The National Register.
London, England, 1821-07-23 00:00:00

Ldlf REPORT.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JULY 18.
"REACH OP PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
HILLIER W. DAVIS.
Mr. Sergeant Pell stated, that this was an action to
recover a compensation in damages for breach of p 'se
of marriage. The plaintiff was Miss Sarah Eliza -Hillier,
and the defendant an innkeeper at Eaton, near Windsor.
The parties were nearly of the same age, Miss Hillier
being 22, and the defendant 21 —The defendant became
acquainted with the plaintiff about three or tour years
ago, and he continued his acquaintance down to the 25th
of September last. The learned Sergeant read the fol-
lowing letters, which passed between the parties:—
" Eaton, Sept. 14, 1820.
"My dearest Eliza,-1 should hate wrote before, hut
waited to announce the arrival of Miss Payne at the Star
and Garter. Nothing has passed sinee 1 saw you in
London. 1 have not said any thing to my another yet,
as we have had a riff; but the first opportunity 1 will
mention it to her. The house seems to want every thing.
My friends inquire after you, and want to know when
you are to Ire at Eaton. 1 have bought a nice horse to
bring you to Eaton."
The above was addressed to Mrs. French, at Mrs.
Peaches, 90, Manumilace, Walworth, and the learned
Sergeant explained that circumstance, by saying the lady
had lived with a Mr. French, and therefore was called
Mrs. French. The circumstance was known to the de-
fendant, w Ito waived all objections, cony.' nevi! of thorough
retorination ill the lady, and that site would make him
happy as Isis wife.
'I lie next letter was dated Sept. 22, 1820, and the jury
would find the defendant expressed himself in warmer
terms:—

Aly dearest girl,-1 will take the opportunity of being
wish von on Tuesday next. Yost will :wage it so, that
we may return to Eaton that night, as I cannot stay from
business. The College boys are come back, and want to
know where my wife is. 1 have been very low in spirits
these three days. I shall not say more now, as it will he
but short before I see yon. I will drive up toy gig, and
be with you at breakfast."
" Aly dear girl,—l received your letter, and write
to say I have waited a long while, and 1 believe I shall
feel every happiness train my desire to be married, as I
shall then be m postession of a prudent wile. if it will
suit you, dear girl, I will come to town October the 3d,
as Ido not like to be married at the hind of a week. I
have the pleasure to say, I ant very prosperous in busi-
ness. and I look forward to be blessed and happy with
you, my dear. So adieu, my dear little girl."
The defendant fixed the time Miss Hillier was to
conic to Eaton. Her clothes were conv,yecl tot his
house, and after all lie thought it proper to break off the
bargain, and the question was, whether he ought to be
perinitted to rescind Ins promise without paying a com-
pensation in damages. He understood the defence war
to be that the plaintiff was a kept woman. If Miss
Hillier had imposed on the defendant, he was ready to
admit the smallest damages would be sufficient. it was
not however such a case. He should prove that the de-
fendant well knew the situation of the plaintiff. He
knew she had been living under the protection ola gen-
tleman, and expressed himself desirous of being united
to her. She had withdrawn herself from that gentleman
in consequence of the defendant's promise. That cir-
cumstance occasioned no trivial loss. She had expended
fool. in wedding dresses, which the Jury would doubt-
less consider in their damages.
Mrs. Peach, a widow, residing in Manor-place, %Val-
worth, stated, that the plaintiff came to live iu her house.
The defendant kept the George Inn, at Eaton. The
plaintiff was a beautiful young woman most refined
and delicate in her manners. The defendant visited her
in the course of the last summer, at Walveurih. lit Sep-
tember the plaintiff sent her clothes, and prepared to
remove to EMI), to be married. Site heard the plain-
tiff say, the domes she made for the marriage cost 1001.
On her cross-examination, by Sergeant Vaughan, she
said she did not know whether the dclemlaut was a
minor. The house he kept at Eaton was highly res-
pectable.
Leach, a carrier, proved that he took Miss Hillier's
clothes to Eaton. The defendant said, " tell the lady 1
am well, and I shall be its town in a few days." '1 he
letters were then read.

