The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-03-14 00:00:00

INTRRtSTDIG TRIALS.

WINCHESTER ASSIZES.

LENT ASSIZES, WINCRVITO, RAU* it.
Mr. Serjeent MARSHALL prnitlisag as ✓adge.
RAPE:
Adjutant Jelin Faitia, of the Royal 'Marine
corps, was indicted for assaulting and committing a
rape oa Elisabeth Seapleford, a young woman of
18 years of age, on the evening of the Atli of No-
vember last, at the Marine Barracks, Portsmouth.
Mr. Desuitea opened the prosecution with a very
brief statement, and observed that the facts as

proved would appear more strong and impressive
than say thing he could urge. It would appear
that the mother of the unfortunate girl was a wi-
dow. with three daughters. who maintained them-

selves by their induatry. They took in needle-
work. The Primmer was a very young man, an
Officer of Marines. He had mud panicular atten-
tion to the unfortunate Prosecntrix, and in fact bed
rliard her &factions and conddence so far, that
:e had often bad the imprudence to walk alone

ith him. before he committed the horrid deed.

It would - • appear that no fault attached to
the Prosecute's •' that she could not be charged
as accessuiT +0 the offence • but that it was cotn-
initted ea the pert of the Prisoner with the
iratest brutality.
Elizabeth Stapleferd, a moat interesting looking
Girl, and with the appearance of haying been re-
inokably handsome, bat now apparently in a
cunrumption, was then called. She was dres;M
velf neat, with a large straw hat on, but she was
ebliged to take it oft by the order of the Court,
which agitated her very much.—She deposed,
that n!le lived in Portsmouth, near the Marine Bar-
racks ; her mother was a widow, and the Witness
and two elder sisters took in needle-work for a
maintenance; she had known the prisoner about
3 months before the Btll of November, on which
day she went to the poat-office in Portsea ; was re-
turning home in the evening, when she met the
Prisoner near her mother's house ; he asked her
to take a walk with him ; she consented, and they
a ent to Penny-street; a heavy shower of rain Caine
on, and they turned towards Barrack-street.--. She
iateuded to go through Barrack and St. Nicholas-
streets home, it being the shortest way ; she aas of
coarse obliged to pass by the Barrack-gate; when
they gat opposite to, it, the Prisoner asked. her to

gn oot et the rain, which the refused
he thgn prevailed on her to go 'under the Barrack.

_ .
gate and wait until the min was over ; she walked
with him under the colonnade, it continued raining,
and they came opposite s passage, when lie seized
her round the wait and forced her into it—she
cried out " :Murder; " he shot the door, took
her in his arms, and forced her up stairs ;
she resisted and made a noise; he told her it
was of no use to make a noise, for no one dare

enter his apartments; he forced her into hia
room, and rhut the door and window shut-

tern. She beA•ctl of him to let her go; he took a
candle, and went out of the room. She imme-
diately opened the door, and got to the bottom of
the stairs; found the door fastened, and ronld
sot open it. The Prisoner came down titter her,
wired ber by the shoulders, and dragged her igE
stairs. lihe misted at wrack a she coIiTA: ii

erw'l out. The drums were beating in the barrack
yard at the time. Her knee Was very much benieed
against the stairs. Ile forced her again into the
room, and shut the door. She went down upon
her knees, in tears, and begged of him to let her
go. lie said, it did not avail. She then made a
great poise. Ile had, at this time, his great coat
un ; he pulled it off, threw it on the floor, and
her on it. She struggled, and cried out with all
her strength. Ile said it, was only exporting herself,
as no one dare come near his room, and then com-
mitted the offence. He kept her about half au
hour in the room afterwards, and desired her• to
say nothing shout it,- as it could not be found out.
She told him she would not keep it a secret. lie
said he would meet her the next evening, and tell
ber what Itc intended to do. She was in tears all
the time. He then kit the room with her, and
saw her out of the barrack, and went about two
Landred.yanls with her, begging that she would
not my any thing about it ' • but she told him. po-
sitive's. thatsbe would rot keep it a secret. After
Le leftsher, she went bonze about half past nine
o'clock; tried to-tell her mother, but could not
told her sister of' it next morning, and her mother
on the Tuesday evening afterwards; she was
obliged to have *surgeon. to attend ber knte.
On her cross-examination by Mr. Busanuetts,
she said she had walked with the P:isoner se-
veral evenings before, but never later than half
past eight o'clock ; he never took any liber-
ties with her before that evening; he kissed •
her several times before he proceeded to extremi-
ties; never was in his room before; did not know
what pert of the Barracks it was in ; she was in the
room about an hour, the drums were beating al-
most all the.tinie ; she made resistance while ber
strer.gth continued, awl called out murder,"
and for some one for tiotts sake to come to her
assistance; she saw the Prisoner on the evening
following, die the ramparts, from her window ; did
ant speak to him ; was sure he could not see her,
as she kept out of.his way; -when she got borne, she
found her mother and sister at Nome ; did not eat
hay • supper, but went to bed directly • when she
told her sister In the mottling, she begged of her to
inform her Mother, but which she did not do, and
she was obliged to do it herself on Tutmlar even-
ing; attempted ieseveml times before she did do
it, but feeling how much it would disturb her,
could ant speak what she intended.
Mr. Burroughs here produced a letter, which
she acknowledged to he her writing.
Lydia Staplefonl, sister of the Prosecutrix.
posed, she was at hour- on the Stis of November,
when her sister returned; she slept with her; on the
next morning she appeared much agitated, aml
was ervintr; Witness asked her what IT the mat-
ter her ? She then told her how the Prisoner
had need her, and beggetl of her to communicate
it to her mother ; hut she found herself priespahle
of claim.; s"; and her sister on Tuesiay evening
informed her mother. Witness and her mother
then examined the clothes she had on, and they
were then in Court in the same situation, much
torn and *Sneed. The Prosecatrix's left knee was
much bruised, and she had been ill ever since.