The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-11-29 00:00:00

DANGERS OF CRINOLINE

CAUTION TO OENTITAIEN.

At the Lambeth Police Court on Thursday last • long
investigation took place into a charge made by a young
lady against a clergyman of having grossly insulted her
in a railway carriage. The defendant is the Rev.
Robert Maguire, of 39, Middleton-square, Clerkenwell,
and inumbent of that isirish.
Miss Louisa Lettington, the complainant, deposed as
follows.—l am unmarried, and at present staying in
Lomb..ril-street, Southwark-bridge-road, with my con-
sin, Mrs. Stovin, who keeps • pnblichouse there. On
Wednesday evening the 16th inst., I left Kingston sta-
tion in • second class carriage in the 10 o'olock train for
London. There were four gentlemen in the carriage
when I got in. The defendant got in at Clapham, and
at that time there was only one gentleman in the com-
partment there I was, but there were three in the
adjoining compartment. The defendant sat opposite
to me with hi. knees across, and in a few minutes began
to annoy me. but at first I was doubtful whether it was
intentional or not. He put his foot under my dress,
right against my legs, as high up as my knees. As soon
as I had convinced myself it was intentionally done I
moved more to the side. He repeated it a second time,
and a gentleman took it up, and said to the defendant
" You are very much annoying that lady, and you had
therefore better more on the opposite side," and ho did
so. _

Mr. Norton.—Do you remember whether anything
more was said either by the gentleman, the defendant,
or by yourself, at that.time ?
Witness.—At that tune the gentleman told me that if
he bad mixoonducted himself he hoped that I would
excuse him.

)4r. Sleigh.—Just repeat what the gentlemen said.
Witness.—The gentleman said, "11l am annoying you
I hope you will CICIIIO it. I hope you will receive my
apology. I offer you every apology." This was said not
immediately, but • few minutes after. The other gen-
tleman said to him "you are annoying this young lady
very much." Nothing more was said on either aide, only
the gentleman wished me to ire him in charge, and
said if I did not do so he would. This was before we
got to the Waterloo station. I said I would consult
my friend who was to inert me at the station, as to
what proceedings I should take. When I got to the
station I saw my friend Mr. Evans, and asked him
what I should do, and he said he should give him in
charge. My friend Mr. Evans struck the defendant,
who then walked down the platform. My witness
wished me to give him in charge, but the railway
authorities did that. Ido not remember the defendant
saying anything at the time they talked of giving him in
charge. The defendant touched my feet with his legs.
I moved further down and tucked my dress around Inc.
I feel convinced the insults wer, quite intentional.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sleigh.--Where do you live'
We have not been favoured with your residence. You
say you are stopping with your cousin at • place called
the Mint?

Miss Lettington.—l am not here to state my history.
Mr. Sleigh.—But I am rather inquisitive about it.
You say you are stopping at a publiehoose in the Mint
with your cousin
Witness.--I am stopping there for a few dap, but I
am not here in regard to that, that has nothing to do
with the insult that has been °tiered to we.

Mr. Sleigh.—But where is your place of residence?
Witness.--I have no home since my mother died and
my home was broken up. fihe has been deed six
months. I have been in a situation for three weeks,
with • lady in Russell-square, and left it because the
situation did not suit me. I previously lived with a
family near Manchester, and went down to Kingston on
the day in question to see my cousin. She is in the
public line. Had dinner and supper there, but had
nothing to drink but water. lam not in the habit of
drinking.
Mr. Sleigh.—On the day the summons was applied
for were yon not at • public-house in this neighbour-
hood, and did you not drink some beer and gin?
Witness. —I had a little gin and water with my
friend.

Here the friends of the rev. defendant set tip • loud
cheer, and having before given expression to their feel-
ings when they found that anything favourable to their
friend had been elicited,. . . .

Mr. Norton interposed, and reprobated such conduct
as derogatory to • court of justice.
The witness further stated that the gentleman in the
carriage had been smoking a few minutes before the
defendant got in. Some gentleman, not her witness,
complained of smoking, and some altercation arose.
He said it was contrary to the rules and disagreeable
to him, and wished to have • window open. This was
after the defendant had insulted her.

Mr. tacigh.—Are not second-class carriages very
Darrow?
__

Witness.—Yes.
Mr. Sleigh.—Do you adopt the present faahion and
wear crinoline ?

Witnea.—Yes.
Mr. Sleigh.--Then when you say that the rev, gentle-
man put has feet under your dress, do you mean your
crinoline?

W itness. —Yes.
Mr. Sleigh.—How long was the gentleman in the
carriage before anything occurred?
Witneas.—Nearly five minutes.
Mr. Sleigh.—Did you complain to any one of this
gentleman behaving rudely to you before the gentleman
you call your witness spoke to the defendant about
doing so'
Witness—No, I felt too much disgusted.
Mr. Sleigh.—Am I to understand you tell the magis-
trate that you did not say • word all the time that the
defendant, as you allege, was pushing you with his feet
in this indecent nianner—first changing one leg and then
another, and that the reason for your doing so was
that you were too much disgusted?
Witness—Yes.

Mr. Sleigh.- Then, with these four persons in the
other compartment, and one in your own, you never
thought of making any complaint? Did not the de-
fendant say, when your witness charged him with annoy-
ing you, " I am sorry if I have done anything to offend
as I did not intend doing so, I am a married man, and
• clergyman ?"
Witnesa.—That was afterwards, st the station.
Mr. Sleigh. —We have not got to the station yet. Did
the defendant not repudiate offering you any insult, and
say, " If I have done anything it is quite unintentional,
it is entirely • mistake, I am • married wan and a
clergyman r
Witness.—Not till he came to the station.
Mr. Sleigh.—l am talking of the time your witness
interfered. Did not the ddendart 'alike use of that
language?
Witness.—Any other gentleman would have made an
apology after lie had insulted me.
Mr. Norton.—Do you remember his words?

Wane/la.—l can't remember the words, only the
effect. The gentleman wished to make every apology.
He admitted his guilt.
Mr. Norton.—You have stated your friend Evans
struck the defendant. Did be strike with a stick!

Witneas.—No, Sir, with his hand. and lie had his
glove on. It was what I told him that cauaed him to
strike the defendant.

After other evidence, Mr. Sleigh addressed the Court
for the defendant. The learned counsel said that the
occurrence might be in a great measure attributed to the
present preposterous (million of crinoline, for by defied
any person to sit in a narrow railway carriage opposite
to • lady without having his feet covered with the
amplitude of her dress.
Mr. Norton said he had some to his conclusion before
the learned counsel had made his able address. He be-
lieved it was a mistake. He believed the young lady
had spoken every word of truth to the best of her belief,
but he had no doubt in his own mind she was under a mis-
apprehension. looking at the evidence, it appeared the
alleged offence took place at the time there was a discus-
sion about smoking, that one of the windows was open,
and the lady coughed, and was it likely that • clergy-
man would have 'selected such a time to commit the
offence charged against him? He has listened atten-
tively to all the evidence in the case, and from the be-
ginning to the end he believed it to be a mistake, and
the defendant would leave the court without any impu-
tation whatever on his character.

The decision was received with loud cheers, and the
reverend defendant departed with his numerous friends.