From the Monmouthshire Merlin, 1861
“Elizabeth X charged Catherine Y with maliciously damaging or destroying glass and crockery in her house at Blaina, on the 4th inst. The quarrel originated in complainant’s husband keeping defendant who, when called a foul name by the jealous wife, thus retaliated — The Bench ordered the defendant to pay the amount of damage with costs.”
Not a penny will she get from me, even if they gaol me. She called me a slut! She was never a good wife, fishwife more like, with her swearing and beating him with a broom handle and calling him a useless good-for-nothing; in the pub, too. She used to follow him there. No wonder he came to me. She refused him his man’s comfort. Five years now he and me have been together. She, with her church and minister never found out neither, so full of herself she is. I love him, take care of him, put balm on his bruises, soothe his anger. She deserved what she got. Like he’s been telling me, him and me will leave this place and go away together, as soon as he finds a job and a place for us to live. He promised, swore on the bible. And I believe him, have done for four years. And still do?
