The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-03-12 00:00:00

ACTION AGAINST THE COUNTESS OF

DERWENT WATER.

An action of replevin has been brought by the
Lords of the Admiralty against Henry Brown, the
bailiff, and Amelia Radelylle, the person calling herself
"Countess of Der wentwater," in the County Court at
Studley Bridge in the County of Durham, on Monday,
for an illegal seizure of their cattle and goods on the
Newlands South Farm, on the 11th of January last.
Damages were laid at Litt Brown was the person who
was committed at the late Newcastle assizes for nine
months for taking part in a riot at that farm when an
effort to remove the dead stock for the purpose of
selling it under the "Countess's" warrant was resisted.
Some live stock had been previously removed, and
the present damages were claimed on account of such re-
movaL Through an informality—Brown having asked
lota jury, and oil,: not having been summoned— the case
rigaimit him was abandoned; and Mr. Fenwick, who
represented the Admiralty, agreed to go on with his
evidence against the "Countess." It appeared she
had not been personally served, and Mr. Judge
Stapylton asked if it could be proved that she had
seen the summons. Mr. Fenwick replied that he
could prove the handwriting of a let. er which had
been addressed to his Honour, and that would settle
the question as to the service of summons. Mr. St mt.
thorpe, sheriff's officer, proved the following letter
(liferatim) to be in the dountess's handwriting

•
Darwentsrater, Dfiston Dimain Mates Office (W. crest).—
The 4 'ountess of LOrwetitsrater presents her compliments to
Judge Stapleton, of the County Court, Shotley Bridge, and
will feel obliged if his lordship will not take C0g1117,1103 of
any pleas In his precincts concerning the Darwentwal er free-
hold property of the countess which comes under the mar-
riage settlement of Francis, Oft earl of the elder lineage of
Darwentwater. The Crown has acknowledged the title of
Darwentwater officially, and the tenants have paid rents and
fealty, and therefore the Interference of self-Interested agents
must now cease. The Lord High Admiral of England cannot
enter an action against the Countess for claiming her freehold
properly, which was never confiscated. The poor afflicted
wife of the bailiff Brown, who is falsely imprisonel, wishes
the encl• sod writs eturned to the court from whence they
VOllf lordship will see they ate ri•t applicable to tier
husband under a certain super/sato, nor yet to the Countess
of Darwentwater. —February 20, 1070.
The writs alluded to were the eummonses served upon
herself and her bailiff. The illegal distraint of goods
having been proved, the judge found for the plaintiff
for the CIO claimed with costs, with immediate exe-
cution. It is expected that some of the unsold "relics
and heirlooms" will be seized to satisfy the judgment.

At the Oxford rupizes, Rebecca Hyde leaded
guilty to the murder of her chili, and was sentenced to death
the judge Intimating he should not have vcceived the
plea, but that he knew from the evidence the jury would
a., I try.. p...ege guilty. His lordship said he should corn-
" nf , x•te the e 1.,. of th.