At the SOUTH-WESTERN, ALFRED FEATHERSTONE, 39, who was described as a cab proprietor, living at Lavender-hill, Battersea, was charged on a warrant with violently assaulting his wife, Mary Featherstone. Mr. George F. Bell, who prosecuted, said the prisoner had been guilty of repeated acts of brutality. He married his wife in May, 1894, and in the following July he committed a violent assault upon her, for which he was sent to prison for 21 days, the magistrate then granting her a judicial separation. On his release from prison he forced his way into her house. He was proceeded against for the damage and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. She subsequently forgave him and allowed him to return to her. After a while he repeated his violent conduct and was summoned for threatening to murder her. He afterwards struck her with a shovel, and said he would treat her as "Jack the Ripper" did the women at Whitechapel. The wife corroborated the opening statement. She added that he thrashed her with the banister rail which he pulled down and struck her behind the car. The horses and cabs were her own property, purchased out of the money left her by her first husband. The warrant officer who arrested the prisoner said he found him in bed with his clothes on in a helpless state of intoxication. The prisoner, in defence, complained of the conduct of his wife. Mr. Denman committed him to prison for six months and granted the wife a judicial separation.
