William Townsend proceedingsdefend , of the Artillary Ground Spittle-fields , was indicted for the Murther of his Wife Catherine Townsend proceedingsvictim , the 23d of August , by beating, kicking, and bruising her on the Head, Breast, Back, Belly, Stomach, and toes: so that she languished and languished liv'd till the 26th of the same Month and then died . The Evidence for the King deposed as followeth: Francis Bennet < no role > deposed that on Saturday the 23rd of August, being in Peticoat-Lane, he was met by an Acquaintance out Henry Matthews < no role > who asked to go to drink, and accordingly they went to the sign of the Gate in the Artillary Ground to the Prisoners House, where they staid drinking 2 or 3 Hours, while they were there they saw the Prisoner and the Deceased in a Scuffl, and the Prisoner give her several blows, and then pusht and kickt her up Stairs; that they were drinking together mention was made of one Mr. Pendal, who was one of their Acquaintance, and being inform'd that he lodged to her Prisoner's House he was called down, but he whispering him in the ear told him, that he was in danger of an Arrest, and therefore did not care to drank with them below Stairs, but there was a convenient Room above, where he would bring with him; and so they went-up Stairs, and going into the Room saw the Deceased sitting very disconsolate in a Chair. That the Prisoner coming into the Room, giving ill Language, bid her get her out which she refusing to do, he pulled her several times, but she not getting up he attempted to pull her out of the Chair, and throwed her down on the Ground, struck her several Hour, kick'd her several times on the side, and as he did believe kicked her full on the Face, with that violence that one of the Company said, he feared he would kick out her Brains. That then there came up a Woman who interposed between then and told the Prisoner be should not to bear, kick, and his Wife. That in the Scuffle she fell, or was thrown down again, and that he kick'd her on the Belly; that the Deceased cry'd out will you kill me, that aferwards he pulled her out of the Door. This was confirmed by Henry Matthews < no role > , who added, that Benjamin Pendal < no role > should say, he believed the Prisoner was mad, and he feared he might have murdered the Child within her. Benjamin Pendal confirm'd what had been before deposed as to their bring there drinking, and a scuffle between the Prisoner and Deceased, but denyed that he saw the Prisoner either strike beat her: John Pearson < no role > deposed that he had used the House, and has never seen the Prisoner Strike the Deceased in his life. Elizabeth said that she lived at the next Door to the Deceased, and that the came to her House that Ni ght after the falling out, and stood till past 2 a Clock, and the Deceased asked her if the Skin was off her Face, telling her her Husband had kicked her with the Toe of his Shoe.

Mary Cook < no role > , the Midwife, deposed, that she laid the Deceased of a dead Child on Monday the 25th, and that she died on the 26th, and there was a Bruise on the forehead of the Child, and that the Deceased told she her had had a fall; but she saw no Signs of any hurt upon the Woman. This was confirm's by Jane Hall < no role > , who was present at her Labour. Eliz Davis < no role > to the same purpose, adding that she had the Prisoner and Deceased same time, but had never can him stroke her, and that the Deceased had told her, that could she but govern her Tongue she might live as happy as any Woman in the World; that on Sunday the Deceased dress'd a Dinner, and being very but went up Stairs, stripe'd and wash'd her self from Head to foot in cold Water, put on fresh Linnen, and a Gown that had been newly wash'd. Mary London < no role > deposed that the Deceased at the beginning of the Quarrel threw a Pint Pot at the Prisoner, and afterwards a Quater Pot, that she did not indeed see the Prisner first at her several times, but did not see the all upon her. Ann Pendal < no role > said, about 3 Weeks before one that served then with Brandy giving a Bowl of lunch, the Deceased drank so freely of it, that the afterward fell down the Cellar Stairs, and that Saturday Night after the Quarrel she went to the next door and said all past 12 a Clock, that she there drank Cherry Brandy, and teach'd her self a Pint of All-fours (i.e. Carraways, Wormwood, Angelico and Anniseed Water) which she drank, and afterwards let down he Stairs. The Prisoner's cas'd several Persons who gave him the Charecter of a Peacerole Quiet Man. Upon hearing the whole Matter Jury acquitted him.