The Warwickshire Herald. — 1892-01-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

PATHETIC SCENE IN COI7RT.  a thrilling and deeply-affecting scene was enacted at Marylebone Police-court on Monday. The chief characters were Elizabeth Whittock, an erring wife, and her husband. The former, who is only 2.3 years of age, is a tall, genteel young woman, while the latter appeared to be a respectable working man of the artisan class. The wife was before the court for the second time on a charge of 'attempting to commit suicide. She was seen by Lyte, the Paddington Mortuary keeper, on New Year's Eve,climbing over the brick wall of the tunnel through which the Grand Junction Canal passes at Maida-hill. Long experience in matters of this sort quickened his suspicion, and Lyte at once seized hold of the woman. She struggled to get to the water, and screamed out, "Let me go. I will go." He, however, pulled her back, and she was given into custody. In reply to the magistrate the accused said she had been separated from her husband for two years, and could bear it no longer. She was then remanded; and when the case came before the court the magistrate was told the husband of the accused was present. At the request of the magistrate the husband entered the witness-box. From that position lie had a full view a his wife as sit stood in the dock, and on their eyes meeting the husband bine into tears, turned half round, buried his face in his hands,and sobbed aloud. There was a painful pause in the proceedings. Then the wife shifted to the end of the dock nearest her husband, and, with outstretched arms, implored him not th weep. When the husband had composed himself the magistrate asked: How long have you been separated P—Witness : She left me one year and lf months ago.—The magistrate : What was the cause af her leaving P—Witness I cannot say. I had been a goo, hesbaed to her and she had is good hnme. It's a long, sad story. We used to live at Woolwich. I've been to Australia and China to try and get tin thoughts of her out of my mind. (The witness again wept.)—Tlie magistrate: Will you take h back to your home if I let her go ?—The hiubanih shouldn't like to see her go to prison. I will take wr back if she will promise to behave better in the future.—The wife's apparent anxiety as to the Inswer her husband would give to the magistrate's luestion at once relaxed, and she gave a hysterical shout. and said "I will promise." Slowly falling -in her knees in the dock she thrust her arms through. the iron railings which surrounded her, and with clasped hands looked steadfastly into the fare ol her husband, and in tones of deep and intense emotion exclaimed: "On my bended knees I premiss you I will, 1. will, I will."—The assistant-gaelet having assisted her to her feet again, Mt. Montagu Williams said: I don't want to say anything that stay further hurt your already much-wounded feel. ings, but I must say you have got a goo., honest fellow as a husband. (The prisoner, emphatically I know that.) He wishes me to let you go, and promises to take you home again to live with him if you will promise to behave better in the future. —The prisoner: I will, really, sir.—Mr. Williams: Then you are discharged.—The scene had produce,: a deep impression in court.