The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-20 00:00:00

Thu concluded the diruct examination of the witneas.

Mr. fit• • Sleigh asked to be allowed to postpone his
emsa•rramination of the witness till to-morrow morning.

The Chief Justice said that in order to meet the wishes
of counsel for the defence, and to preserve the continuity
of the evidence, he thought it would be better to adopt
th.d course,

The Attorney-General acquiesced, and hf unsay was
aecardingly removed.
After the examination of Inspector Potter, a witness
nia.e.l Huggins, and two police•constables with refercnoeto
the titpling of the staves of a barrel at the scene of the
explosion,
The court adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.

LLW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIg. J

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

Sittings in NW Prins in Middlesex. —Olden Mr. Judi*
Wilke and a Common July.)
JONIIB r. HEASIMAX.
This was an action to recover damages for a hemialt of .a
promise to marry.
Mr. Gibbose and Mr. Thomas appeared for the plaintiff ;
and Mr. Berjemat liallantine lad Mr. Mareweatlisr for the
defendant.

Mr. Gibbons said that the defendant was a timber
merchant in business in York-road, Lambeth. He
has some property at East Grinstead, and he has
also his business. The plaintiff, who was 20 years of
age, was the daughter of a timber merchant, who had
carried on his business at Rotherhithe. The father died
in 1860, leaving a widow and three children, of whom the
plaintiff was the eldest. The widow carried on the busi-
ness until her death, in 1866, and from that time it was
carried on by the plaintiff. The defendant bad transac•
tines in the way of I:miners with the plaintiff, and in May
an intimacy srang up between them, the defendant visit-
ing the plaintiff, and taking her out very frequently. Their
being so much together accounted for the fact that no
letters except one had passed between them. This letter
was as follows :

.
" York-road, Lambeth.
"My dear Miss Jones,—l have just got en appointment
for the Arai thing tomorrow morning; but if your
brother Charley can go to-morrow about the middle of
the day, I will call for him. An answer by bearer will
oblige ; and accept of my kind love."
He should ask the jury to may from this letter, and also
from the terms upon which the parties wore, and from
certain conversations, that there had been a promise to
marry. The intimacy continued until October, when the
angsgement was broken off, in consequence of some lanai-
tioa *eked by the plaintiff of the defendant, in reference
to some other woman ; a question, however, which an in-
tended
wife had a perfect right to ask.
Mrs. Caroline Nous, the plaintiff's sister, spoke to the
plaintiff being frequently visited by the defendant, and
to their being very intimate. On one occasion she
want with them to Nunhead Cemetery, and after-
wards they had tea. The defendant noticed three rings
whisk tritium had on, and turning to the plaintiff said—
,"lf I get you a we.lding-ring and keeper will that be '
suMoient !" She said that that would be quite sufficient
se she had one or two dress rings of her own. On another
occasion witness's little boy was with her at the plaintiff's
house. The defendant was breakfasting with the plain-
tiff, and he brought the child to witness saying that eho
must take him as plaintiff was going out with him. He
said that the little boy was very fond of his aunt, and
he thought that when he got married they would take
the child to live with them. On a subsequent omission at
supper witness and her husband were present. The de-
fendant said, " Do you not think that we shall make a
happy maple when we get married r end the reply was
that they would, accompanied by the question as to
when it was to be. The defendant said she
had only to name the time. Some 'hart time afterwards
Ideal= WY leaving after supper, end said to the plaintiff,
" Good night, Mies es and added, " Good night, Mr.
Housman.' The defendant said, " Yon might as well
my, ' Good night, Mrs. Housman,' as she soon will be."
During the time of the intimacy their conduct towards
each other was such as would have been very improper if
they were not engaged.
Orem-examined —The plaintiff was 20 and the defendant
50 years of age. Her child that the defendant proposed to
take was 16 months old. _

