The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-07-25 00:00:00

tattit 3giv

ttritAMY.
Gorge Meer was indicted far Marrying Sarah
un the lit of March. 1010 ; AIIII3 Sophia
Colley, otherwise Helfer. to whom he had brew
►Harried on theZth of Feb. 1793, hieing then alive.
The prusesiviou was clerical uu at the imitative of
his brst wife.
Mr. A tt.s:T. foe the peosecu; ism, sho►tly detailed
the circuinstanoead the ease, which he described
as one of a very aggravated nature. The Pri-
soner, iu the year 1793. had married his first wife,
at* period when he was extremely poor ; by per-
severing Mil ostry, however. he had acquired a CVO.
siderable property. He followed the business, of
a coach-body-maker. In consequence of his af-
fluence/ he deieriniued to give his daughters, of
whom he had lulu, a geuteel domestic education;
he therefore selected a person whom he thought
capable.of undertaking the charge. This person
was a Miss Morris. Soon after she becaine an in-
' mate of Mr. Helfer's house, his wife perceived
that she was much neglected ; sail u separation
took place in October last; Mr. Heffer aline ing
his wife 20s. per week. In the month of March
succeeding. Mr. Helfer, haring obtained the con-
sent of Miss Morris, espoused her at the parish
church of Paddington. It was painful for him to
state it, but he *wild prove, that he brought one
of his daughters, a girl of sixteen years oforge, to
Paddingtim church, to witness his seeond mar-
riage. When it was demanded of him. why he
laid committed so foul an action. he said, that tl►e
marriage was null, not being in conformity with the
provisions of the Marriage Act ; and, heiiig a man
of a religious turn of mind, he added, "'That Fa-
ther Abraham had dune the same!" He then pro-
ceeded to call his witnesses.
Samuel Ames. parish cleat of Sr, Mary's, Beth-
nal-green, produced the registry of Prisoner's
marriage. ou the sth of Feb. 1793, to Auua Sophia
Mr. GUIINCT. for the Prisoner. here ohjected,
that the marriage was not in conformity with the
provisions of the Marriage Act ; that Act sPecilied
that the banns should he published in the true
names of the parties; here, however, a difference
existed between the name set forth in the merrieee
registry, and that which .too: on the baptismal re-
gistry. In the oue she was designated Anna, in the
other Anat.

The Ricoania held that the objection was not
good ; it mattered little whether the clergyman
had spelled the name with an aur au e the was.
man bad herself signed her name, and the identity
of the parties was then alotienecessary.
Mrs. Russell deposed, that she was present at the
first marriage, as bride's-maid ; titer name was lIIPU
Morcott. Before the Magistrate site hesitated a
little as to the identity of the Prisoner, not having
seen hint for 17 years; but now, having skived
Mm a second time, she had no doubt h was the
identical George Helfer, who was married, iii her
presence, to Anna Morin Colley. After ih. mar-
riage they went home with her to her !anther's
house, where they had a little entertaintneo..
The soother of the last witness core ohursiel her
testimony, and wieistilied the Prisoner.
Without Hammitt, pari•h clerk of P..lriim ton,
produced tke vgister of the Premite-'s marriage,
on the Ist of March, IRin, with Sarah Morris.
J. M. Finn:tall deposed, thst he attended Pflten*
er's marriage with Miss Morris ; isoner's
ter, a girl of Ili, was also prevent. When Witness
asked why he had in.•i nett a second tune. his first
lwife being alive? he send. he ;hougnit the first mar-
vine good foe nothing, and shewed the Marriage
. Act. He did not recollect his having quoted the
*maniple of Abraham on the u.sasion. When
itesener was taken ur, the first Mrs. [idler, ard
saphew, a Mr. 'I urfurd, who 14 43 the same
Midi nith Priaouer, took possession of his house
I nod liminess.
P.isoner's Counsel here offered to produce the
Baptismal Registry.
The Ricoatitat said, h► condi, not hear of such a
defence; it would go to destroy one-half the mar-
riages in the country, and private property would
out be secure. He thought this a very aggravated
Calle, as it went to bastardize foisr children, ■nd of
course to destroy the character of their mother.—
The Prisoner had gone to the altar, and told the
clergyman, calling God to witness, that there was
no impediment to his second marriage, well•know.
ing at the saute tune that there was. Whether
coosidered in a moral or religious point of view, it
was a very bad case. EVlthiltle to character had
been °dared to lwaddocril, but it was useless here;
dui Primmer was not accused of a common felony,
and no doubt email exist st- to the facts.
The dairy returned a venire% of (:orifty.
A Denim, who had been salptratid to speak to
the Prisoner's character, here Monti top, and said,
that he hail known the Prisoner's family for misty
years, and that the present unfortunate occurrence
was caused by the hest wide. lie 111114 very laconi-
cally desired to go hots► ar.d take ca►e of bit own
wife. whiab,diuslitles.. wroth) fully employ lieut.
111(;t11~ 1Y 110111 BERT.

