BURFORD.
PETTY SESSIONS.
July 18th.
Before Lord De Mauley (Chairman), and C. Samuda Esqs.
wife beating at fulbrook.
Thomas Pratley, labourer of Fulbrook, was summoned for assaulting his wife, Eliza Pratley at Fulbrook, on the 3rd July.
Defendant admitted having beaten his wife, but stated that she forced him to do so.
Eliza Pratley deposed: I live at Fulbrook. Thomas Pratley, the defendant, is my husband. On the day in question about 12 o'clock, my husband, myself and daughter were sitting at dinner. My husband and I quarrelled, and he sent his daughter out for a stick. I picked up a knife from the floor, and went to where he was sitting in the arm chair. He asked me what I could do with a knife in my hand. I told him I could poke it down his throat. I put the knife back on the table and went out of doors. He came after me and beat me with a stick. He struck me across the arms and shoulders. The stick produced, is the one he beat me with. I showed my arm to the doctor and he advised me to go to the police. I showed my arm to Inspector Cook, and applied for a summons.
By the Bench: I have been in Littlemore Asylum for 1½ years. I came out about two years ago.
Mary Ann Loveridge deposed: I am a single woman, living at Fulbrook. I remember the day in question when opposite Thomas Pratley's cottage, I saw Mrs. Pratley come out of the house. Her husband came out directly afterwards with a stick I his hand. He beat her with the stick as hard as he could. He then dragged her along the ground into the yard. When I saw defendant beating her I ran up to him and said "Stop Master Pratley."
By the Bench: I was about 5 yards from them. Before Mrs. Pratley came out of the house I heard a conversation between Pratley and his wife about a knife. I heard Mrs. Pratley say "I could poke it down you throat." The stick produced is the one used by Pratley as near as I can tell.
By defendant: You asked your wife to go indoors, and she would not. She called you a fool. That was before any blows were struck.
Inspector Cook deposed: I am Inspector of Police, stationed at Burford. On the 4th July Mrs. Pratley came to me in the morning and complained of her husband assaulting her the previous day. She showed me her arm; it was bruised very much. Her arm was completely black.
By the Bench: The skin was not broken.
alleged assault by a wife.
Eliza Pratley was summoned for assaulting Thomas Pratley, her husband, at Fulkins, on the 3rd July.
Thomas Pratley deposed: On the 3rd July I came home to dinner about 12 o'clock. I wanted a droop of vinegar to eat with some lettuce, and I sent my daughter for a pennyworth. She came back with only half a penny worth. My wife said "She has got the other half-penny in her pocket." She then called my daughter a d___ rogue. I told her to go back to the shop for the other half-pennyworth, and she did so. When she returned she said that the shop woman could not make out how she had made the mistake. My wife said she pulled out of he pocket the other half-penny when she got to the shop. I said I did not believe she did. Because I contradicted her my wife gone in a temper and threatened to take my life away two or three times. She tried to cut my throat with a knife. It took all my strength to take the knife from her. She said she would like to ram it down my throat. After that she threatened to throw everything off the table. Presently she went out, and I went to see where she was and asked her to come in-doors, but she would not come. She called me a d___ fool. I gave her a stripe and she laid down in the road. I gave her another stripe when she was on the ground, and then I picked her up as well as I could, and brought her in-doors.
Ellen Pratley deposed: I live at Fulbrook with my father and mother. I remember Friday, the 3rd July. Mother called me a thief, and said I kept a half-penny in my pocket. My father said he did not think I had, and then mother got into a temper. While father was sitting in the arm chair she came up to him and threatened to put a knife down his throat. I then went out of doors, and my mother came after me. I did not see father strike mother, or mother strike father.
The Chairman said there was no doubt that complainant struck his wife in a very savage way. If the woman had threatened, why did he not bring the matter before the magistrates? By his own confession he was guilty. He would be fined, including costs, 10s. The case against the wife would be dismissed. |