Cambridge Independent Press 10 Aug 1844: George Willson guilty of assault on Caroline Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE COUNTY.Before Sir St. Vincent Cotton, Bart., Revs. T. Coombe and J. Hailstone, and T.B. Wortham, Esq.
TRUMPINGTON, — ASSAULT: LOVERS’ QUARRELS. — Caroline Cambridge, of Trumpington, charged George Willson with assaulting her on the 20th ult., at Granchester feast. The complainant, a rather pretty-looking girl, stated that as she was walking between the stalls in the feast with another Trumpington young man, the defendant came up, and straightaway denied her right to bestow her society on another man. The complainant asserted her title to a free choice of followers and favourites, and refused to leave her companion. Defendant struck her violently between the eyes and made her nose bleed and broke her comb. The other “Trumpingon young man” then “pitched into” defendant, and prevented him from striking her again. — A youth called Shadrack Adams, the complainant’s favoured swain, corroborated this statement, and while giving his evidence, was, there and then challenged by the defendant to mortal combat. — The statement made by the defendant was, that as he was “discoursing sweet music” to a maiden in the feast, the complainant called out to him, and abused him with most harsh and unbecoming terms before his “ladye love,” and that when he went up to expostulate with her, she blew her nose in his face. Hereupon his wrath kindled, but he denied striking her; he only shoved her on the stones. — The magistrates considered the assault proved, and conceiving it not be one of those “lovers quarrels” which lead to the renewal of love, muleted the rejected George in the sum of 12s., and 12s. 6d. costs. A fortnight was allowed him to pay the sum in.