STRANGE SCENE IN COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3276, 20 August 1873, Page 3

STRANGE SCENE IN COURT.

At the Worship street Police court, London, recently, a woman who, while waiting in the prisoners’ passage at the rear of the court, had kept up a continual fire of bad language and greatly disturbed the court, was charged before Mr Bushby with being drunk and disorderly. The prisoner was brought into court between two constables, and Bendall, head gaoler, asked her name. “ Margaret Freestone,” she replied loudly ; and with a great deal of freespeech she made love to the gaoler, and seized him over the dock. There was immense laughter in court, and Dicker, the door-keeper, called “ Silence.”

The Prison «r : Yes ; silence ! what are you laughing at, you stupids ? (Then bowing all round.) l-ood afternoon, ladies and gentlemen all. Look at the beak, boys, Mr Jesse, chief usher : Silence. Prisoner : Silence gives consent. Look at the minister there. He’ll preach directly. Mr Bushby : Is the woman sober ? Police-constable, 466 N : Yes, sir. I took her into custody on Saturday night.

Inspector Gibbons, N division : I should inform your worship that the woman had to be taken into a doctor’s while on the way to the court this morning, and then she turned like this. She appeared well before. The Prisoner : Well ! of course I’m well. Mr Bushby : Is her head affected ? The Prisoner : Ami cracked ? Of course —in the nut. You’ll be to-morrow. The Constable then commenced to state how on Saturday night he had found the prisoner drunk on the doorstep of a publichouse, and in a very disgraceful state. During his evidence the prisoner sang—--44 Oood-laye, JoVinny j loefore X leave you. One more kiss before I go.” “ For to catch me on the hop, Or on my tibby drop.” And there the prisoner dropped her song amid roars of laughter. The Usher cried “Silence!” and the prisoner told him to go and say his prayers. Mr Bushby sentenced her to a month’s imprisonment with hard labor. The Prisoner : What! only a month ? What fun ! Good night, ladies and gentle men all. Good night, boys (turning to the public part of the court). Three cheers for the beak. Hooray !

But her cheer was cut short hy her being hurried out of court. Later in the day it transpired from some person calling to see the prisoner in the cell that somewhat of a painful history attached to her. It was stated that she had been deserted by her husband and left with a little boy to support, and while not bearing a good character herself, having been previously in custody, she had until recently been working as a domestic servant. On Friday last she entered upon a new situation, but had not been in the bouse (ive-and-twenty minutes before she left by climbing the wall of the garden. She bad previously expressed her intention of going to church, but nothing was seen of her until she was in custody. It is believed that she is insane, and that her family troubles have preyed upon her mind.