The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-18 00:00:00

111 E 'EMMEN,

Lab; Inttillgnt.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.—Dsc. 17.

Wimp id Nisi Prins after Term for Losios--(Bidore
I. Lord Chid Justice sod s Spatial Jury.)
BOOM r. ir ARDS-

I. this ease Anus Maria Cobden Hooper was the plaintiff.
and Thomas Charles Wards the &feudal:it.
The declaration onnplaised that the defendant on several
onairion. assaulted the plaintiff ; then there was a count in
Mover Pr the conversion of the plaintiff's jewellery and
• iranuoi apparel by the defendant ; and lastly, a count for
money lent.
The defendant by his pleas in the Ant place denied
the assault.* them aMrm.d that the plaintiff assaulted
him, and that the assaults referred to in the declaration
were in salf.defence ; neat, that the goods said to be con-
verted were loan owe property ; and lastly, be dated that he
owed the plaintiff any money.
Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., and Mr. Honyman appeared for
the Plaintiff ; Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., flotjeant Pigott, and Mr.
C. Coleridge for the defendant.
Mr. James, in opening the came to the jury, said the fact.
of the ruse were undoubtedly the most extraordinary
be bad ever had to develop. /dr, Wants, the dafeudant,
was • gentleman of very large fortune, residing atClopton.
loam near StrmfordolF-Avon, in Warwickehue. He
had Ailed the oSce of h sheriff for hie county, rani was
likewise • magistrate. H. appeared, however, from docu-
mentary evidence which had been before him,to be • sae of
most violent miasma, of most ungovernable sensuality, and
to have behaved with the most heartless barbarity towards
the unhappy woman, the plaintiff. Mr. Wards bad been
married, but certain differences bad sprung up betwain bin
and his wife, which ended in Mrs. Wards a
divorce. That occurred in 1848. Mrs. Wards wee a
of the highest character, and was residing in Raderilidrie
upon an income of 2,0001. • year, which her busbeied had
been compelled to allow her. The plaintiff Mils
was the daughter of a tradesman, residing with hair
• widow, at Brighton. Is May, 1848, after the &Yen;
between the defendant and his wife. Lee lfraeger,=
then about seventeen, was met by the
at Brighton. He met her as she was =
towards her mother's house ; he followed her to her a
door, and invited her to accompany him to the theatre,
The acepiaintanoe at Brighton ended in Mr. Wards's
the plaintiff to come and reads at Clopton.house as a kind
of nursery governess to his children. Miss Hoopoes nether
waa at ant reluctant that her daughter should take that
step, but at length she assented to her doing so. The plain-
tiff travelled down to Warwickshire with the family and
the servants, and before a very long time had elapsed her
mother went to see her, and found her residing at Mgt=
as a sort of spurious servant. As mentioned, the &none
took place in 1848. Upon that occasion • great struggle
occurred between Mr. and Mrs. Warde as to the custody of
their children ; but ultimately Lord Cottenham decreed that
Mr. Warde's conduct had been such that the children should
he taken away from him. That decree was pronounced in
January, 1849. Forthwith persona were gent down to Cloptan
to remove the children. The officers arrived late on Satur-
day nifot, and the children were taken away on the M.
day. That eight or the following night Mr. Wards seduced
the plaintiff, without an previous attempt on him part,
err without having y made any improper addresses
to her. Plaintiff and defendant then lived tagetber as Mr.
and Mrs. Wards, sad in the October following they weed
to Paris, where she was confuted of a child. Mr. Wards
inserted the birth in the Paris_ papers thus : "On Use tind
inst. the lady of Charles Wards, Pan.. of *daughter."
After that they returned to England, and continued to live
as rasa aid wife until May, 1858. The plaintiff had four
anises by Mi. defendant ; nevertheless it was his habit to
treat bas is the most brutal manner. His habit was to
leg ler with • east-whip, and that notwithstandiag the
tepeated Noessirawase a her friends--. 0 that her life
bens= it bow Os the 19th a May, 1869, now
Min _sassing at the Mow table, Mr. Wards got a
billeeiwee swd einiek and beat the plaintiff with it, so
Mai elm wee Wiped to Mho is • bows.
TM *WI was this abas by the auti. The
siselandise Mbewles seetelowl • semi far 801., ream lest
by the O&M I. the dassdaaa. b Rehm fee the meg
so lent Mr. Wade heeded the dale.[ ajwwwienery note
for 21.01., payable three years eller data The sae however
was upon a wrong stamp. Thew woe mho a elan whist
the dafeadeat on aecomot d jewellsey of the_piaatirs,
which be bed detained. At an. time no doubt Mr. Ward*
bed been pogrom to the plaintiff, although his generosity
was dleaMid by sensuality, wed Wenn her this jewellery,
whisk wee valued at between 1100 L anal 4001.
.

