September 1870 on a nice fine day in Newcastle, walking in their best clothes along the High Street were William Murdock and his glamorous new love Miss Kearsley. Within seconds the couple were soaked from head to toe. The woman responsible stood at an upstairs window unable to control her laughter. Having seen the couple coming the woman had gotten a bucket full of scalding dirty water along with a scrubbing brush, flannel and soap. As the couple had reached her window she had deliberately thrown the water over them, scalding the side of Williams face and the neck and shoulders of his lover Miss Kearsley.
William who recognized the woman at the window had her arrested. The next day in court when the woman was asked why she had done this she explained. She and Mr Murdock had been engaged for three and a half years but when the richer slightly better looking Miss Kearsley had come along Mr Murdock had dumped her. As she agreed to keep the peace the magistrate discharged the ex-lover.
