My first cousin five times removed was the victim of an Acid attack in early Victorian Carlisle but was she also a Prostitute and what on earth happened to her in life?
The Carlisle Patriot newspaper on 21st October 1837 carried the following words about an incident which was also reported similarly both locally and nationally in several other titles:
Joseph Butterworth, aged 64, was charged with having feloniously thrown upon Eleanor Ronson [from my Dalston, Cumberland Ronson forebears] of Carlisle a quantity of corrosive fluid or other destructive matter, whereby the said Eleanor Ronson was burnt and disfigured. Mr. Ramshay appeared for the prosecution.
Eleanor Ronson - On the 29th of September last I was in Carlisle. I did not then live there, I usually sleep at Mrs. Black’s and did so on the night in question. It was after midnight when I went to her house. I knocked at the door, and Mrs. Black said ‘Eleanor, is that you.’ She came to the door and the prisoner came out of his house. I was then standing in the street; it is called Stubb’s Buildings. The prisoner said “damned whore, what are you doing at this time of night.” I said I am not speaking to you, go to your bed!” He then said “You! I’ll disfigure you for the life to come,” and threw vitriol over me, which burnt my cheek and also my gown, I fell down, but was soon got up, and went into Mrs. Black’s. The gown was here produced, it was very much injured, nearly one half of it being burnt to rags.
The prisoner on being asked if he had any question to put to the witness, asked her if she did not come into his house and throw down some liquor which had got to apply to bad leg; and said a great deal about being disturbed by the witness and man, and that the witness Ronson had thrown piece of broken pot at him.
Jane Black.—l live in Stubb’s Buildings. On the night of the 29th September, Miss Ronson came to my house after midnight, she was staying with me at the time. She has a bouse of her own now. When she knocked at my door, I said, “Who’s here. Eleanor that you?” she said, “Yes”; and the prisoner came out of his house and said “ you damned whore! What do you want at this time of night?" was then desired to go to bed, but threatened to disfigure her; he then went into his house and came out again immediately and threw something over Eleanor Ronson which I thought to be dirty water. She fell down and said was burnt. Her dress was new that night; it was also very much burnt. The prisoner in his defence again said a great deal about his being disturbed by bad men and bad women, and that even his property had been injured.
The Jury consulted short time, and then returned a verdict of Guilty.
We understand that Butterworth escaped from the officers.
Further reports state simply that:
At the opening of the Court on Thursday morning it was stated that the prisoner Butterworth had made his escape, on his way from the Court to the House of Correction. The bailiifs were all called up on the previous evening, and not one of them it appeared could be found who had the prisoner in charge, and it was proved that nearly the whole of them had been very negligent during the afternoon, and that some them were very much liquor. It was the general opinion of the Court that every bailiff who could not prove that he was officially employed 'otherwise at the time the prisoner made his escape, should be mulcted his payment for attending the sessions. The prisoner, we believe, has not yet been found.
Cont'd......