The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-26 00:00:00

MR. E. G. TVAKEFIELIYS COMMITTAL.

An adjourned examination of the circumstances connected with
the singular abduction of Miss Turner, took place on Tuesday, at
the Ram's Head Inn, Dialey, Cheshire, before W. G. NEWTON,
Esq., S. P. HUMPHRIES, Esq., and G. TATTON, Esq., Magis.
trates for the county of Lancaster. The former depositions, the
principal facts of which have already been before the public, were
read over to the respective parties, and signed by them. The wit.
nesse, were Miss Daulbv (the schoolmistress). Miss Turner, Wil.
liam Turner, Esq. (the High Sheriff), Robert Turner, Esq.,
Henry Critcbley, Esq. and 111 r. Grimaditch, the solicitor. One
witness deposed that Miss Turner, on a certain occasion, said that
though filr. Wakefield had treated her like a gentleman, yet his
conduct was that of a bru e, " and she had never called any one a
brute before." She acknowledged having given her consent to the
marriage, and signed her name to an instrument, " which was to
certify to all concerned" that they were married.
After the reading of the several depositions, Mr. Orimtditch rose
and said that he felt it his duty to press for a committal for a capital
felony, under the statutes 3 Henry VII. c. 2. ; 39 Eliz. e. 9. Mr.
G. combated the objection which had been made, that Miss Turner
was not an heiress apparent, and therefore that the case did not
come within the meaning of those Acts ; and said that if she was
not one, it was impossible that there ever could be an heiress ap.
parent.
After about half an hour's consultation, the Magistrates decided
on committing. Mr. Wakefield on die capital charge, and he is ae.
cordingly committed to Lancaster Castle, to take his trial at the
ensuing assizes. The examination lasted about three hours, and
excited intense interest.

Mr. Wakefield declined saying any thing in his defence, and ex-
hibited an air of perfect indifference until the decision was made
known to him, when he seemed considerably agitated. It is under-
stood he entered into his 31st year about a fortnight'ago. He is a
gentlemanly man, of rather a slender form,. light hair and eyes,
and is what the French would call a bet hernrae. His dress betrayed
a touch of dandyism. During the time Miss Turner was in the
room, not a single glance was exchanged between them. He sat
lolling, with his hand to his head, and she kept her eyes upon the
ground all the time she gave her deposition. Miss Turner was
fifteen on the 12th of February last. She is rather tall of her age,
and lice voice and manner are very commanding; her countenance
is pale, but it is enlivened by two piercing eyes, and a finely-shaped
mouth, with teeth extremely well formed and white, forming a
tine contrast to her ruby lips. She spoke in the most collected
manner, and &together there is something so fascinating shout her,
that the most favourable impression seemed to have been made on
all present. Previous to his departure in the custody of the con.
stable, Mr. Wakefield wrote a letter to his friends, and sent a copy
of his committal to his solicitor. While walking before the door
with his friend, Dr. Davies, Miss Turner watched him from the
window for some time, b...t no act of recognition rnok place.
In the course of the proceedings, Mr. Orimsditch called the at.
tention of the Magistrates to the letter which appeared in the John
Bull of Sunday list, which reflected upon him ; but they very
properly expressed their surprise that he should bring forward the
subject then, as they of course could do nothing whatever in it.
Mr. Wakefield here remarked that he knew nothing of, nor had he
any thine to do, with the letter in question. Mr. Orimsditch said,
"It bears your name at all events.' This disavowal is rather a
curious circumstance, as the letter introduced in it, addressed to
Mr. Turner, is certainly genuine, and is in the same words as that
read before the Magistrates.
Several letters from Mr. Wakefield to Tile. Turner were read,
from one of which the following is an extract :—" I cannot allow
your daughter to be made to dislike me, however wrong my con.
duct may have been. I have taken religious care to treLt her as a
sister, and though she was lawfully my wife, I never enforced the
rights of a husband. In the conversations I had with her, the lan-
guage used would' not have been unfitting from a brother to a
sister." In anothct letter he entreats that no one will try to make
Miss T. hate her husband.

TeNBRIDGE.WELLS..—THE SWINDLERS.--A circum-
stance, which we are happy to state is not of very frequent occur-
rence here, has taken place the fast week. A family, consisting of
an elderly man, and a young one about 2.2, and three women, have
been living at free quarters at Illoomfielificottage, for nearly three
months. The man at length succeeded in obtaining possession of
a valuable horse acd gig of the proprietor of the Sussex Hotel, in
payment of which he gave his acceptance, but took himself off two
or three days previcras to its arrival at maturity, and the woman
managed to follow him a few hours afterwards. Their debts here
are supposed to amount to nearly 4001. The nante he was known
by here was Tuthill ; he is a large man about tiO years old, and
walked as if he was lame, leaning on a large stick, of respectable
appearance, and wore a blue close-bodied ecat, and a plush silk
velvet waistcoat with blue buttons. Two of the women, apparently
mother and daughter, about the middle size, in red shawls evi.
dently the worse for wear. The other women wore black, and
looked rather sanctified. They all endeavoured to put on the ap-
pearance of well disposed women. We trust this description will
prevent their committing any further depredation elsewhere. Since
writing the above, we have been informed that the man has re.
marked° light whiskers, and the daughter possesses rather hand-
some Jewish features, inclining to r sallowish hue, and generally
wore a morone silk pelisse, with deep fur at the bottom ; it was re.
markable as being too short. She was accompanied when on our
walks by two spaniel dogs.—Brightfrit Cuzette. 1
CORONER'S INQUEST.—Yesterday evening, an adjOnrn-
ed Inquest was held at the London Hospital, on the body of a
middle-aged •man, named John. Stephens, whose death was occa-
sioned in the following dreadful manner. From the evidence, it
appeared that the deceased, while returning home on Saturday
night, in attempting to cross the street opposite the Ball and Mac-
kerel public house, Mile.end, was knocked down by a chaise pass.
lug at the time, at a most furious rate ; the driver of which, though
aware of the accident, did not pull up, but galloped off, and de-
ceased's head came with such violence against the edge of the pave-
ment, that when taken up hezterite insensible, and covered with
blood. Ile was instantly on a shutter to the hospital,
where, on examination, it was found that his head was dreadfully
fractured, and he died in a few hours after. The Jury returned a
verdict of " Manslaughter" against the tither of the chaise, whose
name- is unknown.

It is singular that a starling, not a very common bird in
this neighbourhood (Liverpool), built a nest in the dove cote at the
vicarage-house, Dearham, and at present has four young ones. The
pigeons and their forcign Inmates appear to be very cordial toiethere
I have noticed. says our Correspondent, and which, I think, a cu-
rious act in natural history, that u frequently as the parent birds
feed their young. they uniformly remo►e the droppings of the
young ones front the ncat.