la eameinden the loused comet put in two lettere ad-
deemed by tie defendant to the plaintiff in Sussex, when
shame siktying with her aunt, a Mrs. Cobden. Ous of
theta was data the 4th of May, 1860, and the other the
115th ef May, UK In the Arid Yr. Wardesplaks tauntingly
to the pimati/ of her trudging 1004 to her summer,
Mirflettes, although each of the plaintiff's children was
ending be 1001. a year. The letter ended with an am
eammee that If Hiss Hooper returned to elope= to use
tined, and tell hoe she shield have the cart-whip again.
Ice hie next Mr. Words relined to the recent sale of a
eater at Nighties, whisk Imbed given to Miss Hooper, and
which was worth about 1501, end MN be that be did not
regret the sale, altheargb be ne Intended the
should be for the beam& of Thome m aad S
hia chit
He conclodsda:::l=g Min Hooper wield discontinue
her childish end with se SWIIIIIIIIO3 that lave
and except his c advent she continued dearer to him than
earthing upon earth.
In addable to the details given is Mr. James' statement,
the following evidence wait given by
Mire Anna Maria Hooper, who said--la March? 1848, I
met the defendant at Brighton. I wee waiting for
the perms to whom I ought to have been married.
Me. Warde cams up and spoke to mu. He was
born, I believe, in 1811 or 1813. In the course of convene-
ton 1 learnt defoadant was separated from ho. wife. His
told me hie whole history, and that he bad live children.
He engaged roe nominally. Oa the 17th of May I went to
Werwickehire to take care of his children, at • salary of
14/. a year. Mr. Wards told my mother that if I didn't
approve of the situation I amid return home m • month.
I travelled with the servants. Igot to Clopton coo the 19th,
sod Mr. Warde came down the following evening. After I
w..• there a short time the humeekseper left, sad thee I took
the how...keeper's place. Defendant wished that my mother
should coots down to the neighbourhood. My mother did
come, and she brought her other chikitwo with her. She '
hoed in the boom On Satnrday, the 27th of January,lB49,
a gentleman came from loinke and demanded the childra.
Mr. Perry, a friend of Mr. Wattle's, objected to their
going Mutt night, so they were not taken away until
the Monday morning. My mother had gone per-
manently away at that time. Mr. V. war
sack distressed at the departure of the children.
Per • mouth after he was moaned to his room
by a kind .4 hydencal fit, and I was his sole attendant.
Improper intercourse took piece between to the night after
the eh left. We lived at Closeout am mina and wife
mNI is was obliged to leave for Fiance. being in contempt
eir geed. At Adis, as the 22nd of October, 1819, I was
loolined el a child, which was chrietenel Marie Charlotte
Wards. I saw Ike birth advertised in the newspaper.
In May, 111.011, I be another daughter. le all I have had
seven &Same by Kr. Wards, four of whom are living. I
remained with him down So the 21st of May, 18150. I kit
Ida beemseo be beat as with a whip, • bow, and a cue.
Oa the 19th we wow at dinner, and there were presest be.
sidle eamelvie • gentlemaa owned Hilliard ; a Mr. Corns
lies CASs, a cieremea ; Miee Orey, the governess ; and
the two eldest girla. Mr. Ward. loads some complaint
about the way is which the repeables were lolled, and then
took gravy out of the deli, put it into a tumbler, and threw
it at • ie. He sent beat toe en the back and aims, and hurt
me fearfully. He gave me a greet many blows.
Mr. Hilliard carried me is his arm. up stairs, and put me
into my own ,one. 1 went down mat morning into the
breakfast-room and showed Mr. Weide my anus. I told him
he should per for it. He the. attempted to lock me out of
the room. We had a Melee' struggle, in which my ear was
cat, my too was broken, and my bonnet torn. On leaving
Mr. W arde's I went to my aunts. Mr. Wards had said to
me, The more you whip a dog the mom be likes you.'
I couldn't bear say mom. I told be I never liked the
cart whip He had struck me with ems • eseeiderable time
helm,. Mr. Wards M • Hercules ; he le gnarls of 6 test
link. Doting the time I was with kin 1 we waste or be
the subject of ill.usage. Nee he looked up all Si. silver,
soil said I mad eat with steel. Because I objected he
knocked me drove. In Septemhor, 1854, there was a shoot •
ing party at ( lupine. One of the gentlemen fell down and
hurt luineelf. Mr. Wattle cams for a sponge, and
be could not Roil one. He was angry, knocked me
dowe, and cot my head. He asked roe where I
haul been, and I said in the little drawimproorn,
which he disbelieved. In commons °, of that treatment I
went to Mr. Grimes, a lawyer. The doctor wee with me
the whole eight. I remained away two days, sad returned
Mr. Wank's entreaty. In September, MI6, I wan in tbo
housekeeper's room. Mr. Wank wonted some boiled egg.,
and no one had simmered the fell. He thereupon knocked
me out .4 the chair and doilocete.l my shoulder. Shortly
after that defendant I niught a lawyer to me to induce me
to csieute a deed. I would not eye the lawyer. Mr. Wards
sent to Stratford for the police. When the police came 1
w .4 in my bedroem, and had lucked uij self iu. When the
petite lince;.cil I said 1 would n,4 itev down for 141,000
Hoble'a. Noble was the sense of the lawyer. Accordingly
the me. were told to cut away the doer. I eat inside with
leaded pistnis, sod told them I would shoot them if they
attempted to touch me. The room woe our joint bedroom.
The police insio.nl on my going does to sign the deed,
otherwise I should be haadeurfed. I signed the deed lit
relinquished all control ever the children) under a threat of
being handcuffed. I have not seen it since. I remember
Christnisarlay, 1e96. I went to church upon that day. On
our return Mr. Wattle went into the conservatory. He
comb laitmil of there being something the matter with the
grips. He mid that it was all owing to niy damnation
rowers. That led to our having angry wool', end he began
booing my eon. After that I again left the house in con-
;weenies of ill.trcatmeet, hut I to not remember the exact
elate. In January, 1857, I remember nor coming up to
London. We stopped at Hatchett's, Linden. I went se
Mr Ward*. One evening he came home from the club
and asked me for toy jewels. I refused to give them up.
He went to one of the servaiuM and asked where they were.
He found them under the mattreaa, where I had bidden
them. They consisted of a dimmed necklace, diamond ear.
nags, and a bracelet. He broke them all to pewee I renion•
etrated, and be mid hews. ferry. In Jaanary,lBBs.. !rehired
to sleep with Mr. Wavle in coesequessce of onaplaiats .4 his
conduct meanie one of the sensate. I slept in my own
room, Late at night Me. Warde MAW mod said he would

