The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-04 00:00:00

THE MEETINGS IN SIISSEX.

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST
.. ti 1862. •

1 must agein vended you was dishonourable, unworthy of
you in every way, and which completely and for ever
destroyed all confidence, and the feelings of deep
affection widish I had previously entertained for
you. But. for this you might and would still
have been the instate of my house and the idol
of my heart, Jf the wide world stares you in the face, salt
younielf,whose fault I. it! Do not for one moment suppose
that I shall make any settlement. This you may be sere I
never will. I will allow 10s. • week fur your child, but
more than thin I will not premise. I. will come and see
you on Thursday, but I most see your book and how you
expended the money I gave you before I mud you aor
more. Why did you nut send me your book, as I rvg *
with your expenditure on one side and your receipts from
me on the other! Thu would have been satisfactory and
straightforward, but you have nut been so to me lately.
Recollect your own conduct in the past, and do nut
blame me. Recollect, also, your sly and cunning
conduct in getting one of your lawyer friends to
write me an annoying and offensive letter. I will,
however, do all that is kind to you, and more than
you deserve, as iu reality you have long since forfeited every
claim on my protection, and • ninon who opens letters
and re-seals them as you did, without my knowledge and
consent, commits a crime against all social and moral laws,
even if it be not (as I think it is) a felony. I will say no
more on the hateful subject. lam ill and much dispirited,
and the more I think of your dishonesty the more sick at
heart it makes me. Adieu, your still sincere and kind
friend, " Asrson."

Serjeant Shee then proceeded to state that these wen
the facts he =Geld have to lay before the jury; and he
said it would appear in the coarse of the case that
the defendant was • married man, although separated
from his wife, and that he consequently knew perfectly
well that he could not many the plaintiff, and hi repeated
that there could be very little doubt that he had carried out
• heartless plan of seduction. If he established that fact he
was quite sure the jury would know bow to deal with such •
man, and that they would not consider the sum of two
thowand pounds which the plaintiff demanded as damages
at all an exorbitant one for the injury she had sustained.
The learned serjeant concluded by stating that the defen-
dant, upon being applied to by the =honors for theplaintiff,
offered to provide for the child, and to place the sum of
1001. in the heads of the plaintiff to enable her to provide
for herself until she could obtain &situation but the offer, of
course, could not be accepted, and it then became necessary
to bring the present action.
- - -

Mr. C. freer, a solicitor, carrying on business in
Heuriettastreet, Covent-garden, proved that the plaintiff
was in hie establishment at Wandsworth in the year 1858
ss a governess for a year and a half, and that she conducted
herself very well during that penod, and was very
accomplished.
Mrs. Fanny Moon deposed that she was the principal of
the Musical and Collegiate Institution in Newman-street.
She had previously managed a similar institution in &rpm-
street, and the plaintiff Galled upon her at the last men-
tioned place, and had her name inserted in the list of per-
sons who wanted places as governesses. Witness go',
the offer of one or two situations for her, but she
declined to Leapt them, and subsequently, at witness's sug-
gestion, she went to Paris to perfect herself in French.
Upon her return the plaintiff, at witness's suggestion,
went to live at her father's house, in St. John's-wood, mid
after she had been there a short time she told witness that
she was tired of teaching, and she should like to obtain •
situation as housekeeper, and witness proposed that ahe
should toast
scription, and one was accordingly sent to the Times, and
appeared at the latter end of May.
Mr. Chambers suggested that the advertisement should
be read.

Serjeaot Shee said he had already stated the nature of
the advertisement, and if his learned friend wished the
whole of it to be read, he had better put it hiss his evidence.
Mr. Chambers said he should certainly not do that, and
he submitted that he was entitled to insist upon the ad-
vertisement being read.
Baron Bramwell said that it appeared to him that this
was so, and the advertisement was consequently put in. It
was in the following terms :
" Lady Housekeeper—A young lady is desirous of obtain-
ing an engagement as housekeeper with a widower, or •
single gentleman. She is highly accomplished, of ladylike
deportment, and young. Address, Constance, can of the
Lady Principal, Collegiate Institution, Newmanatreet."
Examination continued—A day or two after this adver
figment appeared in the newspaper the defendant called
upon her, and she subsequently introduced him to the
plaintiff.

