BOROUGH MAGISTRATE OFFICE
Tuesday April 12
(Present: The Mayor, J. H. Lucas Esq., and J. P. Jackson Esq.)
BRUTAL ASSAULT ON MOTHER BY HER SON. – Robert Breadman was charged with violently assaulting his mother.
Police Constable Justice stated that on Sunday morning last in consequence of information received he went to the house of the prisoner’s mother, situated in the Old Newtown Road, when he saw Mrs. Breadman kneeling on the floor; she complained of brutal treatment she had received on the night previous from her son. Witness saw that she had two black eyes, and her face was bleeding; he also saw that she had the mark as if of fingernails in her face; he lifted her up and went again to the house about one o’clock, and also saw her again that morning. He had known her to have been illtreated by the prisoner on former occasions.
James Haines said he lived next door to Mrs. Breadman. On Saturday night last she fetched him (the prisoner) home between ten and eleven o’clock and said, “there is your supper,” which he began to find fault with, and to use very bad language towards his mother. After that witness heard the sound of blows and also heard the mother cry out. Someone fell down, and witness heard her say, “for God’s sake, Bob don’t kill me.” Prisoner said “you old – I will be hung for you.” After that witness heard more blows struck. There is a hole in the wall through which witness looked, and saw the prisoner kneeling on his mother and beating her head against the bricks. Heard the door locked. There was no one else in the house.
The prisoner said he was very sorry he did it.
The Mayor told him that he was charged with a very serious offence – that of assaulting his mother, whom he was bound by every tie of nature to protect, and although she did not appear against him, the law allowed the evidence of other witnesses. The Bench would not be doing its duty to the public if they did not pass a severe sentence, and they should therefore commit him to the house of correction for two calendar months with hard labour.
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