The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-16 00:00:00

t4LICE.

MARL-LA-BONNE OFFICE.
B ITT to • S.:stmts.-On Monday evening, J'alas
Meraltheed, e lady elegantly Mused, Mosta Spence, *groom, and
Jabs Afaithear, a tomboy ' were fight before JOHN 114W1.111-
sow, Esq. by Hewitt and Stowell, officers, charged with cruelly
whipping and otherwim ill.using a very interesting little girl of
the name of Ann Bigrave, 13 years of age, a native of the Maid of
Jamaica'.
Mr. Anot.rurs attended an behalf of the defendants.
It appeared in evidence that the girl was brought from Jamaica
by a 31t. Nimbeard, about tigto or nine yews ago. She always
catuidered him her father, and was treated by him in every respect
es such. She wad elegantly clothed, had a gold watch and jewellery,
was allowed to have her little parties, and wan perfectly happy,
having every wish gratified. Hee clothes were marked with Mr.
Nimbeard's name. The above eel defendant, Mrs. Membhead,
has been residing with Mr. Nim for about two years, since
which the child's situation was very muds The initials
on her clothes lave been picked out, the =tits disappeared,
the ear-rings hare been broken to ppiieces, and the wreck even to
one of the defendants, who It for a pin for John
Matthews. The three defendants we reituicas. The following
evidasee was given before the Magistrates:-
Mr. Carol, dyer, of St. lietegs's-rotr, Tyburn, stated, that his
daughter went to live as housemaid with Mr. Nimbeard, No. 11,
Upper Berkeley-street, Portman.equare. On the Sunday evening
fefterleg be took Ms youngest dad to see her, when he was told
that there was a little girl locked up in a room up stairs. The
child was brought down and shown to him. He asked her who had
ea Muhl her, and she replied-ese of the streant-beps
itigalreasa.t-fies,Was
vaay .hemuch y ?and handkerchief she bad in her
hard wee elan very bloody, biTdey. a
Magistrate-How came she to be brought down stain?
Witness-I don't know. She said site should be starved other.
wise.
Mary Carrel, daughter of the lost witness, sworn.--She stated
that the lived ashouesmaid with Mrs. M. and remained only nine
days.
;Ilagisuate-Was the girl ill-used during that time?
Witness-Yea,_ Sir, with great cruelty.
Magistrate-What was she butes with ?
Witness-With a horse-whip, and in such a manner that ths
blond and also a piece of fifth was cut out.
Magistrate-When aid you enter the service of Mrs. M.
Witness.-0a• the 3d of May. This enmity was committed on
the NVednesday following.
Magistrate-Did yew see the child ill.treated before?
illosesa-Noe in that manner. She was allowed only bread and
water, and sometimes potatoes and water for dinner.
Here Mrs. Julia Moulahead walked up so the bench, in a violent
passion, declaring the assertion files.
Mr. ADOLPH us begged of bee is he sexed.
Magistrate-Did soy other person illruae the child besides Mrs.
31unbheed ?
Witness-Yes, sir; foothey John beat her with a horsewhip,
and also with a stirrup.
Magistrate-Not at the same time ?
Witness-Yes, one after the other; he less beam her as she lay
in tied.
Magistrate.-Did he beat ber with a broom?
Witness-No, sir; but mistress did, saying at the same time to
muter, " Look at your thief of • child."
hiatostrate-Did any one else beat her ?
Witness-Yes; Thomas, the groom ; he beat her with a long
horsewhip at the same time.
Mr. ADOLPlaus -What ! both at the same time?
Witness-Yes; one after the other.
