The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-06-29 00:00:00

m . I
O

ID (strict /fetus.
EXTRAORDINARY IFFILIATION CASE.
At the Sherborne Petty i D 's'onal Sessions, held on
Thursday last —hefore Captainviinlwasee. r. Captain Carr
a M',ar I ;by, Meer.. F.. Benthall.and It. Little-
"' Iglu Ellen (lin, a reepectaldy.dre-sed and lady-like
Jenne female. daughter of a talloweliateller, living at
Kherbonie, applied for an enter of affiliatioo against Mr
Themas l'arsomg, the son of a butcher, alto living at Ssheri
borne. The respectable positions of the parties
the case with much local interest. an.lit deal ut_eolealee;
wall manifested among the inhabitants. as the
held the office of Superintendent in the yetrrniirprol.
School, was an important leader of the
wiatione.
move:tient, and a suember of various other Mr.
Mr. }lend, appeared for
of Exeter.
Jalliffe. of Crewkerne, for the tletendendt.
II ;
the Parties were
Mr. Fiend opened the ease anti sat
t
d ha teen
acquainted with each other. ae . bite
about th togeer. Previous to Ang.mt,th
_lnsiLtAri7l.7
applicant had been away for Son.
of at tuun tIs(A e gus
'lrsPer."hn"' lint
in
'li:wilt:tie time after this the met
she had come home. Sten. ,
op
the der'n"l"" "ho liv
" Agthiit a irewna';:snart.'"x t"bnal
went for a walk with Ititiw;oh
hi
the
"Lovers' Grove,"
they noel' again' ar.,ll.h.i.it 'own. She dill nut. eleeply, lett
where he Pnnne.' -.k hatelkerchief (non his pocket,
It° Put h" then effeeted his purpose • and
put it °Vol. bee this
fvw
on niter. . .11 sherhorite for NT: 1 •
were, afterwards app it ant v •
s.
lefendattt rent o lett. rs t , • er, and he weld.' put them in,
and he did not think that they then could be deuied the
order for which they asked.
Ellen Gill was called, and deposed : I am living
with my father in Cheap-street, in this town. I know
Mr. 3 .in Perseus, who lives with his father nearly
mpomic our house. lit July, 117 4, I was aletent from
Sher borne, but returned nii the 24th of the same month.
I reinember the bank holiday of 1874, the 3rd of August.
'iii that tlay the Wesleyan Sunday School had their
annual treat, and (went to the field with them, adnvining
llyle Farm. Mr. l'arsons and Mr. Crump came into the
fiehl. and Mr. Parsons asked me if I would go for a walk,
and we went for a walk. Within a week after (I am tett
positive as to the day) there were arrangements tsiade to
go for another walk. I met hint accontingly, anal went
for a walk to Lovers Crove. We were talking as we went
along, and he proposed to Fit down. (said, It is too
late to sit down ;" bet he said " No ; we can go acne.
utele Torn's field, awl cut a corner to get home." We
went a little further oil, anal then he put me down, took
out his handkerchief, and put taver toy face. I struggle'
OA hard at I pos,ii.ly eul,t, lot it was of no use I could
not get away. I said, " Oh, you least; what have you
done r Ile said, "I know what I ant about." I said,
" I shall tell mother." Ile said. " lute dene no harm."
I told lain* I could not get up, anti he took up the hand-
kerchief and helped me up. After we had proceeded
atone distance along the road I missed one earring. I
informed hitu of toy loss. He said he should he along
with the cart the next day, and he would find it. The
next day he brought it to lie held it ups. he passed
our house, and the ASOIC night he brought it to the door
and gave it to me. Ile said, " I did not injure you, and
even if I had I would stand by you and see no harm came
to you." I came to the door. I Was crying, and he gave
Mt a bottle of scent, which he said I was to bathe my
face with, and which he also said he had brought from
Jersey on purpose for me. The next time I saw him was
in Bristol-road. He told me he was waiting for my sister;
but added he prefernsl rue to toy sister. This WWI about
• fortnight after Out meeting in the Crove. We went tip
the Bristol-read, aud the intimacy again took place. On
the 2Oth September. 1t174,. I went to thus parish church in
the evening. On returning I new Mr. Persons awl Mr.
Marden. Defendant again asked me to go for a walk, as
it was my led night and I was going to Wales the next
day. We went an to the Terrace. The intimacy was
renewed. I WAS put down SS I 11W1 been before, defendant
nereatinx his foruier promise that If any llatTO fittlie to
ins be would stand by inc. Ile asked toe out tiat way
home for my address, and, as I wee very cross at what he
had tione, I ref maul it. I afterwards consulted a doctor,
but I did not ascertain my ceudition until the lith of
April. On that day I wrote to Mr. l'arbous informing
him of it.
Mr. Mond asked defendant's attorney if he weld,'
produce the letter. This was declined, and, as no notice
had loin given. It:toll,: evidence of its contents could nut
be given. Ilioneser the following letters from defendant
in &newt,' was put in, and applicant swore to his hand-
writing:—

