The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-10 00:00:00

e'
-
EVENING, DECEMBER if ik*'? 1866.

DENCE.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

BAIL COURT.
- _ -
After Term Irmi Prins sitting.at Wastminser•--(Before
Mr. Justice Shee aadCommon Juries.)
RANSOM r. HAITTON.-ALLIMID SIDUCTION.
The further hearing of this remarkable ease was resumed
this morning.
Mr. M. Ch Murphy were co
ambers, Q.C., and Mr. unsel
for the plaintiff. Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., and Mr. O'Malley,
jun., were counsel for the defendant.
Mr. O'Malley called his lordship's- attention to a similar
ease to this tried before Mr. Justice Willes. This case, if
the plaintiff was to be believed, was a rape, and the same
in a case of seduction tried before Mr. Justice Wilke, and
then his lordship nonsaited the plaintiff on the ground
that the charge of rape should be tried first. On apphe
li-
cation to the Court of Exchequer, that court upheld t

nonsuit.
Mr. Justice Shee said be would not stop the case, but
reserve the point if ne
The defendant was called deposed--I live with my
mother and manage 70 acres of pallid for her. I Elisa-
beth Ransom's mother and my mother are sisters. met
her accidentally the day alleged in the street, at New-
market, when she asked me to let her ride home with
me ; I assented. There had been no previous arrangement.
We live four miles from Newmarket. aboutft Newmarket
about 7 o'clock in the evening. I drov 9or 10 miles
e the whole of the
an hour, and never slackened my pac
way. Nothing whatever improper occurred between us.
We chattered familiarly together all the way homofe.
(Witness most positively denied the statement m
e.
Elizabeth Ransom of her violation by him.) I nhorse.
ever
broke out of my pace. I did not walk my
I passed a person named Wade, who was going
the same way. I was about 20 or 25 minutes driving home.
When we got home she went into m mother's house. I
went and took my horse out and on my y return I found her
with my mother. I left her there and parted good friends
with her. I did not on that occasion ask her to go into the
stable with me. When I came back from Gazeleigh she was
gone; the dash-board of the dog-cart is slow one ; and there
roomrion in the cart under the seat. !never went into&
with her at my mother's house, drew down the
blind, and locked the door. I never there or at any time
attempted to assault her. There is no truth whatever
in her statement with reference to it ; no rumour came to
my ears until I received a letter
of hal
ving
father. d
I
burnt the letter—it was a complaint of having insulte
one of " his party." I went over to his house, and
saw my aunt. I asked her what it meant. She accused
me of her daughter being in the family way by me. She
said her daughter was upstairs. I asked to we her, and
I went up with the mother. I there found Elisabeth.
Her sister was in the bar at the time. I asked her what
she meant by saying she was inlthe family way by use,
and if she could look me in the face, and say
that I had ever insulted her. She replied, " Yes." I
said it was false, and she must be marl or crazy to say so.
I then left her and came downstairs. They followed.
Downstairs I asked to see her father, and I was informed
he was gone to one of the county magistrates to know
if he could charge me with a rape. I sated the mother
where her daughter said it happened, and she said in my
cart, riding from Newmarket. When I heard about being
charged with rape, I said, "It was • pretty
thing to do—rather than it should have happened, !would
have lost 5001." I did not say to her sister Anna " Here is
a d— fine fuss," and her replying tiPt I had caused it.
I haven recollection of anytbiror of the•kind happenieg.
I did not say to the mother that I wanted to squash the
matter at once, or anything of the kind. I did not
say ahyttiipg about lending Ole daughter to the sea-
side, and that I would pay the expenses. I expressed
no such wish. I did pot say to her sister
Anna "Here is a d— fine fuss. I am not sorry for anything
but the old woman. She is • silly young —. Why did
she not hold her tongue! and it would have been all right."
I never at any time offered to insult Elizabeth Ransom.
Between the time of the alleged assault and the time at
which I was charged by the mother I drove her home from
Newmarket. She never said a word to we about it. I
noticed she looked ill between January and August, but I
never suggested she should be sent away, or that I would