Wilheis Kane.-httierknowiiabisiit town by the
desi.tsiatniu of !Pally Kane. was lad/ tad foe Mu-
niorisly assaulting tlii:liant Price on the King's
highway, on the nth of July,sputting him iii fear,
and toking from his persists a watch, and seven shil-
lings in silver.
Mr. IPout.st detailed the circumstances, as lien
in evidence, cud commented on them at consider-
able length.
William Price was then cello]: he stated that he
was Assistant Surveyor to the Itlethcal Board ; he
resided at No. lb. queens-place. Golden-square;
his h. other was acting Physician to the Royal Mi-
t lit.:ry Ilnivnal at Chelsea, end resided there. lie
li was accustomed, when his daily avocations were
concluded. to visit his brother. On the tith of
July, at nine *clock in the evening, he set out
from his trvlgings for Chelsea; when he arrived et
the Hospital, mit observing light in that part in-
hahtted by his Owettier, he re:invert to town: 'la
lim•iiiiii: througis Upper Eatria•strect, opposite Lower
(..wvelinr-place, about half-past ten, he met the
Pr.sonm„ who s-ealed coming from the liiiig's New
Itlarl. P'risinicr •eized him by the himiells of his
carat, violently ; snatched hit watch, and then de-
manded' all his money: he gave bin. 7 ne B'.
Urciouer Molted very hard at witneis, and slid, he
had sects him before in Parliament-street; and thew
I aide a us) t tif.inous ac‘asat.rna.—" II," said

the Pritanev, :ran do ttot petard* to behave
to one Ilte a gentleman, 11 wit have you iss the
polmr iti Irms than a neck for a detestable crime."
Prisoner then desired witness to meet hisu nest
morning in the baillt• place, anti g've him 51.
11'itness promised that he mould. Prisoner per.
tooted in his tlireahs, that if witness did not behave
to him 114 a geotkolon, he nuul.l Certainly lipped,'
against him le the clime which he had went:acted.
The witness then arid, boo threats would read hint

but little, as his character would bear the most
nute inquiry, and that hiscnimections were most re.
spectaLle ; he then told Prisoner his name and em-
ployment, and also the situation held by his
brother; which the Prisoner would not credit. He
then dragged witness by the arm into an thljnining
public house: having called fur some liquor, lie
took a candle from the bar, and examined wit-
nest's face very attentively. After having drunk
some brandy and water, he handed the glass to wit-
ness, who just tasted it : they then went out to-
gether, and witness retired home. Witness did not
meet the Prisoner next morning; but on the Wed-

nesday following, being informed that setne prisms
desired to see him at the Medical Board, lie west
. •.

down staira anti PAM the Prisoner. lle told witness

..—.. -
he had Woken his appointment. and demanded 81. :
witness said he had not got 51.: Prisoner then de-
sired witness to meet him at seven k that

evening, and to bring him that sum ; they were
teat minutes talking in the street; before parting,

.... _ ..._ _ _
he desired witness to give hint a 11. 'iota.—
The Rt.:comma objected to this evideoce being
gone into ; each Finn, so extorted. constitntuag a
fresh robbers, %Inch wan not 'petitioned its the to-

