The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-13 00:00:00

• OXFORD CIRCUIT.

GLOUCESTER ASSIZES.

SEDUCTION IN LOW Ult.
Y ARLINGTON N. GARRISON.
This was out adios brought by the Plaintilt
• against the Defendant, for it compensution in da-
mages for the-reductiois of his daughter, and the
loss of her services.
Nlr. Tetmrots stilted the declaration.
Nis. JERVIS. 111 detailing the circumstances of
the rase to tlw Jure, obrerv,.l, that the who
tilled a very humble situation in life, sought to re-
deepen c pesteistioa from the Defendant for se.
diming and debauching his slaughter. Hie 'NW*.
hell, however, did uut, thank (3ad, in this country,
debar hiss from appealing to those laws for protect.
tine %Inch the Defendant had so grossly violated.
'The Platistal was, a carpenter living at Wies..licoinb
in this comity, and the Defendant was in a nye.
nor situutiou of life—he was a brazier, seed in the
possession of considerable property. The young
woman was only twenty years of age, and load,
much as it was to be lamented, been the object of
the Defetsdant's illicit desires (our years before he
could accomplish that purpose which stow resider.
rd him I ble to the proceedings of a Court of
Justice. He had presented himself to the young
woman in the character of a lover; but his visits
were disapproved of by the Plaintiff, for he au a
• morel maii ; and the Jury would not wonder at
his bring sedulous in the care and protection of
Ins child, when he should tell them that she wets
the vole effspritig that bad crowned her parents'
love. In order to avoid the importunities of the
Defendant. she was removed into the service of a
family at Cheltenham. Still, however, the 1)e-
-.. letidant pursued her—not pea-woolly, but by Ist.
' • ."4".•°"ters of a must extraurdiusry nature ; which al.
though they were not very remarkable for elegance
of diction, yet they breathed threoughout a straits
of affectionate sentiment, calculated to impose
upon the credulous mind cf this uefortunate young
woman. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to
read the following letter
Wineheemb, Oct. 10, IRIS.
" MT Draft GIRL—May I take Ow libi sty of writing to
yaw su my life-time, to inquire what I have dune to you, to
deserve such litateuent as you gave me I was informed by
your mother that you se me in Cheltenham, aud your spirit
would nut let you speak to me ; but W I had seen you, I
know I should hareffew to your atom Now do, my dear girl,
sissy whether it is ever sour wish tree to see me again or
out ; if not, I will loser intrude tot your goodness : but pray
have some little confide/Thou, sod do not Irl one die at
your fret. You know yocr promise, and prey answer this by
,tours--say whether I shall come and jack you urer—or
say any nape that you waist, sad I will get it for you, if
money can buy it fur you.
" My Dear Lee, pray* let SW rasp yeas once store he my
ems, for I think I se you and I could wish to Atingle that
ruse" cluck sure ; but bow can I messy comfort row you
are at a dimamer?—.Pray my Love look is the Glass and see if
thy dies k is 40 pale sad was—if be is, whet I Set biro, I
shall drop at your fie% Make baste home, for on comfort
shall I se till you return--su au snore from your ever
'afar ism/e and sinew,' Lover truly for ever.
--I shall not men my name, or you will Ea Pose me."
Miss viirdnizoiss, t beherbain, Gloster Shire."
Souse of the passages of this curious epirle, as
might have been expected, excited much laughter
its Court.
The D, fend:int, observed the Learned Counsel,
cmitinued in this pseitienote mono until the young
WOllllll renamed to her father's hours., where it
would be proved, that in M:ay, 1916, she became
}Heitman". WWI Was shortly afterwards delivered of
it 078141 ; and when the circumstances should be
• fairly late' heron. the Jury in evitleisce, they could I
enters ilt tau doubt but he had succeeded in Isis suit,
in coon (police of his repeated nnportunities. It
would lw tiresomely fur the maintenance of the pre-
setrent uetion, that she shou:d be proved to have
dour the business era servant its her f.ther's family,
tit tbe time she was seduced, and that would be
-roll:rt.:Jen*, as it would be sliewn that she had
quitted the faintly al Cheltenham a long time br-
iers-. With respect to the damages, they were not
to he coineensued by the minty which the unhap-
py ptrent had been obliged to expend in the lying-in
of lies daughter. But, in estimating, the damages,
the Jury were to ree what the winnided feelings /if
fond parent would be tit the loss of the shudder,
reputation, and limsour of his child.
Leah Varlitsgtois was then called into the witness.
box, and exensisied by Mr. Taunton :—She is
an extremely iuteresting gii I, of most healthy and
prepossessing appeurience, and gave the following
evidence aids mud' becoming mid tonophirti.
cued modesty :-1 ant the daughter of the Pl..ins
tiff ; lie lives tu Winclicomb. I have known the
Deft-orient about four years. I had known a little
of hiin before that period; my intimate acquaintance
commenced with him by his sending me letters,
and pa) tug visits to me. My father was rend-
mg at the Brook-house. k eared to forbid the De-
-1 fend:keit the house, but he came afterwards; and
when I f d that he persisted in coming, leun-
.
municated the circumstance to say father, sad
he wished me not to coistinue to keep his company.
After my father bad communicated this to me,
1 requested the Defendant not to come again. but
he said he would come its spite of any body ; l told
him I %klied him so keep f the hotter, and
afterwards lucked him out from it. This was three
years ago last summer. Alter this I went to Chel-
tenham to service, and lived there near upon a
your ; it was as much as three yeurs since; I quit.
se:l Cheltenham about ■ th after Christmas.-
1 came home and went again to Chelteuliain, and
emitiliewil there half a year. Up to the time of
my going to Cheli. iilitisi, the Defendant visited
tile. I went to tilritt.lll,llll as a servant ; while I
was there, lie wrote letters ter we, but I never saw
I but thrice there; I Met I there accident.
ally, and dossed out of his way, and did not speak
to him ; I met host again accidentally, and then 1
slid not speak to hint ; 1 Lew him a third time in
the street—this was sit accidental meeting also.—
Ile asked me if 1 would gu home? and 1 told bins
I would not, as I likeil service better. He said,
if 1 would go home, he would meet me any where
I would appoint. I told hint I could not go home
lived. It was not long before l returned home ;
the people with whom 1 lived being French, 1
did nut like to stay with then'. After that 1
heard ef another place, but the Defendant said
he wondered that I wanted to go to service, as
lie niteraled to marry me; he said this snore than
oisi•e, end I told my father of it, but he wished me
to go to service. l told my father what the Di.
• fendaut said Defendant said it was no USN for