Sergeant Vaughan addressed the Jury. Ile did not
wish to say any thing unfavourable of ladies, but he was
obliged to ask the July to exercise their good sense
order to discover whether this was not a trap set by
beauty to ensnare his client. Miss Eliza Hillier having
been in the arms of a gentleman named French, seven
years, became desirous of forming inatriumuy, and she
found the defendant, who was a very young man, ht for
a husband.

Chief Justice Dallas held thst a promise of marriage
made by a man ma woman who had been kept by ano-
ther Mall was binding, it vided the party %vas fairly ap-
Irised of the circumstance before he made the promise.
le kit LIIC Jury to say What damages ought to be givvii
under the circumstances of this case.

The Jury, after some deliberation, found a verdict for
the plaintiti, ilatuagis 301. costs 40s.

I)rcadjit/.9ccideni.—Thorstlay, as Mr. Bell, a master
brick er, and two labourers were erecting a scaliold to
the hack flout of a house, Nu. 30, in Pim-land-street,
the ledger which soppoited it, from being rotten, Siap-
ped in two, and the three tinfoittinate men were precu•
',hated to the ground, a del•th of about 40 feet. Mr.
Bell had one of his legs broken, the hones protruding
through lbs sibeking, and otherwise Lrensed over; lie
was taken tip insensible and carried home on a shinier.
—1 he two ottlintunate labourers, one of whom has a
woe and four children. had each several bones broken.
They were taken up covered with blood and bruises,
.ipparently in a lifeless slate, and carried 10 the Middle-
sex.tio.pital, where they remain without the smallest
hope of tecut•ery.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS.

FRIDAY, JULY 20.—The Judges did not sit to-day.
The Common Sergeant did not appear on the Bench until
past I I o'clock.
Thomas Wellman, aged IS, and Martha IVelman, aged
IT, brothee and sister, were indicted for stealing in the
dwelling-house of George Alexander, 13SI. in Bank-notes,
the property of William Rae.
Mr. Rae is a dealer in jewellery, and in June last was a
lodger in the house of Mr. Alexander, at Islington. Mrs.
A. being confined to a bed of sickness, the female pH.
sailer was hired as an extra servant, and iu that capacity
had access to Mr. Rae's apartments. On a Monday Mr.
R. deposited 1331. in Bank notes in ■ small desk in his
bed-room, and on the following day, on opening his desk,
he found that the whole of his money was gone. The lock
bad no appearance of force, and utast therefore have
been opened with a false key. The servants were all
searched, and taken before a magistrate, where, however,
nothing could be proved to affect any of them, and they
were discharged.
Mr. Rae, however, was active in his inquiries, and he
learned that T. Welman had been two or three times to
see his sister, and 111111 been seen conversing with her at
the door, but not inside the house. He then endeavoured
to find the male prisoner, and ascertained that he had ab-
scinided from his house on the day of the robbery. He
also learned, that the female prisoner had endeavoured to
persuade a woman, a friend of her's, to take charge of a
key, and on her refusing, she threw it away. Having
taken the precaution to slop paymeut of the notes at the
Bank, one of them, for 131. was traced ill a few days to a
tradesman in Holborn, to w limn it had been paid by T.
Welman on the very day of the robbery, in payment fur
wearing apparel. After a long search a Police officer
apprehended the male prisoner on the Chatham coach.—
lie was very smartly dressed, and had a large quantity of
doilies iu his trunks. His sister wag then also given in
charge.
The prisoners merely declared that they were innocent.
The Common Sergeant, in his charge to the Jury, ex-
pressed his doubts whether the evidence was sufficient to
convict the male prisoner as a principal, lie never having
been seen in the house ; and the jury would acquit I
unless they should be of opinion that he was standing at
the door at the time of the robbery, and had a knowledge
that it was shunt to be committed.

The Jury reiireJ for upwards of an hour, and returned
a verdict, finding both the prisoners Not Guilty.

'I lac Couttoon-Serjeant—Prisouers, you have had a very
met riful Jury indeed, and ought to be extremely thaukfnl
for your escape, for had the verdict been otherwise. I
have no doubt that the law Mould have taken Its fell
course.