The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-29 00:00:00

SI NM' LA It ACCUSATION.

rierts ir I. T..—On Thursday, a short time previous to the case
of Poole n. Elision, being called on for investigation, a numerous
body of persons entered the office in a great htustk, and amongst
them was respectable-looking young woman, who appeared in cots.
siderable agitation. She was supported by two or three gentlemen,
who addressed the sitting Magistrate, M. Swabcy, Esq. describing
that she had been given into custody a short time before by Colonel
Bunbury, on a cliDge of felony, fur which there was not the
slightest ground.
The constable who brought the young woman in custody to the
office, said that Colonel Bunbury had insisted on his apprehending
her on a charge of felony. Ile (the esnstable) WWI not aware of the
circumstances attending the charge, but from the peremptory man.
nor in which the Colonel iseisted on his taking her a prisoner, he
considered it was his duty.
The Magistrate called upon the complainant to produce his
witnesses, and substantiate the charge upon which lie had given
the young Iranian into custody.
Colonel !Sunbury stood forward and stated, that the prisoner hal
formerly been in his service. She had left it some time ago, and
soon after her departure, a table-cloth was missing, which he had
since ascertained, beyond all doubt, was stolen by her.
Magistrate—Where are your witnesses to support the charge ?
Colonel Bunbury—l have none at present in Court. In fact, I
have only seen the girl within this last quarter of an hour, in the
neighbourhood of the Sessions-borne, and bad her immediately
taken into custody.
The young woman frequently interrupted the Colonel during his
statement, declaring that there was no truth in the accusation.
One of the Gentlemen who accompanied her, a Captain in the
army, in whose service. it appeared, she was then living, expressed
great indignation at the conduct of Colonel Bunbury in alleging
such a charge against the young woman. The facts were these, the
Captain said :—The girl at the bar formerly lived as servant with
Colonel Bunbury, but had recently quitted his service in conse-
quence of the continual seer,es of quarrelling and fighting between
the Colonel and his wife. Subsequent to her leaving the situation,
several of the respectable inhabitants of Brixton (where all the
parties resided) had come to the resolution of indicting both the
Colonel and his Lady at the present Sessions as nuisances: on Re-
count of the perpetual disturbances they caused in the neighbour-
hood, and far the purpose of establishing the case, the young
woman now charged with felony was actually subprenued as one of
the witnesses on the trial. The Capt iin added, that Col. Bunbury,
aware that the person whom he had now charged with robbery was to
give important evidence agait.st him, adopted this expedient for
putting her out of the way.
The young woman here produced a subpecna, directing her to
attend the same day at the Sessions-house, for the purpose of
giving her evidence in a case wherein Colonel Bunbury was the
defendant
The Magistrate expressed his astonishment that the tirl should
have been given into custody on such a loose charge, and plainly
told Colonel Bunbury that he was not justified in the manner in
which he had proceeded towards her. There was no pretence what-
ever for detaining her.
Colonel Bunbury—My table-cloth was stolen by her.
The young woman here said, that during the time she was in the
service of Colonel !Sunbury, Mrs. Banbury's sister had sponta.
neously given her an old table-cloth, which present the Colonel now
wished to construe into an act of felony, for the purpose of pre.
venting her from attending to the subpaua with which she had been
served.
A gentlemen stepped forward, and expressed a wish to address a
few words to the Magistrate on behalf of the girl against whom such
an unfounded accusation had been brought.
Mr. SWABEY said there was no necessity for saying another word
on the subject. The girl watt discharged, and there was no pretence
whatever for keeping her in custody.
The gentlemen who accompinied the young woman, whose name
is Mary Constable, intimated their determination of procuring re-
dress for her, in consequence of the injury she had sustained at the
hands of her late master. _ _

The Magistrate, addreaeing the accused, directed her to proceed
immediately to the Sessions-house, Lind attend to the subixena
which had been served upon her; and if she was fearful of 3"V
takefurther impediment, he should despatch an officer with her, to tae
care she should not be insulted.

The gentlemen who accompanied her thanked the Magistrate,
saying there was no necessity for the presence of an officer; they
would protect her to the Sessions-house. Two of them then offered
their arms as her escort, and they left the office together.
The Colonel appeared much disappointed that the girl against
whom lie made such a charge was 00t remanded.