The Sun. — 1854-08-15 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  MANSION-HOUSE. —William M` Laughlin, a poor unhealthy looking tailor, was brought before the Lord Mayor upon the charge of having beaten his wife, a powerful and resolute-looking woman. Mrs. M‘Laughlin seemed to be unwilling to state the particulars of the assault, and said that she and her husband would go on well together if the Lord Mayor would prevail upon Mr. M‘Laughlin to keep good hours and to contribute something towards the support of the house. Upon being told that she must give a full description of the transaction of which she complained at the station-house, and on account of which she had raised the neighbourhood with cries of murder, she declared that between twelve and one o'clock on Saturday night, the defendant had returned to his home without bringing anything to support it ; and, upon being reminded of his duty, which he frequently neglected, showed fight, which she returned. She believed be got as good as he gave, and as be had been confined from the time of the row up. to the present moment, she wished him to be handed over to her again, in the hope that he would be prevailed upon to act better for the future. The Lord Mayor—How long have you been married ? The defendant (with a deep sigh)—Since October last, your lordship. The Lord Mayor—And how long were you acquainted before marriage ? _ _  The defendant—Three months. The Lord Mayor—And what answer have you to make to this charge ?  The defeti-dant--I only tried to defend myself from her, for if she once gets hold of a man I defy him to get loose without the help of another, so that I was thankful to the policeman for coming when she cried murder, to save me from being murdered. The Lord Mayor—Then you are in the habit of disagreeing ? _  —The defendant—She chastised me twice immediately after our marriage. (Laughter.) The Lord Mayor—Chastised you! Then you mean that she is the better man of the two ?  The defenthnt—Lord bless your lordship ! I'd stand no chance at all with her. Her own daughter, who is a married woman, has cried shame upon her, when she has been walloping me. She used to throw cups and saucers and crockery at me, and I only stopped that by telling her to use pewter pots, as they would not be apt to break against my head. I never struck her but once, and that was when she took up a knife to open my windpipe. Then I did give her a buster that probably saved both of us from a violent death. Mrs. M`Laughlin—l do not complain of him, your lordship, about anything but his not bringing home any money, for as to fighting, I believe he won't get the better of me there ; but you see how ill he has been, and I have been supporting him all the time he has been laid up. Still he expects that I am to support the house.  The Lord Mayor—How long is it since your first husband died, Mrs. M`Laughlin ? Mrs. M`Laughlin—Five years, my lord. I never had a word with him in my life, and I'll take very good care to make inquiries before I run the chance a third time. (Laughter.) The defendant—lt isn't possible for any one to live with her without being laid up. I have been in the station-house without a bed since Saturday night, and I'll be on my oath it's the only happy time I've spent since I married her. The Lord Mayor—Had you not seen something of each other's temper before you became man and wife ? The defendant—l did observe that she had a spirit, but I thought it was nothing but pluck. She has told me often since that she did not care for me, as I had not pluck enough to knock her about when she deserved it. Mrs.llinaughlin laughed at the last assertion of her husband, but did not contradict it. She requested that the ,Lord Mayor would allow her to take him home once more, and try how he would conduct himself after the day's lesson. The Lord Mayor—l shall discharge him, hut I assure you both, that if you disturb the neighbourhood any moYt.with yonr quarrels I shall punish you both, and the police shall turn a particular eye upon your house. The deibudant—Sho told me many a time that elie  would put me out of the way some way or other, but I wasn't worth being hanged for. Mrs. M'Laughlin—Yes, yes, you are ; come along, you poor devil. (Laughter.)