Reading Mercury

Dated 9^th November 1867

BOROUGH MAGISTRATES OFFICE

Tuesday 5^th November

(Present: H. Flint, J. F. Hickman, and J. H. Mason, Esqrs.)

ALLEGED ASSAULT:- Mary Budden complained against  Charles Budgett for an assault , on 19^th September. Defendant pleaded not guilty.

Mary Budden said – On the 19^th September, she was sitting at supper when the defendant hit her with his fist and gave her a black eye.

Cross-examined – She was not drunk.

William Budden said – On Thursday, the 19^th September, he was at supper; Budgett and his wife came down into the kitchen, he began abusing witness’s wife, who tried to persuade him to leave her alone, and witness endeavored to take her away. Defendant gave her a black eye with his fist, and then he struck witness.

Cross-examined- He was sober, so was his wife. He did not take up a fire shovel.

Defendant said he was having a word or two with his wife.

Julie Budgett said she and her husband were having a word or two, and he gave witness a push. Mary Budden interfered, - defendant gave her a push, and being intoxicated, she fell down. Witness was upstairs, and her husband was in bed.

Thomas Hinds, late a police-sergeant, stated he thought the complainant had been drinking. The defendant was sober.

The case was dismissed.