knock all the windows out mime I weed into his roam. I
refused to do so. He took me in, however, by lona He
locked the door, and asked me several times to g. into
bed. I refused, and he knocked me down. He had a bow
tipped with ivory, and he said he would out me with it to
poems if I did cot get into bed. He struck me several
times, and broke the bow to bits. One of the children, the
eldest girl, was in the room. She is 11 years old. I re-
mained all night on the hearth-rug. The key of lbs se
warn under Mr. Wardee pillow. I got out in the
when his coffee waa brought in. After that I was i:=&
by Dr. Pritchard during eight days. Dr. Pritchard is
dead. I continued in the house on account of the children.
In April, 18.7,9, I went to Stratford to post a letters.
The letter was to my brother. I returned about eight io the
evening and found the house locked against me. I waited
and kept ringing. Mr. Wards came out in his droning.
gown and with a cart-whip in his hand. He said I might
take the whip. He asked if I had been to Stratford, and I
said yes. " Posting letter," said be ; and 1 replied that
was not so. Then he began swearing, and be cried out,
"Take this whip, you beast," and he broke it on me. He
then went into the house, leaving me outside on the
ground. I remained on the ground about ten minutes, and
then tried to get admission into the house, but without suc.
cam I thee returned to Stratford and took shelter for the
night. Next day I remained at the hotel. I remained in
bed three days, and Mr. Pritchard attended me. His bill
for attendance in 1857, 1858, and 1859 was 33/. 13s. 6d. I
had no means d lug him. When I went away
I left all my behind at Clopton. It was
worth about 4001. n mosey I had eosasehing
over 100 L It was is the bank at Stratford. I handed over
the money to Mr. Wards. I was gang to lend it to a hided
of his, and be objected. Hs said if I would let him have
it he would give me • promissory note, payable L three
yeses, for Mt The Dote was dated 12th of Desewher,
1867. (The letter referred to by Mr. James in hi epode(
were bore read and wilands athletics Galled to Wm.) In
thelerAirreithelllihMr.Wardealbediete amnia been which
he pweehmeed hese in 1819. name 11151/ Xr.Wante ha never
twnithed we with emy mean a/ support. I have one of the
children ; be bee the three othen. la his letter. Mr.
Wald* ante that ths youngest child is the child of
Moms wuiiamt
liewldne—gtad fa it not so

linnisna-1 Asir it rilsi;l;e: • Miss Sutton is his sad-
=amid. At the thus I latt Clayton she washis scullery-
ilha in a living with him, and has had a child by
hita,

