. Mr. BunitELL inquired what were the general habits of the defendant ? The daughter, whose throat bore evidence of the extreme violence with which she had been treated, with tears in her eyes, replied, " It was hard for a child to speak against her parent;; when sober her father was extremely irritable ; when drunk, which she was sorry to say was of frequent occurrence, exceedingly violent." The police•constable who took the prisoner into custody said, he appeared to have been drinking, but evidently knew very well what he was about. Defendant, who appeared to have much difficulty in restraining himself, even before the magistrate, said, he had been drinking on the previous afternoon, and he had no doubt his daughter must have provoked him by preventing his taking some glasses out to pawn, to procure more liquor, which he had a right to do if he liked. A good deal had been said about his habits, and he should like to have his son called.  Mr. BURRELL acceded to his request. A respectable looking young man, with evident reluctance, stepped into the witness box. In answer to the inquiries of Mr. Taylor, the chief clerk, he said, that his father, who had been in the habit for years of drinking very freely, was extremely violent, and frequently ill treated his mother. When sober he made use of the most disgusting language in the presence of his young children, and had been for years the terror of his family. It was only a feW days since that he beat his wife severely, and repeatedly took up knives and threatened to  murder his fainily. Mr. BURRELL said—For; this atrocious assault upon a defencelf-ss 3 oung woman, and that woman your own daughter, I sha!l convict you in the fu!l penalty of 5/., or two months' imprisonment. Drfendavt— Then I shall go to prison. Mr.