The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-05 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS

(Before Mr. Payne.)

Augusta Awe Mitchell,22, a respectable-looking woman,
was placed at the bar.
The prisoner, who has not long been in London, fell in
with • groom, and after a little persuasion consented to
live with him, and for five weeks did so as his wife. The
groom left a 51. note and some gold in his room, which she
took out and appropriated to her own use. He met her
upon the Metropolitan Railway with the money in her
possession. In her defence the prisoner said she thought
that as she had been living with him as his wife she had a
certain amount of right to use his money. She bad only
spent a few shillings of it, and did not intend to deprive
him of it, when be gave her into custody. At the
trial she was not defended by counsel, and the
jury found her guilty. She then told the court
a long tale about her relations, and the bad example
set her by her mother, who when she came to London re-
ceived a large sum of money which had been left to her.
Her mother had decamped with a villain who had seduced
her (the mother). The judge upon the day of the trial
ordered Mr. Lockyer, the sessions officer, to make inquiries
into the matter, and that person has been actively engaged
in doing so for the last three weeks.
The case having been called on,
Lockyer said that, obedient to the orders of the court,
he had seen the prisoner, and she had given him the
addresses of her friends, of whom he had made inquiries.
The following was • letter be had received from her grand-
father at Warminster (the letter was handed into court
and read by the learned judge). It was as follow.
Warminster, August 28.--Sir,—Your letter to band this
morning containing the statements of Augusta
Ann Mitchell, which is a correct one of, I regret
to say, a granddaughter, who was taken hence by her
mother nearly seven years ago ; since which time a corn.
plete severance has existed, the mother having come into
possession of a considerable sum of money by the death of
relatives, who, unfortunately (and hence the evil), left it
to her own control. In the absence of her husband, then
and now in Canada with his two sons, since sent over to
him, as stated, she was seduced by the base and villanous
fellow K—, and eloped with him, and thus digressed
from that path of rectitude and respectability which she
had been reared up and lived in previously. Her age (the
prisoner's) at that time, the circumstances, and the temp.
tations of London life for youth, I sincerely trust will
combine to indium the judge to temper justice with mercy
to the utmost of his power and the circumstances will
admit. It appears to me that she may be the victim
of circumstances, and I cannot but regret deeply
that the law does not reach the seducer more fre-
quently, instead of the seduced and weaker sex. As to
seeing her or writing to her, I am disinclined and unable
to do so. Her degraded position is to my feelings most
painful and harrowing, adding grief and sorrow to my fast
declining years and strength. All other branches of my
family are happily placed in highly respectable and good
trading positions and circumstances, and I feel loth
to acquaint them with it.—Yours truly, G. L.—Mr. G.
Lockyer."
The prisoner pleaded hard for mercy.
The Judge said she had been guilty of • serious offence,
and within his recollection she would have been banged
for it. The sentence was eight months' imprisonment,
with hard labour, and after the expiration of that sentence
the benevolent ladies who visit the prison would no doubt
do something for her. He regretted her grandfather
would do nothing for her.
The pawner was removed, apparently overcome with
her fate.