t--Witness first because acquainted with
the plaintiff about eighteen months or two years ago, and
all she knew of her was that she wanted a situa-
tion as governess, and that she had good references.
When the plaintiff said that she should like to get a
situation as housekeeper and she was tired of teaching, wit-
ness proposed an advertisement, and suggested that it
should be addressed to widowers or single gentlemen, and
also that the plaintiff should call herself Constance. She
was unable to say why she pitched upon that name in par-
ticular. Witness had drawn up several similar advertise-
ments. Only two or three persons answered the plaintiff'.
advertisement. They were all middle-aged gentlemen. (A
laugh.) She saw the general herself, but she did not see
anything about the terms upon which the plaintiff was to
enter his service. She heard afterwards that the plaintiff
went to Greenwich and Southend with the general very
shortly after they were introduced to each other, but she
knew nothing personally of the matter.
Mrs. Elizabeth Eldon deposed that she lived with her
husband at Stoke Newington, and she was acquainted with
the plaintiff before her marriage, and the defendant accom-
panied her to witnees's house, and introduced her u Mrs.
Shirley. Upon one occasion hoodoo said that he had no
doubt she was surprised to bear that they were married, and
she replied that stu was not surprised to hear of the mar-
riage, but thought it would not have taken place so sud-
denly. The general rid he was very fond of the plaintiff,
and it should be the study of his life to make her happy.
Miss Emily Rosewell, a schoolfellow of the plaintiff, de-
that, in consequence of au invitation she received from
her, she went to pay her a visit at General Shirley's
residence at Rugby, in December, 1861, and found her
living there as Mrs. Shirley and the wife of the general.
Witness remained there nearly a month, and during the
greater part of that time they appeared to be on very
friendly and affectionate terms. Witness remembered that
upon one occasion she, by accident, nearly broke a chimney
ornament, and the defendant observed that he was very glad
she had sot done so as it belonged to his poor dear first
wife. (A kugb.) He also said that when he was in the
Crimea a few .years before he was very miserable, and wit-
ness remarked that he ought now to be very 11;ppy with
Annie for his wife. On the Sunday before Christmas-day,
plaintiff and the general had a quarrel, and at night the
plaintiff wrote a letter which witness, at her request, plaoedon
the general's dressing-table' and she saw him go into the
room, wed shortly afterwards she New the letter referred to
lying crumpled up on the floor. Soon after this had taken
place the plaintiff went into the room, and she heard her
ask the defendant whether he was going to perform his
promise to many her. He appeared to be very angry, and
said in a loud tone, " My promise 1 osonot and I will not
perform." She also beard him say, that, he might be led by
ul b kiodneu, but be would not be •
_ _

Th. later referred to by the witness was then put in and
read. It was as fellows :

"Dear Arthur,—l should have spoken to you this
evening, but am you so rudely accused me of being is
a bad temper, I will set trouble you by mentioning
that which I should have done. I simply ask you to give
me money, or allow me to buy some warm clothing. I am,
which you know, wearing at the present time a slimmer
bonnet and cloak, setting aside my having no clothes to
wear in the house. Would you like one of your sisters to
have been deceived and treated as I have been the lest few
months? When you are enjoying yourself on Christmas-
day, think what happiness you have deprived me of. There
are two questions which 1 must beg of you to answer before
leaving to-morrow. 1. Do you intend to carry out your pro-
mise in marrying me' 2. Is it your intention to send me from
here for my accouchement If you do I shall at once plans
the whole affair in the hands of my solicitor, for I can so
longer go on in this uncertain way. I shall be sorry to
injure you by an exposure, but I must do so and dieckee
all, mikes there is a change very soon. Ido hope. what-
ever may happen, that you will remember your child, and
never deceive any other virtuous girl, as you have me. I
am sorry all my efforts are in vain to please you. Good
night ; may God forgive you as willingly as I would, if
honourable.—Your's sincerely, " Amt."
Crom-examieed—The plaintiff bad told her before this
letter was written something about her not being mar-
ried to the defendaut. Witness was present when the
plaintiff wrote this letter, and after she bad done
so she read it to her. Her owe room adjoined the one is.
which the letter was placed, and her door was ajar and she
could bear all that took place. It was not a planned affair,
that she was aware of. that she should hear all that took
place between the general and the plaintiff after he had
read the letter. . .

Mr. Hugh Wardrop, a gentleman holding an appointment
in the Wor•office, was then called to prove that the defend-
ant was married to his sister in July, 1840, and that they
separated about six or seven years ego. He also proved that
the defendant was about fifty years old.
This wee the case for the plaintiff.
Mr. M. Chambers then proceeded to address the jury on
behalf of the defeudant. lie said that he appeared on the
present 0001100 a for an honourable officer who, undoubtedly
in a moment of passion, had done that which was wrong,
and who was reedy now, as be had ever been, to make com-
pensation for that wrong, but who would not submit to be
victimised, which was the sole object of the present action ;
and be hoped he should be able—and he should certaiely
use his best mations to do so—to defeat that object. He
wished the jury to understand that be should not attempt to
deny that the defendant was guilty of immorality? but the
question was whether the plaintiff was to be permitted to
extort 2,0001. from him, which was the sum demanded
as damages on the present occasion. In the observa-
tions he istended to address to them he should do eft he
could to spare the feelings of the unhappymyrzaswers.coue
who was the plaintiff in the bet he should
act shriek from stating what he of her ad
then person wbo had advised her to Inn liesetiosa and
ustleaveared to obtain this large ewe el thoitey fres thi de.
feadant. There could be no del that the whole proceeding
was an attempt te trade apes the** that Oestinal
would rather pay say noose of mosey thee hint
affair brought before the public. Re believed that the
such
;Le' till was mensly pet forward by those person as the
preset emenn and that she was hereell toe well aware
al the reel cheesiest al thesis's's:mos Memo bassi =dabs