VITRIOL THROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

VITRIOL THROWING.

A WOMAN FORGIVES.

BUT THE JUDGE CANNOT.

There was a remarkable case of a forgiving woman at the Old Bailey when Frederick Charles Curl, of Clapton, was charged with injuring Mrs. Winifred Smith, wife of a Clapton labourer, by throwing vitriol in her face, Mrs. Spiith was reluctant to give evidence against her assailant.

Questioned as to Incidents which led to the attack by Curl, she turned to the Recorder, Sir Ernest Wild, and said; "I really do not wish to go any further. I forgive him for what he has done." "Never miiid that," replied the Recorder. "You have got to go on." "But I do not wish to say any more," persisted the woman. Sir Ernest, however, insisted, and Mrs. Smith explained that on the night of October 29 she met Curl at Walthamstow and with him entered a train for Clapton. On the journey she tantalised i him because he suggested that she was! friendly with another man. Curl became angry, and suddenly pulled a bottle out of i his pocket and threw acid in her face. The liquid ran into her eyes, blinding her. She jumped to her feet and fell over a portmanteau belonging to another passenger. As she lay on the floor Curl" Poured more vitriol over her. When the train reached Clapton the, other passengers helped her out of the train and gave Curl into the custody of two porters. Dr. D. "S. Cassidy, of Hackney Hospital, said Mrs. Smith had since recovered the sight of her Teft eye, but was only able to distinguish very large objects with the right eye. Her vision might improve in time. After his arrest was declared to have Baid: "I done it on her because she dared me to and jeered at me."

waß sentenced to penal servitude ?? three years, the Recorder remarking was determined to stop vitriol throwing if the law could do so.