litagistrate-Did she complain ?
Witness-Yee, very much.
Magistrate-Was she punned ?
Wit:mi.-Yes, she was confined In a small room where John
used to sleep ; the slept with me when I first teem,
Mr. EswLycsoe-Do I understand you that he beat her with
the strap o(the stirrup, net the iron
Witnesta-No, enly with the strap.
Mr. Anoirous-Pray how lung did you live with Mr. Nim.
heard?
Witness-Nine days.
Mr. Aesot.rutrs-How came it that you come forward here ?
Witnesa-1 was ordered to tome here by Stowell, the officer.
Mr. AlsoLrotts-How long did you live is ether places?
Witness--1 lived with Mrs. Lock six years.
Ann Holloway, of No. 48, Adam-street West, Portman-square,
stated that she was in the habit of doing needle-work for Mr. N.'s
tkmily ; that she saw the child without shoes or stockings in the
kitehee. which iced a stone pavement, at which time she also saw
marks of violence on her face and anus.
11Laeistrate
it
looked q rte rAgilet!lane ?
Dligistrate-Did she say who did it?
Wdness-Yes she Wit Mrs. Mend:head and the fontboy.
1)r. Auor.ro us -llow low ago is this; five or sin weeks?
Witness--About four or ire weeks.
Mr. AnoLeitt:s-Where did you are her after she ran away ?
Witness-I saw her at Sir. Carron's, at the Cottages.
Mr. ADol.l.lltre-And white. else.did yes see her afterwards?
Witness-At 31r. DOwtra, a tailor, in liquatorustrest, Port.
man,square.
Idr. A noceous--flid she ever go out ?
Witness-They told me she did not.
Mr. aboceoos-Do you not know that bushes mid elaills
ings were taken 4f to prevent bee funning stray ?
-31 r. RAWL I SIMI-Did you ever see her ill-used?
Witness-No, sir.
it there %Vachon, servant, lives at No. 17, Meategeotust,
Mauro-square, stated that be met the child about luif-pest
Ilalelock, op Friday night, in Upper Berkeleyureet ; she was
then with a woman, who begged of him to take the poor child to
the watch,house 4 he took her in his sons, end &Awl her whim she'
lived ?Oh. said at No. H, which was vole three dews aft- He
said, 1 will take you home; she begged and intreated that I would
not, es she valid be beat ; she begged of me to Ulla sleep on
the bottom of the watch-box, or any place until mowing ; but
prayed I wired Dot tate berhome t he thought it his duty to take
her home, and alteordiagly *necked at the doors after waiting
some time, a gendarme tome to the door, and opened it only as
far as the chain would allow, raying, " get away you si—d
rascal, or I'll charge the watch with you," (that is the gestleman,
pointing to 31r. Ninibeard) he, however, hindered hint from shut-
tin; the door, on which it was opened. and the epithet '• rascal"
repeated. The child was then taken from him, and dragged by
the Paird the head into the Mouse, by the foot-boy ; the screams
et able eisild were dreadful, and ,the watch was toiled to take me
.ittle custody, but I walked off.
• 'Stephen Dunn, of No. 0.1, Upper Berkeley-street, baker, stated,
Phu he serves the family of Mr.Nimbeard. One day in particular
latMw the Hole girl very much bruised. The lady mid the child
leift the kitchen. Witness then eked the cook who had ill. seed
she child ? She said it was the groom. A few minutes after, the
groom came into the kitchen, when witness said, " Is it you that
sea dlogged the child in tlust way ? He ausweeed, ".it was, and that
she void& take mere legging than any bents in the amble."
Mr. ADOLPHUS-Row lung ago p this?
IntaCte-Abfutt five was. ago.