A letter frees Mr. hedger, plaintiff's attorney, was pet
is ; it wee dined Sept. 34, 18w, and was addresesd to Ur.
Wards, apple* for the MOM cif the 801., aid likewise de-
manding plaittirs jewels and clothes as well as computa-
tion for the malts upon Mr, otherwise an Moe was to
be brought. Mr. Wards replied on the following day, sad
derlaredle wee quite prepared to defend himiMf spinet
the drunken The present action was ememeaced
Ocdoher, UAL
fisisliffro meelastioa resunted—in January, IMO, I
wan to aspics aid saw Mae Wards. She is a poor rela-
tion d the defeedent. In uence of what she aid to
see I rude to 111 r. Wards. The yof the letter was in
the leadynneg of Warde's attorney, but I *ued it. In
MS letter I • their all Merges mist the defendant. I
Moeda Mereby to my Whir* beak. Mr. Wards,
beirever, Waled to eve tw
Oremaxamined by lir. Sawlths —A number of letters
were we after another pissed in the Mime's beads, and
she was asked whether they wire in bar handwriting, and
the admitted, after • geed lila of puuuitg, that Me writing
wee hers. flhe was mat handed an envelops, and asked
was n the &Moe la her hmenwritieg ; she believed
it was • mall piece af paper was Um shown to her, and
she was anted was gut thin likewiee written by he,, and
writ set saimed to Williams and intended to be put in
the envelope NM adverted to. What was on the small
piece of gspar was addreemed to Williams, but it was
timer sal

Mr. Hawkin—Pray who die Williams
Witaem—He was • footman in Mr. Ward?. ertablleb-
moat. (A letter marked A was then put into witaos's
loads, and she was asked who it was adesed to.) It was
act ththemed to Williams. It was not addressed to Waldo
Mr. Hawkins—Well then, to whom!
Witaaas—l don't atom" to my.
The lord Chief Justice —To what child did the deka-
dath refer is the letter that handed in!
Witases—To the last child. Mast at Brightoa I was to
the habit of going to the *mks with ddeadeat, with-
out my mother's limoodeffp. Whoa Imy that Mr. Wards
memisolly to Mks& wpm hk thilima I mom
;17:11e ammted to disrobe his own iaksoy. I knew I was
aopZiairiowa to Clarks to be his atimo7 maiLestilaz
. Wards intended to worry ow The
meat at ()lepton coexisted rff two brosommith, • 000 k, •
butler, sad • groom. An aid lad/ •Km Doughty, ems
to reside there in 1860. she is between seventy sad
eiithty. She is there now. In fthithither, 1164, Mr. Wards
might lave beau in Ireland. On thi cosaskra of the 'hoot-
log party at Clopton in that auto= datothomt came into
my room and asked where I bad beers. I said to the small
drawing-morn. I decline to threw whither any one was
with me as that occasion in the small thstdog-rucen. No
rZTwas there. I declined to an fest caw, because I
tlaiiik it worth my while. Upon my ostli I say WU-
Bows was not there. Two pathless vitalised my thig
knocked down in 1854. Perry was one, the ether is dead
Tim gentleman picked me up sad loathing mawla Novem-
ber, 1856, Mrs. Doughty was in the lioneekeopsee room, sad
eaw me knocked down. I was not fetched home by Houser
ley, the coachman, on Stratford fair day. I knew a Boa
named &nods in Mr. Warde's employment. He
was • workroom. Hawley sever my ma is com-
pany with that maa at the fair. In December, 112111,
I wont from the bones to the cookhouse. I did so became
I was teamed cwt. Kr. Ward. gave no reason for turning
me owl. I was not in the habit of drinking. I don't know
whether the *ion were sent to restrain my violence. I
ksow Jame James, • pollees& I threatened to shoot
AtVinslif
wthryineare near sea, sad I would have done so.
At ao one the present when defendant
boxed my am la the papery. I dare my I complained to
seam sue shoot it, but don't know to whom. Heft Cloploo
that day. I don't thew whether I didn't dine with Mr.
Warde that day. Nor whether I did not sleep with him.
Nor whether I was sot egos most friendly them with bias.
Bank Center wasproisat when defendant trolls ay jewel'.
I forget whether r. Warde complained at soi sanitises
to Willisms, sad whether he expellent' himself as
of kith He might have dome so before
rail= 1869. He might havee sees me to the pantry
with Williams. Mr. Wade might have might ea. I swear
he sever did. I never gave William a rim& ear did he
gm sae one. The letter marked A was written after the
birth of the fourth child. I swear William was sot the
father of it. No one but Mr. Wards was. I did not sug-
gest to Williams' that be was. I did sot give William my
portrait. I was not in the habit of twins William illoll-
- of Memos. I decline saying to when the Wises put in
were written. (A large batch of lett= addreessd to her
were then placed before witness, and she was asked whom
they wore from, but (laughing) she rotund to look at them,
saying oho behoved them to be all skiff.) They might,
however, have been from Williams. I dos% remember Mr.
Wide ever 'skis; me to sleep with him after las
complaised of Williams. I do sot remember wbether it
was is 1857, 1858, or 1859, Mr. Wards forced me to
sleep with him. Is April, '59, no one maw the violins*
offered to me. I bad sot an attack of delirium tremolo la
1847. I remember going to Warwick with Williams. I
slept at the Woolpask. William slept there also, but he
did not sleep with me. Mr. Ward* brat Williams with
• walking stick. Mr. Ward" alleged as • reams for dis-
thargiagWillialos hi intimacy with roe. I once fetched a
double-balrelled gas to shoot Smith, the gardener, for
apookag me. He drove badly. I refuse to answer who
I was upon very familiar terms with policeman James.
(Witham laughed • great deal.) The jewellery did
sot aims from Cocks and Bicklulph's, and it has
sot to be return& to Mr. Wade on my leaving
him. The fth. was lent to get Mr. Perry out of
Warwick Gad

