Mrs. ELFRIDA MAYNE, the Wife of Mr. Mayne, stationer, of High-street, was summoned for assaulting Harriet Thompson, a laundress. Mr. Laidman was for the defendant.
It appeared that the complainant, on the 22nd inst., went to the defendant’s residence for the dirty linen belonging to her lodger, Mr.Southcombe, Defendant answered her ring; but seeing who it was, rudely slammed the door in her face, and retired. Subsequently she was receiving the articles she had come to fetch from Mr. Southcombe himself, when Mrs. Mayne pushed him against her with great violence, and subsequently struck her a severe blow in the mouth.
Mr. Laidman admitted that his client might have pushed Mr. Southcombe against the complainant to get them out of her house, as there was some ill-blood between them; but he denied her having struck her. He called Ellen Foss, Mrs Mayne’s niece, who positively swore that she was present at. the time, and that no blow was struck. Circumstances transpired, however, which created suspicion that this witness had perjured herself, and Sergeant Howard was sent to get her cousin, a woman named North, to disprove or corroborate her evidence.
Thee defendant, in the meantime, was examined on a summons issued by Mr. Southcombe, for an assault. The complainant stated that on the morning of the 23rd init., he entered his sitting room, when he observed that his land- lady had previously got possession of it. He knew her temper and desired her to leave. She, however, declined, and he said he would allow her to remain “if she conducted herself without violence.” She walked about the room in an excited state for a few minutes, and at last his clean boots, which the servant bad put on a side table, attracted her attention, and she threw them at him. He then told her she bad “broken her agreement,” and that she must leave his room. She declined, and he put his arm round her waist, to make her go, when she scratched him and pulled his hair. She was also proceeding with other acts of violence towards him when her husband assisted in securing her. He could not leave her house, as he had given a bill for the payment of his lodgings up to the 5th December; and as the only means of preventing further annoyance he had, by her husband’s wish, taken out a summons against her. Yesterday she again took possession of his room, and, on his requesting her to leave, threw a glass of cold water in his face, He had also been obliged to keep his room locked to prevent her taking the linen out of his bed.
By this time Howard returned and stated that North, who was coming to the Hall, told him that Foss was in the kitchen with her at the time of the assault, and knew nothing of what passed. Mr. Mayne said that he hoped the magistrates would punish his wife severely, as he knew she deserved it.
The Mayor, after waiting some time for North, said they could not attach the least credit to Foss’s evidence, and conceiving both cases clearly proved, the Bench ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 40s., or be committed for a fortnight, for the first offence, and Os. for the second, or be committed for a further term of a week. After remaining in custody some time the money was paid for her and she was liberated.
