"Carlo took a pair of scissors, and in endeavoring with them to cut the gold chains and earrings he stabbed her with the points in the head, ears and shoulders."

The results of a messy marital breakup in Old New York were recorded in the August 14, 1885 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. An excerpt:

“Carlo Lepro, an ill favored Italian, hailing from 819 Mott Street, New York, was before Justice Nacher this morning on complaint of his pretty little gypsy looking 16 year old wife. She says that having left him to live under the protection to a fellow countryman named Joseph the Fish, at 158 North Fifth Street, Carlo came after her and demanded a large amount of jewelry with which he had decorated her. One her refusal to give it up, she says, Carlo took a pair of scissors, and in endeavoring with them to cut the gold chains and earrings he stabbed her with the points in the head, ears and shoulders. Defendant denied stabbing his wife, and stated that at the time he sought to repossess himself of the jewelry he had commenced divorce proceedings against her. The justice held the accused in a bond of $500 to answer to the charge of assault and battery in the second degree. Counselor Donnelly, who appeared for the accused, wishing to impeach the character of the woman, stated that on July 6 she had been arrested on the charge of appropriating $50 worth of property from her mother.”