itweassaised by lir. James—Williams was emit 14
when I west to Moto°. He was at Ant outside. but he
was UN:ought isle the house is 1850. That was for the pur-
pose of *Assam
_the little carnage of one of the ebiktres.
I sus isimsdisth Williams at Mr. Warde's request. Mr.
Wads hiswatitlika to my boduide. Williams was fifteen
thes. Mr. Wgds did sot my anything whilst lie wee in
the roost

The Lord ChW imiles—Now take care. This is a most
serious meter, and yen must answer all the questions that
are pet you. It is certainly most extraordinary that •
man should thus introduce another to the bed of his mistress.
Witnem—Williams was dressed. It was dark when be
came into the mom. I was in bed. Both Mr. Wank and
Williams got into the bed likewise. I don't think Mr.
Wards spoke. William remained about half an hour. I
did notkpow it was Williams fur • month afterwards. Mr.
Wards remained until the morning. The letters referred
to were takes out of my casket.
The Lord Chief Justioe—l think Mr. Hawkins you are
entitled to acesmsamine the witness on this last evidence,
which i entirely now.
Mr. flitwkins—Nere as to Williams. What time of the
year was it that Mr. Ward. thus brought him to your bed?
Witmer-1 don't recollect. I think it was autumn, but
I don't recollect. It was in 1850, and that ought to be suffl-
cleat I cannot recollect anything that was said or done
won the any. A Captain Vi alhouse was staying at Cloptou
at the time. I offered resistance to Warlill and, Williams. I
don't think loaned out. I don't troowthat I asked Mr. Wards
who it wee, mid health' be would tell Jae ire a few days. I
did not speak in Williams' presence. I spoke to Mr.
Wards the seat day, but I do not recollect whet explana-
tion be pvs me.
The Led Chief Justice—l presume it must have occurred
to you that such conduct wee most extraordinary, and
surely therefore you an tell us the explanations you re-
ceived from Mr. Warde. Here • brings a stranger to
your bed and outrages all decency and propriety to • most
astounding degree, and yet it completely puma your recol-
lection to say what passed between you and the defendant
on the day following in reference to the matter!
Witness, however, still persisted that she was entirely
unable to give anyaccount of the explanations offered to her
by the defendant.
The court then adjourned.

COURT OF COMMON PLZA£4.—Dec. 17.
Sittings at Nisi Priam is Loodoe.—(Bodure Lord Chief
Justkr Erie aed a Spacial Jury.)

BILL T. TEM MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY.
THE U:43 OF A MIAMI,.
- . _

The plaintiff in Ilan ;;;;;;;; ;inn; tins ascastary, sad
ralseqatistly a director, of tit* Xidlasd bac kis was also