take her away anywhere.
Crosa-examined by Mr. Chambers—l cannot say the day
in January I drove her home. I have asked Mr. Snell,
the landlord of the Star Inn, at Newmarket, where she
waited for me to come home, if he could recollect her
calling. He said he could not. I have inquired of many
persons, but they are unable to assist me. I know Miss
Peacocke ; she is sister of Peacocke, the attorney's
clerk. It was not arranged that I should take
her and Elizabeth back from Newmarket. It was lay
mere accident that I drove Elizabeth home. I have driven
her many times. I have known her ever since she was a
child. I passed Wade, a thatcher, three quarters of a
mile from where Elizabeth Ransom says the assault took
place, and I wished him good night. Her mother said I
should be brought to justice as soon as possible. The lad
Peacocks is a nephew of mine. I destroyed the father's
letter about a month after I received it, and after I re-
ceived the attorney's letter threatening proceedings.
I
cannot say if I spoke to young Peacocks in August about
it. I also destroyed the attorney's letter. I only men-
tioned the circumstances to Miss Holland, the young lady
to whom I am engaged, and to Mr. and Sirs. Peacee.ke
and Mrs. Holland the day when I received plai I tiff
re-
's
letter and after I had been to my aunt's.
ceived the letter about the time of Stockbridge mom.
• I went with Grinishaw, the jockey, and French. I men-
tioned the circumstance to Grinishaw, and told him I had a
disagreeable affair on. They did ant advise me to face
it out. Crozier, a backer,about a month ago told um he never
had anything to do with Elizabeth Ransom. George
Johnson went with me to my attorney, and he dis-
tinctly said he had had nothing to do with Elisabeth
Ransom. Woods distinctly told me that he never had
anything to do with her. I saw Samuel Gardner about
her.
Re-examined--I received a letter from a person named
Joseph Holland about Elizabeth Ransom. • I have endea-
voured to subpoena him, but without effect.
Mr. Salmon—l *on the son of the defendant's attorney,
and in partnership with my father. I never heard of
Long Holes in connection with this case until Saturday.
I have failed to be able to subpoena Holland.
Wm. Wade, thatcher, deposed to the defendant and
Elizabeth Ransom passing him between Half-wayßush and
Bell's plantation. They both wished him good night ;he
heard them half a mile before he came up, and fur about
three-quarters of a mile after he had passed. He appeared
to be going an even pace of nine miles an hour.
George William Peacocke—l reside in Clarence-road,
flow. lam clerk to Messrs. Fitch and Fitch, solicitors,
1. pion-square, Bow. lam 18 years of age, and nephew to
the defendant, and the plaintiff's wife is my great aunt.
I know Betsy Ransom. I have known her for 9or 10
years. I have been intimate with her at least 20 times.
She has told me of her having been intimate with others.
(This examination was objected to as not being mate-
rial in an action for loss of services, but the learned coun-
sel persisted in pursuing it.)
Witness continued—She told me the names of several.
Josh. Holland, Joseph llauton, who is called " The Gene-
ral," George Elauton, Chas. Bowcock, and Mr. Gardner,
and some one from Irlem. I left the neighbourhood in
November, 18fi5. I know Dalham-wood, and Dalhaui-
park. Some time before I left I was near those plasma
with a girl named Ship, Josh. Hau,on, and Betsy Ransom,
and Louis Woods. She went into tho wood with
Woods • but before going she made a remark to me.
[The Observation was so coarse aid broad that
it is impossible to give it in print. In fact
the conduct of the whole party appeared to be of
the worst character it is possible to conceive in youths
of so young an age. The witness smeared to give his
evidence under the impression that he had achieved souse
great triumph. He was intimate with her mostly in her
father's house, and it commenced when he was about 7 or
1
owlffiTha.ce leftie.A.,onh* cross-examinedt
"Thelur continued ds
General
epnwt oeaertnaOlt
somect
obeisN re,nwl
eoluint80.10::
Newmarket,
oh.
Bacs
Ityhteleallrorneirs.tbenyeso7:l:s.
tbo,yl idnMs an
en • I came to London I went first with Mr.
Kent, a solicitor, and remained with Lim about nine
months. I left him in August, and then went home. I
bad heard before of this affair between the defendant and
Messy Ransom.. I behave " The General " is here.
[The case was proceeding when our report left.]