Killed by Husband's Unmanly Conduct

A brutal husband who assaulted his wife and pushed her down some steps was convicted of manslaughter after she died from her injuries. 

At about 1030pm on Sunday 28th July 1867 Thomas Quinn, a dock labourer, returned to his home in Star Street, Dingle in a drunken state and began quarrelling with his wife Rose. 

After hitting her several times he took hold of her by the shoulders and pushed her down the steps into the street, then got hold of a poker and struck his seven year old son over the head with it.

Police officers arrived and took Rose and the boy to the Southern Hospital, while Quinn was taken into custody and charged with assault. Their son was discharged into the care of relatives soon afterwards but Rose was in a very precarious state with a fractured skull. 

The next morning Quinn appeared before Mr Mansfield at the Magistrates' Court, the Daily Post describing him as 'a repulsive looking fellow.' On hearing from Dr Woollaston that his wife remained unconscious, Quinn apologised for his 'unmanly conduct' and was remanded for a week. 

Rose never came around and died on 3rd August. At the coroner's inquest the couple's eleven year olod daughter gave evidence of her father's violent conduct, leading to a verdict of manslaughter. The following day he appeared back at the magistrates' court for a committal hearing, where his daughter turned away and sobbed bitterly on seeing him in the dock. The magistrate Mr Raffles said to Quinn 'I hope you now understand the effects of you taking drink.'

On 19th August Quinn appeared before Lord Chief Justice Bovill and pleaded guilty to manslaughter receiving a sentence of seven months imprisonment.