In 1869
Henry James Darling, of Waddington Street, Durham, was charged with
having unlawfully assaulted and beaten his wife without cause. From
the evidence given at the Durham Police Court we shall see Mary Troutbeck Darling was no pushover. Evidence had already been given
against Henry, in front of a packed courtroom. It was said that being
the worse form drink Henry came downstairs to see his wife removing a
tablecloth. He quickly grabbed the cloth screwed it into a ball and
threw it into the passage. He had then ordered his wife from the room
pinched her and then gave her a backhanded blow across the chest.
Mary Troutbeck Darling was the first to answer questions:
Q: How long have you been married to your husband?
A: Eleven months on Tuesday.
Q: On Friday night about 6 o'clock were you preparing tea?
A: Yes I was taking the cover off the table.
Q: Was the defendant in the room at the time?
A: Yes he came down whilst I was taking the cover off the table.
Q: What did he say?
A: He told me to take the tablecloth to my uncles, Mr Douthwaite's.
Q: I suppose that's a figurative expression for a pawnbroker?
A: Yes sir, Mr Douthwaite is a pawnbroker I believe.
Q: What did he next say or do?
A: He told me I was to leave his sitting room. But I told him I could not do so as I
was going to get my tea and there was no other room in the house.
Q: What did he do after that?
A: He followed me around the room and got hold of me to put me out. I would
not go out. He pinched me on the left arm and struck me on the chest
with his elbows. Mary then went on to say that her husband had ill
used her from the day they were married.
However much to the court audience amusement, as the defence cross examined Mary a
different story as to who the boss of the household was began to emerge.
Q: Did you ever strike him?
A: Not till after he had struck at me. I was compelled to strike in self defence.
Q: Have you got a pair of 'taws' (a leather strap split into strips at the end)? (laughter)
A: There is such a thing in the house.
Q: What are they like?
A: They are made of leather to be sure (laughter).
Q: What length are they? (laughter)
A: I cannot tell.
Q: Have you ever used these 'taws' to your husband?
A: I beg your pardon, I won't answer your question. (laughter)
Q: Now upon your oath, have you not used the 'taws' to your husband on several
occasions? ( laughter) On the Friday night in question?
A: He ordered me out and then I struck him. (laughter)
Q: Did you lay them on well?
A: No
Q: Didn't you mark his face?
A: No I did not.
An embarrassed and furious Mrs Darling
then left the stand to be replaced by her servant who told the court:
I have seen many quarrels between my master and mistress, I think
blows have passed between them on six different occasions. I do not
remember anything about a cribbage board and a pipe being knocked out
of my masters hand and mouth. She took the 'taws' to him after he had
struck at her, I don't know whether Mrs Darling kept the 'taws' to
whip the cats. I know there's no children in the house. On the day in
question the servant added: She hit her husband on the shoulders, not
over the face. He did not take his whipping very quietly. (laughter).
Mr Darling, who seemed to have suffered enough for his drunken
behaviour was fined five shillings.
