The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-11-22 00:00:00

THE ELOPEMENT AT BLANDFORD.

Ilueben It. Felstead, the young man in cudody on a
charge of illegally taking away and detaining Miss
Marian Greatbatch, was brought up in aßlen.i/ it the
Town•liall, on Tuesday last, before the Mayor eel
G. W. Daniell, Esq.)—Mr. Atkinson appeared fur
the prosecution, and Mr. Tanner for the defendant.
On the arrival of the Mayor, the Teen Clerk, Address-
inz our reprapmtative informed him that the rsuctii•
trates bad decided to have the examination in private,
and therefore reporters would not be allowed to be pre-
sent. Finding that remonstruici war of no u.e. our
representative left the room, We have however, h n
enabled to obtain the following partieulara—Elwari
I). Onsatbatch, lialfbrother to Mica Marian Greatbatch,
said he knew time prisoner, but had only seen him oaco
at bin mother's honk,. He was then introduced ;:s his
sister's aceepted suitor. This wan in the early part of
the year. She left his mother's how in company
with the prisoner on the 13th October last. He (witness)
went to Dublin in search of her, and found her thore.
The prisoner wag then in custody. He brought her
home.—Mary Ann Greetbatch deposed that she wee
the mother of Marian Greatbateb who was 14 years old
on the 90th Jens Last. She knew the prisoner. In
April last he told her that be loved her daughter very
dearly and looked forward to the time when be should
be able to make her his wife. He asked witness's per-
miuion to visit her frequently, till he was 21 years of
age. She wonted to this, and he then said he would
be 2l in Accost. She had no idea he was a married
roan. She produced probate of her late husband's will,
of which she was the executrix. Her daughter
Marian was entitled to certain property after her
death. She also produced certineate of the
I marriage of the prisoner with Mary Ann Ford
Oa the 29:h April last. On the 13th October last her
daughter asked her permiuion to go with the prisoner
for a drive. To this she agreed. They started about
half-past four in a eonveyanae, and did not return.—
Superintendent Moore, of the borough police, stated
that ho went to Dublin on the 4th November, end
received the prisoner from the superintendent of the
Dublin police, and brought him to Slandford.—This
wan the evidence for the prosecution, and Mr. Atkin-
son contended that it warn sufficient for a rsominittaL
Mr. Tanner then eddreesed the Bench. He said he
could not for one moment shield the prisoner from the
consequences of the deep moral wrong he had Dom-
mitten &gannet Mies Greetbaoh. He fully admitted the
moral offence he had committed, and stated that
the ptisoott 11111 very ooxioos to sake tko ottkr lomat

tMn h• coati f tha ;Flury ho had done her. He then
tr .1 ihi' • T.'r commenooment. It boron
'•li a•!.I .r .ving admitted by Mrs.
itch. and *flick was followed up by an intro.
,lncte.i ti. convers ssione at the Coro-exchange, Bland.
fort, in January last. The prisoner and Miss Great-
b.itch deeply attached to each other, bet at the
SWAP* the prisoner was emptiest' to another person.
He was .uldenly celled upon to faint his engagement
bv inarri:ig,.. which be did in April last, oontrary to and
decide.lly opposed to his own feelings. great fault
wit'eh he had own:pitted wee through the want el
moral courage on his part to tell Miss Greatbatoh that
he was not In the same position as when he proposed
to her. This intimacy ripened till it culminated
in t'se flight of the pcsoner and Him Great.
butch. from her Mother s house. Having made
to atat.- went, Mr. Tanner raised several points at to
I the right int.rpretation of the statute uoder
which the proceedings were taken, maintain.
ing that the intention of it as to the fraudu-
lently elln..Mg most be according to the word' of the
Act, with the desire of procuring lucre. This, from
the evidence. was most clearly and positively negetived,
and he urged upon the Bench not to make use of •
statute to punish • man for • moral offence, however
deeply he mvt by his conduct have iojured the
family of the girl, when it was clearly intended to
apply to those who were possessed of large fortunes
and were allured away for their money. He, therefore,
called upon the magistrates, if they could reconcile the
view he bid taken of the case with any degree of
justice, to dismiss the charge, sad not, by committing
the prisoner to Dorchester, be the Ornelolls of ware
widely circulating the affair than it was at present.—
The magi.trates, after a abort consultation, said that a
prima(tie case had been made out for the committal
of the prisoner for trial. He wee then bound over,
himself in I:100 and one surety of £lOO to take his
trial at the Assizes; at Dorchester. Considerable die-
satisfection was manifested at the non.admissiors of the
public, and • large number of persons were in waiting
to learn the decision of the Bench.