The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-11 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT—MmorroxE, MARCH 10.
Buena Ma. James COMM&
CNAL.OII OF ABDUCTION.
William ilattkalow, 36, was indicted for a misde-
meanour, in having unlawfully taken a young girl named
Meg Anne Front out of the custody of her father against
his content, she being unmarried and under the age of
sixteen.
John Frost deposed that he was a labouring man, and
resided at Frittenden, in this county. Mary Anne Frost
was his daughter, and she was twelve years old last De-
umber. The defendant had lodged in his house for three
yam, and sums time before the month of February last he
hen expressed his entention to emigrate to America, and on
the 7th of that month he packed up his clothes and ex-
pressed his intention to start on his proposed
journey. Witness accompanied hint as fax es Maid-
stone, and they had somo refreshment together, and
the prisoner went back with him a short distance
on his return home, and they then bid each other good-
bye, and they were both "put about" at parting. Witness
at this time had no idea that his daughter bad any inten-
tion to go away with the defendant, but when he got house
he found she was not there, end she was afterwards found
in London with the defendant. He never gave kis cement
far his daughter to accompany the defendant to America,
or anywhere else. 1
Cross-examiaed—The prisoner had lived in his house for
three years, and always couductd himself very well. Wit-
ness had three other daughtere, one of whom was sixteen
years old. The defendant appeared to bo very fond of all
the children. Re used to tala very frequently before all
the family of his intention to go to America, but he bad
never heard him joke Macy Anne upon the subject of her
accompanying him.
Mary Anne Frost, a good-looking little girl, who evi-
dently gave her evidence with a good deal of reluctance,
was then examined. Sho said that she was aware of the
intention of the defendant to go to America, and a short
time before he went away from her father's haunt he said
something to her about going along with him, and she con-
reuted to do so. Sho had no other reason for coiesenting,
eleep• that the defendant asked her. On the morning he
was going away, he asked her to come and meet him, sad
he at the same time told her to go by the Sutton-read so
that she might not meet her father, who would return home
Iby Stapelhurst, and he likewise said that she must bring
some clothes with her. She was to meet the prisuuer at •
place called the Blue-door, about three miles from her
father's house, and she did not tell anybody of what was
going to happen, because he told hcr not to do so. About
two hours after the prisoner had gone away with her father,
she packed up some clothes, and went to the Blue-
door, and waited there until she was joined
by the prisoner, who took her to Hailstone
and gave her same refreshment at a coffee-shop. lie then]
took her bundle and put it into his own cheat, and the
same night they rode to Lendou together in a Nose , and ar.
rived there about daylight the nest morning. The prisoner
told her that he expected they should sail for America on
the following Thursday.
Cron examined—While the prisoner lived at her father'sl
he was very kil' to her and to her brothers and sisters also.
Shc first heard of his intending to go to America:thou a fort-
night before he left. Ile did nut joke and say that he would
take some ot the family along with him. Ile made the
appointment with her to bring her clothes and meet him at
the Illtaoeloor, only just baore he started. She slept in
the van as they were travelling to London, but she did not
sleep anywhi re with the prisoner.
By the Court—The prisoner first asked her to go along
with hint to America. She did not know what they were
to go there for. Nothing was said about the prisoner and
her getting married.
A pohee constable of the M division proved that he took
the prisoner into custody in Southwark, and upon his tell-
ing him thst he was charged with the abduction of ayoung
girl without the consent of her parents, ho said that he
knew nothing about the girl going away from her family
until he was at Maidstone, when she came to him of her
own screed, and as ho did not know what to do with her
he allowed her to accompany him to Loudon, and intended
Ito have taken her to America.
Mr. Ribton, at the dote of the case for the prosecution,
tee.k a legal objection, and contended that the evidence did
not make out such a case of taking away a young girl with-
out the cement of her parents as was contemplated by tho
'particular section of the act of parliament upon which the
Indictment was framed.
Mr. Justie.e Coleridge, however, said he should net stop
the 'c or, but if any doubt should arise in his mind ulti-
mately, the prisoner should have thu benefit of it.
Mr. Batton then addressed tho Dry, and after calling
tilde attention to the very remarkable nature of the case,
he proceeded to contend that there was no ovidenco of any
improper intention on the part of the defendant, and that
the whole transaction might be very reasonably explained
by the supposition that he had allowed the girl to seam-