The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-07-17 00:00:00

A SINGULAR BIGAMY CASE.

At one of the police-conits in London, Walter Sedley alias
Sydney, 32, of dm k complexion, and describing himself as an
artist, hut who is believed to he in the theatrical profession,
bus been charged with feloniously i.termarryins with
Juqa Forrest, his wife Ellen Grant Bull being then and now
alive.

Inspector Heath took prisoner into custodyon Satur-
day night. On telling him the charge he said, " You
will have to prove it,"
Charlotte Stevens, head nurse at St. George's Hos-
pital, proved that she was present at the marriage of
prisoner in 1862, at the registrar'. office, Dartmouth-
street. Westroineer, to Ellen Grant Bull. She was
now alive in Durham.
_ _ -

Julia Forrest, of Kennington-lane, London, said
she was married to the pritioner at St. Matthew's
Church, Brixton, on the 19th of April, 1863. She lived
with him two years, and daring that time he frequently
left her. He finally lef r her while she was very ill,
with a child sit weeks old. He pledged every article
be coal lay his bands on, and treated h-r in a shame-
ful manner after taking and spending .00 she had.
Mr. Heath here produced certificates of the two
marriages, and ststtd that it wa., hoped publicity
would be given to the Citre as no doubt prisoner had
deceived tither women. He seduced a young woman
to whom he was to have been married at Newington
Church, on Wednesday in last week, from whom be
also got several sums of money ; and at the came time
he was correq,ontling with another female, as was
shown by the letterm found upon him. Witness here
handed in various letters to the magistrate, the follow-
ing heing a fair speoimen of the documents :
Dear Sir. —I lwg to acknowltoluo receipt of your kind note,
and shall he pleased to hear from you further. If you donut
object to inform me, I should like to know whether you are
short or tall, hut lam not In the least hard to please. Please
address nix first as under ('.re of Mrs. A. E. Lockwood,
Hope. Cottage. birbeck-road, Dulwich.'
-

" May 7, 1569."
On the 10th gay the following :
" Dear Mr Sydney,—Your letter Inspires me with such '
perfect confidence in you that I throw aside all reserve. My
real name is as under. I prefer to lie called Annie. lam
an orphan. and live in lodgings with my brother. I ate fond
of doe estic duties, and have a very sympathetic and loving
disposition, and nature has been so kind as to make me
thoroughly good tempered. Though leading a solitary life I
manage to keep cheerful, hut of course should be much
happier with some Olhe to whom I could devote myself, to
charm away his cares •1141 increase his pleasures If you will
let sic know when you will call I shall be happy to see you
am, dear Mr. Sydney, yours very sincerely,
" A. E. Locsiwoon."
Nere followed some letters within a few days, in
which the writer says :
"I have the house to myself to day, and desire to whisper
to you a little word of kindness. You think our dispositions
are congenial, so do I, and I should much like to feel the
' sweet grasp of your hand this moreing, lout as that comma
he ' hooey shall weave a charm' for me and '• imagination
supply the place of reality." If you can come on Monday,
earlier than before, and have a cup of tea with ale, quiet and
cosy"
On the 18'h May, a letter in addressed signed, "Yours
a'rectionaely. Annie." in which the writer says, "Deal
Woolter,—el hat can I say foray love but that when he comes,
his arrival is to me like the outshining of the sun in winter,
genial and inspiring rake wrest care of your dear self, and
he ware of over-fatigue, my beloved. May every delight be
yours"
On the 20th of the same month, an epistle rune : "Single
blessedness as It is called IMO he very well when one cannot
meet with a congenial companion, hut when beloved by one
earnest, kind-hearted. generous, and noble, what can he
more delightful than to grasp hands for life/ I have not the
least objection to a quiet ceremony—as quiet as you please.
I will not forget to let you have a trees of my hair, dear, and
may I ask you to favour me in alike manner r"
In a letter dated let inst , endowed iii pink paper, lithe
desired trees of hair, bound in "the true lover's knot
blue rihhon, and the words, "I cannot say much, my dear
lord, but am assured when to osrether ye..., I will have meen
more happiness than we have enjoyed heretofore in 4.1.1 r
aepara e lives Shall not the whole of our future be mein-
dio,us with tenderness and love—breathing softly to you,
dear Walter—good night."
During the time of this correspondence the prisoner
was in communication on similar endeariug terms with
a Young woman wifh whom he was to have heen in it
rteri at Newington Church, the banns having been duly
poblisheol. The young woman is eneeinte by prisoner,
who has always represented himself an a single man.
Amongst other matters found upon him is a lock tf
"bright golden hair." and the photographs of two fe-
males ; also a letter dated August, 1867, in which the
fidlinving words occur :
" Dear Sir, I was pleased to see your carte, and should have
liked to have kept it. I have asked my sister to Send you
mine to see whether I was likely to suit you I like you
ry much. I shall he wallies mosiously for a letter from
tots —Yours trusty, EMILY POPLETT "
Other letters show that he obtained various sums of
' money from the young female he promised to marry at
' Newington Church.
Prisoner, who treated the whole affair with the
utmost indifference. and endeavoured to throw discredit
I on the witnesses, was remanded.