AN UNNATURAL SISTER.

Thames Star, Volume VIIi, Issue 2825, 5 March 1878, Page 2

AN UNNATURAL SISTER.

On Wednesday, before Messrs Newell, Ritchie, aud Mitchell, at the Footscriy Police Court, a murried woman named Sophia Stephens was charged by her sister, Isabella Tighe, a girl under 10 years of age, with an unlawful assault committed on the dial January. The circumstances of the case were most peculiar, as the girl, when under examinelion, stated that she did not know that the defendant was her own sister. ~Tk» girl, upon being put in the box, laid that on the day named Mrs Stephens, whom she had been with about seven months; ai nurse girl, knocked her down twice; and ' kicked her several times. &be wej kicked iv the back and ■idea, and while standing up a quantity of hair was torn from her head. W hilat :tm the ground, defendant placed her hands and*' i endeavoured to eru»h her upon th« eheet. She was beaten by defendant With si lath, attached to the window-blind. Dr Morton proved that at the time the girl wit*' taken to him she was in 'a moat «nelsM and filthy condition. £rais*weraesAW v able on all parts of the body, tte rijjir eye was bUckeued, and the Itfc'lfifr several wounds as though produced ■/ sever* kicking. , In fact,^tbe, girl..altogether presented the appearance of st most miserable, half-starved, unesred-for Utti*.. child. The presiding justices, after m short deliberation,: through to*;:eheir., man, said they were not entirely agreed? !• •s to :whether the defendant: •tefifYj not be sent "to prison withevt . m§ s option of /• floe, as whatever! thut fine might be! il would not fall «*tft defendant, bat upon her husband, irfcp, had to pay. There was no doubt :that"«- - most gross'esise of assault had beeft'BMift* out. She had previously been before, tl#' •' - t Court, and if she again appeared ttpojr k' '' similar charge, they would certaintyior- : prison without r the r option of ft fine# It) the presehtcasVthey^ would inflict •»*•«■• of £10. with £2 17s costs, in default one month's imprisonment. -Defendant's hns* band, who was present, and is muoh respected in the district, at ; onef :.paid"lh*i fine and costs. The girl was then tak*n ' away by her; father and -two sisters, who were in attendance to give evidence.