Mr. Serjeant he proposed to provide
himself with • wife and a child at the came time.
(Laughter.)
Witness continued—Her brother could not attend to-
day because he was in • little trouble. She never heard
that the acquaintance was broken off because the defen-
dant would not trait the plaintiff for some timber.
She
himself, be would not trust for his timber. (Laughter.)
Mr. Boons, a ropemaker at Rotherhithe, the husband
of the last witness, pre similar testimony. He also said
that on one occasion , when they were walking home
together, the plaintiff and her sister were in front ; the
defendant asked who he thought would be the best wife,
and said that he intended to marry Mary Ann (the plaintiff).
Mary Buckley also spoke to the parties having been on
intimate terms. On one occasion the defendant assisted
the plaintiff into a cart, and took very great care of her.
(A laugh.)
Wm. Daniels said that he " believed " be was a tenant
of the defendant's. He did not pay any rent himself ; his
wife pays it. It was 7s. • week. The next door also be-
longs to the defendant.
To the Judge—He did not know whether the defendant
was a freeholder, or whether he raid rent himself.
John Mackary said that he rented • bones in York-street,
Lambeth, of the defendant, and paid 13. 6d. • week.
The next house belonged to the defendant. His timber.
yard was under a railway arch. It occupied only one.
Mrs. Hannah Heaseman, the defendant's stater, said
that she lived on a farm at East (Maraud. The de-
fendant was not the landlord, but his son was. The
son was Zi years old, and had been landlord for a twelve-
month. The defendant was • widower. He brought Miss
Jones down to the farm. He brought her down to look at
some timber, and not upon any love affair. (Laughter.)
Miss Jones was unwell and went to bed. Wirer
thought she was tipsy. She said she would rather be
there than come down to dinner ; but being persuaded
she came down to dinner. Witness saw her upon the bed,
and believed she wan " tossicated." (A laugh.)
Mr. Serjert Ballantine—Perhaps it was only love.
(LauFhter.)
Witness continued—Mr Jones wanted to buy some
timber out of the forest, and she wanted it for less than
the defendant would sell it for. They could not agree
upon the price.
The enemy's letter to the defendant was then put in,
and also the answer, which stated that there had never
been any promise of marriage.
Mr. ifierjeant Ballantine called no witnesses, but on
addressing the jury likened the ease to another celebrated
one, which, howerr, was not to be found reported in any
law book and after going in detail through the evidence,
contended that it wan of such a character that the jury
would not be justified in finding that the defendant had
made a solemn promise to marry the pl•intiff.
The jury, after considering the matter for a few minutes,
found a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 501.

xT Tie la di
paid that.

aid sU

The Geis waradieltwava ire Anthem' aelgtestA
(Before Mr. Oestmisiessr (toolbars.)
IN II ALIT/MD=ILO D 171111111.14.
The bankrupt was a milliner, of Old Bond-dere* trading
as Madame Alexandrine. She oasis before the court with
debts of 8,1961., 3,186/. being due to creditors holding
arourity, with assets of about 6001.
Mr. Valiancy Joan, who appeared for the aesignese,
stated that the ease had been upwards of twelve swaths
Were the court, and had been thoroughly investigated;
there was now no opposition to the bankrupt receiving her
order.
His Honour granted the order.

POLICE COURTS.-(THIS DAY.)

CURKENWELL
MIR% BVICILLIT,

James Murphy, erOMikiiiOhinte fellow, who described
, himself as a printer, was charred fore Mr. Barker with
committing a burglsry in the dwelling-house of Mr. Jame*
Maynard, of 11, Chalmers.tiwnies, Stoke Newington, and
stealing therein two rings and half • the pro-
petty of Mr. Maynard. The pekoes: was furthe sovereign,r charged
with stealing a watch of the nine of If., the property of
Alfred Goldstein.

The prisoner got into the hones during the temporary
absence of the inmates. On the return of the latter=
found the door (stained on the inside. A fruitless
was made by Mr. Maynard and his lodger, bat while their
wives were standing at the door the prisoner
and another man, who made his escape, got oat
of the first floor window and ran et dropping the
articles stolen and some skeleton keys in their Sight ;
however, the prisoner was apprehended.
Mr. Barker committed the prisoner for triaL
SOUTHWARK.
_ PIOI.fnR •IBILLIILT ON •_POLICINAN IT • WOKAW.

Cerolias i. 7 , 1111: ;;;;;Tin; rd pew aria-
looking woman, was broeght before Mr. Benham for leaf
examination, charged with cattle( and wounding John
Bowman, police-constable 70, on the • heed, thereby
placing his life for some time in danger.
The assault took place on the 24th alt. The wettable
was on duty in St. George's New-town, when a num-
ber of disorderly persons were expelled from a
public-house, and be to quarrel. The pri
soner distinguished herself by the violets. of leer
conduct, and the foulness of her eonversation, and the
constable was about to speak to her, when she rushed at
him and struck him in the forehead with some sharp in-
strument, which stunned him and caused a great effusion
of blood. He had not since been able to attend to his duty.
Another constable, who witnessed the assault, task the
prisoner into custody.
In answer to the charge the prisoner admitted Maedag
the constable with her 6st, but she never used a steno.
Mr. Burcham committed bee for trial for setting and
wounding the constable and inflicting grievous bodily
harm.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO IRELAND.

(NT TILZOWIL)
(PION OEM OWN COZNISPONUNZT.)

DUBLIN, MONDAY Armurom.

The rain fell incessantly last night, and did not
cease until 9 o'clock this morning. Greet disap
pointment was felt, as it was believed that the
review would be postponed ; but the weather
having cleared, all the troops in garrison hurried
to the park, and the people assembled in vast
numbers.

The royal party left the Castle at 12 o'clock,
and were loudly cheered along the whole route.
The sun is now shining brilliantly.