The National Register.
London, England, 1811-09-01 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.
OMBAY, JuAt 23, 1810.

KITSON v. sTERLINC.. • •
When the cause was called on w the Recorder's Court, the
diVendant -and his wife took their seats near their Comsat
'1 he Hon. the ReeorJer, Sir betel Nlaskitits roan, intimntriS
to the defendant, the propriety of Niri. absence from
the Court ; and advised her to retire into sonle adjoining
apartment. The defendant, himself, ho),yevcr, aLldressed the
Court, and said, that he could not dispense with her :agendum's
that it was as much her can-e as his; Anti that he a; •4 requirsil
her assistance in taking notes. as he btniself was deal. The se-
quel of the case however showed that was a u ice pretext, antt
explained the reason of his reluctance to suffer her to leave hiot
for a moment..she was suffered to ,tay.
Mr. Woodhouse, fur the complainant, stated, that this was a
suit in equity, brought to se aside a bond far ito,lxorupeia,
eat:cued hy the complainant in favour of the defendant's wiff,
on the ground of its having been vx.torted from hart by fear
and without consideration.
The csomplainant and the defendant married two sisters, the
daughters of a Mr. West, of this place, the former in July, :Ira
the latter in October, 1809; from which time till the 7th of
December, the famines of the complainant and the defendant
had conitantly visited each on the kindest and most cordial

terins.
But on the 7th of December last, Mr. R. S. Kitson, the corn.
pl inanc, being in a go-down, superintending the stowing away
some bales of cotton, was surprised by Captain 5....ie. corrOlg
up to him, and charged. him withilay.ng taken unlawful lib/r.
ties with Mrs. S. previous to her marriage. Mr. Kitson having
positively denied the charge, was requested by Captain S. to
rL tire with hint to the complainant's room at the builder or to
the tavern.
lr. Kitson having refused to do this, Captain S. went SO
a neighbouring shop, and wrote the following note to Mr. Kiir.
son
Stet-7 You have taken improper and unlawful liberties with
your wife's sister, whom I no longer look on as Mrs. 8-o—.
Yf
you wi,h to *save yourself and, family from utter ruin, thrseW
yourselfon my mercy and generosity as she has done. An
mediate answer is c.enuinded by
JOHN STERLINE3.
The defendant wasted some time to finish his business, then
went to his Lther-in-law's, where he received three messeges
from ‘,terling, destritsg his attendance at the builder, and on a
negative being ret-..rned to each, Sterling went at last to the
fattier-in-law's, where he found Mr. Kitson with his wife and
mother-in-law.
The defendant's conduct on this occasion was 40 t IS
to txcite considerable alarm in the minds of Mrs. W. and Mrs.
K. He addressed himself to the complainant in menacing
I .nguage, and protesting that he would be his utter ruin, put
into his hands the follow.ng letter ;
Ste—l have already put you in possession at the charge I have
to prefer against you—if you are determined to persist in dein*•
ing the truth, forgive me if ruin falls on you and the family ; yon
arc as well aware from your own feelings as I can express in
words what the state of mine ate at this moment. lam never.
theless ready t., make a .iscritice of what has happened for the
welfare of all parties, on condition that YOU declare to me the'
truth, the whole truth, and nothing hilt the truth so help you,
God, as Madam has already done. I wait with impatience for
your written Lnswer, and request you will enter all par&tilurst
to the full extent, and the time, place, Ste. at which the lihr rtirs
took place between you and her. that I may thereby be prevesete
ed fcumtaking further proceedings, which are determined on in
case of a refusal and want of candour. I conjure you in tha
most solemn manner to be fair, open, and candid, for on. that
alone depends your fate. Place your confidence in God, and
rely on my generosity and goodness of heart; it is contrary to
my principles to dr tw down divract on yours or my own fa.
ratty. I expect your nnmediate answer.
And am, Su. J. STERLINO-
7th.December, IEO9.
Having put this letter in Mr. Kitsou's bands, he drew him
ride to a more private part of the varanda, where, by his eiri.

ancte tO a murc Yi LvaLc wok. _„ ,
dente and nivnaces he attempt.d to prevail on the compirtinant
to confess the fault • and info' med him that it eva. in vain to
deny it, as Mrs S. ha 4 confessed all. The complainant persiste4,
however, in asserting his innocence, till at length the defendant
appearing satisfied with Mr L's declarations, they returned to
.he plat .where Mrs. W. and Nil. were,when the defendant
shit handa*/)th Ike comp sinint,anti rr him to restore
the two letters he had lust Alves him, With Oa refreft
walliat, ant Ow ids** wow *wwp
/full oc;..kpao4;.