A LADY HORSEWHIPS HER GOVERNESS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 918, 16 February 1881, Page 4

A LADY HORSEWHIPS HER GOVERNESS.

At a special sitting of the Divisional Magistrates at Bedford, an extraordinary charge was heard, when Mrs Annie Karslake, of Tnrvey Cottage, wife of Mr Edward Kent Karslake, Q.C., was summoned for unlawfully assaulting Miss Rosa Parlby, governess, on November 6. Mr Clare prosecuted, and Mr Mitchell appeared for the defence. The facts of the case transpired in Mr Clare’s opening statement, but before the charge came on the complainant went into hysterics, and was obliged to be taken out of the Court. Having somewhat recovered, Mr Clare said it was a most painful case, and the complainant had suffered severelv from the effects of the assault. Miss Parlby was a highly-educated young lady, and in August last answered an advertisement in one of the London morning papers for an Italian lady to come to Turvey Cottage as companion to Miss Karslake, and to teach her Italian, French, German, music, and singing. In consequence of that advertisement she went to Turvey Cottage and entered into an engagement for six months, which time would not expire until February next. The fact of rhe assault he believed would not be disputed. For some time Miss Parlby had been in great bodily fear of her mistress, and on the previous Saturday, about midday, she was proceeding to her room. In order to get there she had to proceed along a passage, in which was a door leading from a dressing-room. As she was going along the passage, much to her astonishment, Mrs Karslake, the defendant, ran out of the dressing-room with a whip in her hand, with which she struck Miss Parlby across the neck. She also seized her, pushed her up against a cheffonier, and held her there, the complainant being much injured in consequence and was still suffering severely. She screamed for assistance, and Miss Karslake came to her rescue, and together they succeeded in holding Mrs Karslake for a few minutes until they thought she wasiquiet. However, as soon as they let go, Miss Parlby endeavoured to get into her own room, which was close at hand, when the defendant ran after her, and kicked her three successive times with, much' violence. The complainant was so much injured by this treatment that she could get no sleen f u>- ‘II a " d " h « had been obliged to come there that day to seek protection of the law. Mr Mitchell for the defence, said the case was a very painful one, but seeing from the etters that had been ‘nd troni the amount ef feeling in the locality, he had decided to plead guilty

and admit the facts. He had practised in that court for some years, but he had never had such a cruel, such a painful case to conduct before. He had, however, got his tongue tied, and he did not choose to say why. What fine the Bench chose to impose would be paid. The Magistrates, after conferring together, for a considerable time, agreed to bind over the defendant in her husband’s recognisances of £IOO to keep the peace for twelve months. The case has excited a great deal of interest in the neighbourhood, the defendant occupying a high position, and it is considered strange that the case should have come on at a special session. No persons were in court except the parties engaged, and two representatives of the press, who directly the case was over, were ordered to leave the court.