sti, Jynary, Sherburne.
Mho t:11.1.,, -I slioUlil hare answered )our first letter, but ao
yog Srl going to Write Tlitttlillay or Friday it would
hat etosil 11.1 IINC. I .161 not get it until Thuisday morning.
could rwl inake out what secret you had lwen told, *nil the
amtunts the letter receivul yesterday greatly our, Timm' me.
You no ow to g so )ou information lii slew words, which I
QUI .10 oU moot kilow yot rocli if it IS true what yoU say oil
)uUr letter, that )itil QUlllot lie atl you fancy, therefore you
need not be afraid to go to a doctur. Wishing you a eery
Slam ?kw Yt or,
I an:, °lint obtsliellily, I'. PARSONS.
Ow the 10th April she meow,' another from him.
7th April, I siS, Sherburne, Dorset.
Mos write to inform you I will omit: to Ilristol on
Stolidity. I will send a hoe to-morrow to the *awe address, to
my what trots Cottle sIitII,SO that you may meet me, 5) 00
ne.l not write again.
I sun, yours nopectfolly, RPONN
The next letter was mblreaaml to M rs. Gill, and was as
to:Maws :

loth April, la:s, Sherhome.
Mna. Mu,— I Mel I cannot at t Grist .1 and bark ...I a
Autiday I wax at leo, il yesterday, ah.l and
shall hot be nine I conie befote Friday next, when I ill conic
without fail
Yours respectfully, Tuns PAIOONM.
Will sure lust mime next Friday. When poi change the
enclosed, if thy ask pat who its from aw." T. Gill for L. Gill."
Enclosed aas a Putt-office order, taken out by the
sleannilant for .1:1 IN. I n rote to him and remived
.tnuther letter