R. Dog, scrtant to Hrs. Milford, 64, rpperilevkelty.street. sew
the defendan!, Hu. alembhead, beat the clikl over she bead with
a stick. Relieved she saw hint at the time, as sire immediately
wiped the child's face with a towel. He did not bear her scream.
Ann Hi7rave, the little girl, au these called. Her appearauce
interested every person
3ingi,trate--110 you C:Vni;our Catechism ?
Witness—Yes. Sir.
Magistrate.—Heve you been to Church?
il'iinesa—les, Sir.
31agistrate— Do you know that you will take God's name in vain
if you do not ttll the truth ?

,
Witness—Yes,
Magistrate—flow old are you?
M'itness—Thirteen years old. 'wet October.
Magistrate—How long have you been in England ?
Witness—About eight or nine years.
Magistrate—How long has Mrs. Membhcad been living there.
Vileness—About two sear..
Magistrate—How did :11r. N— behave to you before that time?
Witness—Always with the greatest kindness.
Mrs. Alembhead ever beat you ?
Witness—Ye., Sir, and afterwards threw cold water over me.
Magistrate—How did the best ;on, and when ?
Witness—l don't recollect; the beat me in the bedroom whet
the housemaid Warred) was there, but she beat me with the bone-
whip and broom till I was covered with blood.
Magistrate—Who else beat you ?
'Withess-4The foutboy beat me the same day with the horsewhip ?
he ever beat you at any other time ?
AVitoess—He has beat me several times, both up and in bed,.
and not long ago he stripped me naked and beat me with the
bridles. Mrs. 3lembhead was present then; he held me whilst she
beat me.
Magistrate--Did any other person beat you ?
Witness—Yes, the groom, on Saturday ; here is the cut he gave
me on the neck.
Here Mr. Rawlinson left the Bench, and went round to look at
the child's neck.
11r, ADOLvrirs--Was there no reason for this?

Witness—Nothing.
Mr. Aoo yrit vs—Did they not charge you with something?
Witness—Yes, they accused me of taking a 201. note some time
ago; they smelted my box, but nothing was found. I left the
room and went down stairs, but was called up again ; they then
epid "We hate found the note in the folds of your stocking."
Air. Anorpaus--Were you beat at that time?
Witness—No, Sir.
Anoi.erms—When were you beat ?
Witness—. About three or four weeks ago.
Mr. ADOI.THI.:3—Where did you go to then?
Witness--I went to Mrs. Carrot's, and to Mrs. Watts', No. 9,
Oray's Inn.lane.
Mr, ADOLPIIVS—You run away again?
Witness—yes, Sir, because I was shut up in a dark cellar, and
they threw cold water over me.
Magistrate_What is your mother's name, and what is she?
Witness—My mother's name is Ann Bigrave; she is a tree wo-
man in Jamaica.
Atagistrate—What estate does she live on ?
Witness—Old Harbour.
agistrate—Do you believe Mr. Nimbeard to be your father?
Witness—Yea, Sir, my clothes were marked with his name.
Mr. Garrod, a parochial constable, who interested himself ou the
part of the child, begged to ask her a few questions.
Mr. %swim:sox—certainly.
Mr. Garrod—Where is the cellar situated you were confined in ?
Witness--On the ground-boor; not the least thing to sit on;
cold water was thrown on me while 1 was there.
Mr. Garrod—What has become of all your clothes?
N'itness—Airs. Alembhead made me burn them.
Mr. Garr d--You had jewels and a gold watch ?
Witness—Yes ; I don't know what became of the watch, but my
ear-rings were broken, and then given to the tootboy, who ex.
changed them for a pin.
Mr. Garrod—You were allowed to have little parties inNorfolk-
street ?
Witness—Yes, Sir.
Mr. Garrod—Were you not turned into the street whilst you
lived in Norfolk-street f
%YU:less—Yes, by Biddy the servant.
Mr. Harrod—Who Is Biddy ?
NVitnees—Sbe is Mrs. Alembhead's cousin.
Mr.•thered---Ilas Mrs. Alembhead any other relation?
Witnem—Yes, Sir, the groom here, is her brother, and the foot.
boy her cousin.
Mr. ADOLPUUS said this was a malicious prosecution; it was
brought forward for the sake of the espeaure, that it might till the
columns of the newspapers.
It was then suggested by the worthy Magistrate, that it would
be better to let the child remain with the woman she has been with
until the case was properly disposed of.
The woman gladly complied, but begged that some clothes
should be provided, as she had nothing but what she stood upright
in.
The Magistrate said that if proper necessaries were not provided,
she should apply immediately to the parish, and he was certain they
would do every thing that was correct.
Mrs. Alentbhmd was then ordered to find bail, herself is the saw
of 1091. and two sureties in tali. each ; and Spence and Matthews,
themselves in SRL each, and two sureties in SU each.