The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-02-14 00:00:00

iNTALLIGENCE.
COVRT commoN map..
Voltam, Eu. 13. j„

Before Mr. ✓ostle. DA LL AS.

GRIM. CON:

raswcts e, veti.wEs.
Thie was as action brought by. the Plaintiff.
• tilts lu 1.1 a tastuation in a Public Office, against
the befentlatti,- who was a Physician. for the minty
saa.tained by the seduction of his wife. The
damage. were laid u t 2,000/.
Mr. l'aerjeatat VAUGHAN stated the Plaintiff's
4.40 W• He said that the Defendant obtained atimis-
saws into hi. family as the 'friend sod assistant of
Ur. Itobert Owen,' of I.atiartt. into whose rum'
favour he had ingratiated himself. by an apparently
cordial apprnhation •Of his new view of society.
and an offer of his services to carry it into prac-
tical effect. This induced Mr. Ova., to pre-
v4il nn the Plaintiff, with whom he. lodged. in
Olaf lotte-st reel, Portlatol-place, to take, the De-
fendant into his house land treat him as one of his
family. The latter bring a physician. was called
to prescribe for Mrs. Francis, who was in • deft-
est, state of lieulth-a-aart he availed himself of this
opportunity, awl that afforded by the reception he
met with in the family. to siduer the wife of the
Plaintiff, and prevail on Mein elope with.
It was nece.wary that slit Plai iitf shook) have a
Verdict. before he *piffled to Flifliameut for a di-
vorce ; but Its to daffnigilettipsigh ate Ju . were
bound to iiifltet them ectserdinic to the w
rule, that he who could nonpiy ou parse should in
person. yet the Plaintiffoesild derive but little
from them, as the Dcfenchint was already confined
in prison for debt. The present action was nude. ,
fended.
the marriage of the -Plaintiff and his trireme,
them proved to have mien place at the Chard, 'of
St. Andrew's. Holborn. ou the 24th May, 1811.—
The husband twenty-five yeers'iff age,•anct his wife
twenty.
A variety of witnesses were examined, who.proted
the mutual erection that subsisted bbtween the
Plaintiff and his wife, and that the Defendant had
award himself of the weak state of Mrs. Francis's
mind, who had been ill of a typhus fever. to flatter
her illusions and to obtain an influence over 'her
feelings. It was also in evidence that the Plaintiff
had two children by his wife.
Mr. Henry Blokes was
smarried to the Aster of
the 'He latterly resided at Tonbliage
NVell., and was in town last October. when he, as
tisnal, went to 49, Charlotte-street. Portland-place.
Ile Inund the Defendant, Dr. Willes, on friendly
trim-, en inmate in the house. He understood
him to have got admission Acre as the friend and
companion. of Mr. Owei..ond one warmly em-
barked in his plans. and that lie with to remain there
while Temple chambers were letting is:. for him.
11 bile wituess was in town he ties ,ruck with the
conduct of Dr. 11 dices. Mo.. Franca, war u
very wes.k stale of health, alter Ai typhus fever : she
appeared etitiannactic 'lr. Qwens cause, said at
times seemed not 'pule wine. The base and im-
proper conduct that he attributed to the Defendant
was an evit lent intention to flatter the illusions of Mrs.
Francis, whin they evidently arose from weakness with
s view to her ultimate seduction. Witness stated his
suspicion to Mr. Francis. end the result was that
the lbefeadatit was immediately compelled to quit
the house. In the hope of bringing the lady to a
better state of 'mad. she was carried by her hum-
banal for a few data dowu to witness's house at
Tunbridge Wells, where she soon recovered. but
immediately ou her return to town she eloped with
the Defendant. U'itsieos came nµ to town about
the ileih 'of-December, and accidentally met the
Defendant and Mrs. Francis walking arm in arm
in Pimlico; lie followed them ; hod the Defendant
curried to IJnion.lall, 451. on a charge of stealing
a brooch belonging to Mr. Francis ; but the charge
was relitatissislird, because it was stated that Mrs.
F. gave it to the Dotter. Hi was afterwards
wrested for debt, and the lady forcibly carried
away from him.
It wes thra, proved that Mrs. Francis and the
Defendant lived together w man and wife fur ■
fortnight, in a house is Juitsers-street, Westmin-
ster-road.
The following extracts from letters were also pet
in in evidence :
“ My deer Aaile—This abuses oily eaves to skew She
horror I feel within; yea !_. I will repay your &manila. My
dear love, if I fatl,l will fall like Phaeton is • noble aeries!"
In another letter to a .friend, the Defendant
describes himself as " residing in the bosom of a
most attentive end offectiouitte

Mr. Alt DIIItWS, hilt in the trial, said he was on.
ospectedly instructed to .ppea► for the Defendant.
The Cova•r. after some hesitation, allowed the
!carped Counsel to pot some questions to the
brother-in-law of the l'lointitf, who admitted that
Mrs. Francis was at present natter husband's house,
where Care MU taken of her iu consequeuce of the
distracted state of her mind.

Mr. ANDREW% addressed the Jury for the De.
and urged the impossibility of his psyuag
any damages. from his distressed circumstances.
file also contended that the injury to the husband
was not le ir►epatrable when he maid take his wife
bark again under his domestic roof.
Mr.J..,tice DAL) IS charged the Jury. and said,
Skit the poverty of the offender. though uot to be
ovrolookrd. was yet uo weighty cousidendiun in n
el,- of tins kind. for he must pay in person if hr
purse. As to the charge that the wafer-
Innate liti.butial lied not abandoned the wife in her
411,1r:feted ►tate of I. but lona ordered persons
to take Cure of her, the last pennies that should
urge that in extenuation of his mime was the De.•
fending,.

The Jury. 'after five minutes conoideration, re-
turned* verdict for the Plointiff—D.nuages 5007.

Iu the Court of Kicg'. Bench, yesterday. Lend
Et.i.Ennosuctat commenced the Common Jury
paper—iit the causes tried were uninteresting.
The Court of Exchequer was occupied yesterday
oi hearing Crown Inforinanons which were nude-
fisillrol, and of no interest except to the ponies coo-
Lotto CHANC6.I.OII will sit on Toter 14y,
Ht to give Judgnients. The
Seal Ate Term will be eu Thursday next.