Rhode Island American

FROM A LATE LONDON PAPER.

HATTON GARDEN.

Yesterday an elderly woman, whose emaciated appearance and cadaverous countenance indicated that her dissolution was rapidly approaching, was brought up, supported by two females, charged with violently assaulting a stout-looking, middle aged man, who resides in the same house with her.—The complainant stated that he had been a long time accustomed to be "insulted" by this woman and her "confederates," but that on yesterday they assaulted him in such a manner, that he was obliged to fly to his Worship for preservation. He then proceeded more definitely to state his grievances; he explained that on Tuesday afternoon, in passing down stairs, one plate was hurled down upon his head, while another was thrown from below, which struck him on the chin. Finding these missiles were flying from all directions he ran into the street, and there a two-pound stone (which he produced) was dropped from a two-story window, which burst through his hat; and if it had not been for his well-combined locks which served as a chevaux de frise, it certainly would have brained him.
The defendant pleaded guilty, conceiving she had ample grounds of justification.

"Please your Worship," said she, "you may perceive that I have not long to live, and I consider that man as the chief cause of it. He sleeps next room to me, and he coughs all night like a horse: last night the brute coughed to such a degree that he shook the very bed under me, and on yesterday, as he was going out, he aggravated me so that I did not think I'd live 'till he return'd, so I just dropped the stone upon his head (for, Lord help me! I could not throw it,) but I meant no mischief, for I called out to the passengers to stand out of the way, as I only meant to kill that villain."

The Magistrate congratulated her on the benignant spirit with which she was about to depart this world; he at the same time assured her that should she give such another proof of being at peace with all mankind, it should not pass unrewarded in this world.