strertorne, 12th April; 1577.,
Miss Mt!, I sin song you were so dissies.itited ys-teney,
and also Mr Iliternino, and I immot cone Were Friday nest.
but will euse then withew fail. I rce ivel a lessee from Mr
Ii . the ealteets.4 whkl, alirpril,ell me 1 have wrlttii. ril
4.1,11,1 m shell f eneilig. If )..0 tamed wait till Oka you
son do slit)ou 'lank lest.
I lin, yours obe,Pently, Tlion
A telegram was afterwards received, but it I\ 33 not
e.in,' and therefore not read.
The child -s boy -,vas loom on the*llth of April. I am
now living w ith my father in Clings- istria7t.
Cross-examined by Mr. Jolliffe : I mid my sisters hail
been intiniate with the defendant a long time -several
years—and have been in the billet of going for drivea with
him. I have nye sisters. The defendant Illay have
treated no n kindness, but it Was 1111301Wite,I. lit 1.73
I went to London, and going from Water's., station lost
lily purse. Previous 4, g.,,ing to Louden I had been
walking with Mr. Parsons, and when I found I Mel lost
soy purer I elide to Mr. Parsons. throngh Mr. Harvey.
who works at my father's, and asked !Me to lend ine a
sovereign, wide:, to, did, and I returned ii. three weeks
aftereanls in stamps. I am volitive this is vlie only
solicited kindness I experiencel from Mr. Parsons. Ile
never lent me. farth i ing n Sherburne. Ile put • sse ereign
into my hand ; but never knit it to MC. Sonia months
Ago I had been home ..ut of a situation, and I niet Mr.
Parsons, and lie nail, as we were together near the coos-
goy. "You have been out of a situation for some little
stinse ; you will lin.l this useful." It dropped on to the
arottni ' • hilt when he wished me good-night he left it in
soy leneL I considered it was not a loan, but a gift.
This ela in March. ISTI. I did not semi a message to the
defendant rolueating to MCC I , llr apply to him for any
money. I swear I dill nut apply to him to lend nie any
money. I lived at Andover before I went to Wales. I
told Mr. Parsons that the persons I knew at Amlover
were more gentletnanly than he—and so they were.
Airs. Silent, lill. the mother of the last witness, deposed
that on the Nth of .Ipril last she called defendant into her
leaves. ;el lie was going to the Sunday school. She was
then aware of the state of her daughter. When lie cline
In she sai,L "Vi,,, need not ask Inc my reason, far callitig
you in. it is about this nail affair of poor Mien's, now is
it you did not go to see her : Fancy her state of mind !
dunking of your promising to go and see her two or three
• liferent t s! and then not going." lie oda, "Yes; I
onouisel to go. The first time I tubeed the train. the
.secossl time my sister was taken ill ; but I mean to go to-
morrow." I sail, Do you meals to go r and lie raid, " I
Will go to Yeovil to morrew 1111 l rniug. and take the train
i.e Bristol, and come le :k the same day. f will cell and
tel you, though it will be iery late." :she geswerel,
"Then you may let me know the next day." I premises!
to keep this a sweet, and not let any one know it bet Mr.
and Mrs Hitching& and the doctor. Mrs. Hitehings is my
slaughter in Wale,'.
Croaa-exaniinel by Mr. loWffe :I had an ohject in calling
him in. Ile did not ear to Inc he should guand face it out
with her, lie did say "I am accused wrongfully."
Ile. Turner said he was called to attend the applicant
en the Mtli of April. It Wan not a fully developed child.
It was about an eight months' chul,l. Before the birth he
idiserved, This child will be prematurely."
By Mr. JellitTe : Ile did not measure or weigh the child.
Ile believed thew were uncertain tests. Could tell the
age by the seitanies of the bones in the head.
Mr. Joliffe theta at some length contended that there
was no correlmstive evidence, and he drew special
.ittention ts, the feet that the question, Who is the father
'of the child 7 had never been pet to her, lie also objected
ts, ...Jr a question being put now that the case was C 1011331.
It was, however, conceled that the Siert c)uld put any
smestiou of the kind ;no after touch time had been spent
in dierusseen, the Cheinuan asked the mother a the child
the question, and slit: sivs,re it to the defendaeL Mr.
Jellille colds:tidod that if the intimacy took ploy the child
worldlier,. been been much later, and suggestol that emit:-
thing had happened at Andover or elsewhere before July.
Ile submitted that the ca. had entirely failed with regard
tio the time of the intinsoey, go there was not sufficient
tinse betweou that awl the birth of the child. Young
1111 l en were AY artful in the present day, that no doubt
she thought that, as Mr. Parsons had taken walks with
her and acted kindly towards her, she could easily lay
evon him this charge in retarn for his kinduces. His
:bent admitted sending the letters, and they would have
preincel them if they had had kindness. There was one
letter that had nut been prolueed ; no doubt it would have
been pot is if it would have thrown any light on the case.
1144 cheat done the applicant various acts of kindness,
-which slit is as obliged to rOllleall to. lie instanced the
ooa of ey when applicant lost her purse. and said
it was la-lit out of kindness. And, again, notwithstanding
Iliac little plausbilku which she exhibited with regard to
the money that defemiant gave her when she Wal out of a
situation, it is not likely that a young man like his client
would have given her mosey hail she note:the, him. And
the parties, assorLited as they were, going fur rules and
Alni es, it was natural that the attendant ehoulil do ally
little act of kindness in his power he, serve them. With
regard to the secret in her letters, the answer was in his
elient's favour when he wrote. '7lle coutents Af the letter
greatly s,sipn.e tne. You ask me to give you information."
Veliat earthly information could his client give ? lie said,
"To. nen! not la> airs,-1 to go to a &cwt." lie feared
nothing, and plainly told her he could not make eat the
secret. lie subue this! there was no corroborative evidence,
and asked the !tench to dimities diocese.
The Bench retired, and after a few minutes returned,
awl said if Mr. Jollige bad any rebutting evidence it was
hi be produced.
Mr. : The defendant is Ks:pared ii go into the
lot ab,,j deny the charge isemanon).
nom., par..., op being sworn, said Li,- in Sher.
'borne with nix father, who carries on the LA....iele of
liuteher in I heap-street. I have. been well aesuainted
with the applicant and the applicant's family for some
years.
JollitTe : !lave you ever hail any improper em-
s:me:Lion with the applicaat at any timer—Witness :
so—
(llfirstion,l.
Eitatilinntion continued : I saw her in the hell at I lyle
Farm sonic time in the month ofAigus. t, when, tibei
Wesleyan Sunday School child L,d ren their treat. i
not take any improper liberties with her on that agy. or
4t any other time. I never had any connection with her
in the " leovers' Grove. I had never been with her when
d,e ~,toplained of having lust an earrnviled
. I on .me
occation gave her a bottle ,rf s. rut, to be smiled
between
her mad her sister. b :fore her sister waa warned. I never
gave bee any scent, telling her to wash bar f
au ar%e
I hal done many acts of kindness for them.teen
the habit of taking them for walks and drives. Ile
mother knew all about it. I never had sexual intercourse
with her in the Bristobroad. All the improper intercourse
I had with her was that of myself taking her arm, or of
her taking mine, if that can be called improper intercourse.
Mrs. Gill caned me in just as I was coming from niy own
She had apparently Legal watching for me. I Said
I know what you want Inc for. It W mean and shabby
affair. She then you mew to say you dispute it .
I said. "Yes, I do." "But," raid Mrs. Gill. " You have
sent her 1111 l ney t" I tar, ° Yee ; I have kut her money
.rat of kindness" "Bu meld Mrs. Gin," You Proluilod
is go to-morrow I' and I said. I will go down to-morrow,
&ad face it out with her.' Mra, Gill said, "Could lcu
-heal depend on you to go t" I told her "Yes; I mean
to co. 1 will call on you Wain when I conic back from
school." She answered, "Call in when you come hack
Inn. Meta" I did not go to Bristol ; but it was no
fau'it"d mia'l
-There Was no train running on the Bristol
anu ter nanway on Sundays. and I explained that on
the letters. Applieant came to our house lately, when she
.was about to be eetatiusel. My sister came to the door.