As regular readers of my blogs will be aware, I am fascinated by accounts that appear in Victorian newspapers that provided with insights into the everyday lives of the ordinary people of the era.
On a recent trawl through the archives, I came upon the following story that appeared in The People on Sunday the 29th of July, 1888:-
THE JEALOUS WIFE’S MISTAKE
Mrs. Mary Andrews, the wife of a surgeon residing at 2, Gladstone Terrace, Wood Green, appeared before Mr. Partridge, at the Wandsworth Police Court, to answer a summons for committing a violent assault upon Mrs. Westley, a lady residing at 1, Dafforne Road, Upper Tooting.
Mr. John Haynes supported the summons, and asked the magistrate to deal with the case as one of an aggravated assault.
NURSE JESSIE TINNERCLIFFE
The complainant deposed that, on the 11th of June, the defendant came to the house apparently in a state of excitability, and inquired if nurse Jessie Tinnercliffe was living there.
The witness told her that she knew no person of that name.
She then stated that her husband had deserted her, and said that he was paying improper attentions to a woman named Tinnercliffe.
THE ALTERCATION TAKES PLACE
She produced a piece of blotting-paper on which was written an address, and suggested that she (the witness) was the nurse.
The witness repudiated the allegation, whereupon the defendant attacked her, striking her in the face.
Her maid came to her assistance, and she ran out of the house followed by the defendant, who struck her with her umbrella, causing her nose to bleed.
She was nearly stunned.
THE IMPRESSION ON THE BLOTTING PAPER
The defendant produced the blotting-paper which bore the impression of the following words:-
“With affectionate love, believe me, dearest Jessie, your loving husband, George. Miss Jessie Tinnercliffe, 1, Dafforne Road.”
The complainant added that at the time of the assault she was within a week of her confinement.
SINCERE REGRETS
The defendant, who seemed to feel her position acutely, occasionally giving way to crying, asked for the production of a letter which she had forwarded her.
The letter was read out by the clerk, and it contained an expression of regret, together with an explanation of her conduct, and stating that she was suffering from a great sense of wrong at the time.
Mr. Partridge said that the letter was an apology throughout.
The defendant, in answer to the complaint, expressed her regret for what had taken place, and said that she was willing to tender her apologies to the complainant.
A FINE AND COSTS
Mr. Partridge said that she had been guilty of a serious assault, but said that he had no doubt that she laboured under an erroneous impression at the time.
He fined her £3, and ordered her to pay two guineas costs.