MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2086, 10 September 1875, Page 2

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

Ellen Douglas, a machinist, living at Lewisham road, New-cross, was-'charged before Alderman Knight at the Guildhall, with assault. Mr Chipperfield appeared for the complainant. Mr William Lucas Distant said lie was a leatherdresser, residing at Streatham Cottage, West Dulwich. On Monday afternoon he went to the Ludgate-hill Station of the London, Chatham, and Dover, Railway, when he felt a tight grasp on his arm, and on turning round saw the prisoner. Having never seen her before he asked her what she meant, and she said something to the effect that he was a pretty fellow, or that he was treating her very badly. Not understanding her, he asked her again what she meant, and she said, "You have treated- me very badly, and you know you have, and what do you think of yourself ?" He held up his hand to the cab inspector, and immediately received a blow across the right eye from the prisoner's umbrella, which blackened his eye. The cab inspector came up, and he gave her into ! custody. She told the inspector that he (complainant) had baen with her to a house of illfame, and had treated her I badly. Snowing that he had not, he I asked her to state the time, and she said about ten minutes before. The reason he asked her to state the time was that he had been at his hairdresser's for the previous half-hour, and dining before then for about an hour. At the station-house she said it was half an hour before. 4Fhe defendant, in answer to the charge, said that a gentleman very like the complainant stopped her and asked her where she was going, and she said " Home," because she was very fainfc. He said he was going to have some refreshment, and asked her to; havo some too. She at first refused, but afterwards consented, when he took her to a tavern, and ordered chops to be cooked for them. While they were being *pre.pared, the man (not a gentleman) sneaked, away and left her, and she was greatly annoyed ai it. She came away and saw the complainant, who was very like the person who had treated her so badly, and accused him of having played her a yety dirty trick. She never said that he tdbk her to a house of ill-fame ; but she said he took her to a place, meaning a place of refreshment. She was now convinced she had made a mistake in the person, and she was very, sorry for having assaulted Mr Distant. Alderman Knight asked Mr Distant whether he felt satisfied that the explanation was correct. Mr Chipperfield said he had no doubt that it was, and that Mr Distant would not have given her into custody for the assault alone, but when she made such a charge againsfr-His moral character he felt that he had no alternative but to charge her. Alderman Knight said that of course I*9 had nqt, and he had djqne perfectly right. What had now transpired had cleared him of any imputation whatever. However, she had committed an assault which she had no right to do, even if she had found the right man j and for that ho. should fine her ss, or seven days' 4m* prisonment and hard labor. —• Home News.

A brutal husband favours a iick-her law.