dictment.
Witness continued accordingly met Pri-
soner in the eveoing, at the end of Berkeley-street.
l'risoner took hint into Lansdown-passage, lending
from Berkeley-street to Curzon-atreet ; he said to
Witness, "Sir, have you seen the newspapers, he-
which there is en account of a number of persons
having been taken to Bow-street for • certain
crime ?" Witness answered, he had. " I do not."
said Witness," mean to take that advantage of you ;
and If you will behave like a gentleman, I
never mention your name npou such a subject.
Have you brought the 51. r- Witness said he bed,
and gave it to him. Prisoner then said lie had
pawned his watch; and told Witness he most give
him 501. to enable him to procure his discharge
from the Guards, from which be was a deserter.
Witness promised to meet him next evening. and
to give him 501. They then parted. Witness then
determined to communicate with his brother, Dr.
Price, which he immediately did ; and a plan wu.
laid for Prisoner's eppreliension. Hi. brother hitting
procured two active officers of Marlborough-street
office, made them put their initials on a 11. note,
which he and witness had previously marked. On
the evening of Thursday they proceeded, at a little
distance from each other, to Berkeley-street. They
met the Prisoner, ve hu said "Sir. you will hardly know
me, 1 sl, lease, I inn so very await." Prisoner was
much betterdreased than usual. He then took wit-
ness into. Lanadown-pass igv, tient thus addressed him:
" Sir. lam a Geallesum, and wean to behave to
you as such: twee have you beard, this morning,
that a certain Noble Lord (whose mime lie men-
tioned) has been obli,,,ied to pay a thousand pounds
for concealment ?" Witness said he had not. "Give
me," a-onboard Prisoner, " tool. end I never will
trouble you again; thet sum will enable me to re-
turn to lay own country. where I have as estate .1"
Witness said, the sum was extreme!) beige, and he
should not be able to pay it. Prisoner then de-
manded .201. and the remainder on the following
rutting. ‘Vitness told him lie lied got but 31, and
put 11,10 hi. hald the note which tied heart previumily
mar keel. The 4 liti-ers then came up and appre-
hended him. Witness never received his watch nor
any pelt of his money fi.nn the Prisoner. Witness
repeatedly atateit.iii the coarse of his evidence# that
lie had never seen the Prisoner before the tight of
the bah instant ; that at each interview, he was in
the ittiurea terror ; and that horror and disgust, at
the dreadful charge ma le agrinst him, prevented
him from disrio.ing his satiation at first. De was
extremely weik, haviwg but just recovered from a
severe fit of illness.
Witness having tiiiished his evidence, the Prisoner
asked him a number of filthy and disgusting tines-
bons ; which were answered in the negative.
Craig and Foe, the Officers, described the nopre.
hension of the Prisoner on the tdth of July. Whets
Prisoner was asked what lie had done with Mr.
Pike's watch, he antrwrred. thin lie hid given it to
him the preceding night ; and. whin be observed
Foy, •• .1h ! Mr. Foy," said lie. "this is a bad
job !" He slid he lived in St. Giles's, but amtht
not tell the teirtienlar house. as he chiasged his
lodgings every night. It was at length discovered,
however, drat he loved ileac the Broadway, WP6I•
minder. and the house as. searched for the pur-
pose of discover:llg Mr. Price's watch, but the
'Climb was ineffectual.
Dr. John Price, brother to the first witness, cot-
roberated his testimony, so far so kit was cau-
tioned.

The Prisoner. in his defence, aehnowledged hav-
ing received the property, hut declared it woo given
se presents. He then tell a diet/listing. Impro-
bable, and totally uncorroborated story, of the same
deserigAion as his question..
The Recommit stated the evidence, pointed out
the law of the case. and dwelt forcibly on the hor-
rid nature of the crime.
The Jury immediately returned a verdict
Gaiffy.

Saturday atartiong. a fire broke out in the house
of Mr. SToltel. printer, Chelmsford, which, to-
gether with two adjoining houses, were entirely de-
stroyed.
Monday a shocking accident happened at the
Corner of Queen-sireet, next to Drury-lane. A cart
was to , the corner loaded with an immense
quantity of li ig pave.itent stone% the sides of the
raft cosisisting only of strong upright stakes, with-
' out any boards. By a sudden jolt the stones were
I shaken againA On be uprights, which broke, sod
down cause the stones with a terrible crash, over-
turning the cart at the vain, time. Colo ttttt tautly.
a man was pa-sing at the time with a truck, and
part of the stones falling upon him, he was terribly
bruised, and some °Nita ribs broken. He was jar
ineilintely taken to an llospi• ill. nab bet faint hopes
of maven*. The Una was brukeu to pima.