[15] No doubt a man who marries five times is mad; but for the comic facility with which marriage can be contracted in England, such scandalous scenes would never happen.
(B.)—House of Commons (1884).
Assaults on Women.
Mr. Macfarlane asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention had been called to a case tried at the Thames Police-court, in which a man named Joseph Dennis was found guilty of assaulting Norah Driscoll by striking her in the right eye and knocking her down. While on the ground he lifted her head up by the hair and dashed it on the pavement, and kicked her on the left side. She became unconscious, and was discovered in that condition by a policeman. At Poplar Hospital it was found that two of her ribs were bent in. Mr. Saunders fined the prisoner ten shillings and ten shillings compensation; and, if he proposed to amend the law relating to brutal assaults.
Sir W. Harcourt.—I am not aware that there is any defect in the law. Judges and magistrates have the power to inflict severe sentences in cases of brutal assaults, but, of course, they are not compelled to do so unless circumstances require; and I have no power to overrule their discretion by saying that magistrates or judges should pass higher sentences than they think fit to do.
Mr. Macfarlane gave notice that when the Bill of the hon. member for Glasgow (Mr. Anderson) for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals got into Committee, he should move to include women in the schedule (laughter).
(C.)—In case it should appear incredible that an Englishman should say grace before taking a glass of grog, I give the following anecdote, the veracity of which I vouch for.
A clerical friend of mine, Vicar of the Parish of ——, and late professor of mathematics at one of the great English military colleges, was one evening taking a glass of whisky and water with a Presbyterian minister. Before carrying his glass to his lips, the latter suggested to his companion that one of them should repeat grace.
“Not over whisky and water, my friend, it would be a farce,” answered the Vicar.