The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-18 00:00:00

SOVTRWARK.

The Rer. Georga Ifeit;el,;3lls;;;Qton, appeared before
Mr. Woolrych, on recognizance., for further examination,
charged with indecently assaulting Mary Ann Fraser,
while getting out of a third-class carnage of the South
Eastern Railway, at the London-bridge terminus.
Mr. Mackenzie, of Gresham-house. who appeared for the
defendant, informed his worship, that owing to the publi-
city given to the case in the newspapers, great advantages
had resulted to his client, snit he thought that he
should be able to produce a mass of evidence to contradict
the testimony of the complainant, and show that it was •
charge trumped up to extort money from his client. At
the last examination lie had every wish to deal with her
as an innocent and respectable young woman, but owing
to the publicity given in the newspapers letters had reached
him which entirely upset that opinion. Besides letters he
bad witnesses in court who would be able to identify her
as having made similar complaints against them.
The attention of one of the gentlemen was at-
tracted to the case by the observation " nasty
beast," which she made to him at Charing-mom
three weeks ago.* He had also witnesses in court
who were in the next compartment, and maw all that oc-
curred, and could prove that the defendant never com-
mitted any '
indent act in assisting her out of the car-
riage. If his worship should be eatisfied with that evi-
dence, he trusted that he would discharge the defendant,
and then proceed against the complainant for perjury.
The complainant was here recalled, and, in answer to
the learned gentleman, maid she never made • similar
charge against any man before in her life. On the Ist of
March she left Mr. Maitland's service, at West Croydon,
and came up to London-bridge. She then shifted to the
South Eastern line, and proceeded to Charing-croes, where
she left her box for her father to fetch. She travelled by
third clam ; but she did not know who was in the com-
partment with her. On the Monday morning following,
she went to Chislehurst, and returned on the Monday
following, arriving at Charing-cross at 20 minutes to 10.
She had been to lee Mr. Farley and his wife. He was a
carpenter and joiner, at Chieleharet. She did not speak
to any man that time. She never threw her crinoline over
any man, and afterwards call him a malty beast.
Mr. William Richards, an elderly man, was here called
by Mr. Mackenzie, and on being sworn he said that he was
• dealer in essential oils, and resided at 73, Ash-grove,
Cambridge-heath. About three weeks and three days ago
he travelled from Cannon-street to Charing-crosa by the
South Eastern Railway in • third class ocwipartment. The
complainant sat at the farther end of the carriage, and he
was next the door. On the arrival of the carriages at
Charing.eroas he remained in the last. as he was
tired. When the complainant was getting out she
threw her crinoline over his knees square-like, and he
pushed it off. She turned round and exclaimed, " What
are you doing, you nasty beast; I have • great mind to
give you in aaree." He said to her, "Of the two I think
you are the nasty beast, and the greatest beast." She
then went away grumbling, and suspecting that she was
one of those women who trumped up charges against gen-
tlemen, he followed her and saw her enter 15, Cecil-court,
St. Martin's-lane.

Mr. Woolrych—Will you undertake that this is the same
young woman?
Witness—l would not undertake to swear that. The
young woman had light hair and looked very pale. She
very much resembled the complainant. One of her gloves
was off and her hand looked very red.
Mr. Mackenzie—You swear that that was the same
woman you traced into 15, C4cil-court St. Martin's-lane?
Witness—Yes, sir. I, however, had some disadvantage
owing to the bad light, but I am certain she called me a
" nasty old beast.'
Mr. Mackenzie—How came you to attend this court to-
day
Witness--Because I read the case against the defendant
in the newspapers yesterday, and from the description of
her, and using the epithet " nasty beast" tothegentleman
I thought it was the same woman, and that she was an
impostor. I therefore thought it my duty to the public
to attend the Police-court.

Stephen Seymour was next called by Mr. Mackenzie,
and on being sworn said that he had recently been dis-
charged from the Royal Artillery. He produced his certi-
ficate of good conduct as a corporal of the 6th battery,
Colonel Green, commanding. He was stationed at Wool-
wich in 1861 and 1863. In the latter year he became ac-
quainted with Mary Ann Fraser, while servant to Captain
French, at Woolwich. He had to attend his house every
four or rive days with orders, and had opportunities of
seeing her and conversing with her—in fact, he kept com-
pany with her up to January, 1864. The complainant was
the same young woman. He would swear to it.
Mr. Woohych—Did any one ask you to come here to-
day ?
Witness—No, air. I read it in the newspapers
yesterday, and in consequence of that I came here of my
own accord.

Complainant here interposed and said that he came
to her houae on Tuesday, and tried to frighten her.
She never saw him before in her life. It was all false
what he bad stated.

Witness—I did mil on her to satisfy me that she was
the same woman, but I made no proposition to her. I
called her by her name.
Kr. Mackenzie—Did she seem to know you, then!
Witness—No, sir. She treated me as a perfect
stranger.
Harman Garrett was the next witneu called, and, on
being sworn, he said he was a joiner, working for Mr.
Slipper, at Rotherhithe. On Saturday evening he got
into the train at Cannon-street, and sat in the adjoining
compartment to where the complainant, her mother, the
porter, and defendant were sitting. He was seated side-
w►is, with his lege up, and noticed them all. When the
train stopped at London-bridge the complainant got up
to leave, when her crinoline extended and defendant put
his hand up to assist her out. He noticed all that
occurred, and was certain that defendant did not commit
any indecent set towards the young woman. After the