me to think about service. fur 1 slwt►ld not go. Ile
told u►e lie had 1301. in the hank ; Mr. Sadler uweil
him 241. fur bu,tisess; ill et Mr. Mills was indebted
to him 101.; and a person named Jackson owed him
and that his (mowed him 70/. He said he
would collect it togetl►erWal go into business. He was
a Inman and brazier ; was an assistant to his father.
I am 21 years of age nest birth-day. The Defend.
ant is nine Or tell years older than 1 an. He occii.
&tonally did business as a Sheriff's officer, and Mr.
Sadler often vsuployed him. He several times pro-
posed to me to go to Birmingham. I told my fa.
the, that, but he did not approve of it. 1 told the
Defendant this, and be wished me to go without
my father's permiasiow, and desired me to take my
clothes out in the eveni►►g when it was dark. I re-
fused this each time he made the proposal. Ile
said when he got to Birmingham he would buy the
ring and marry me. My father took a turnpike in
May twelvemonth, anti the Defendant continued
to visit me and to repeat his proposals. biome of
my father's furniture was kept at Brook House,
and we somstinus met there, but ►ray father and
mother had no opportunity of knowing that we met
there upon these occasions, and in conseqce?ice of
isonsething.th,:t occurred there. 1 became with child.
We had two meetings before this. I afterwards ex-
pressed my fears that it would come to my ;parents'
ears, and the Defendant told we never to mind, as
be would marry me as soon as he could make it
convenient. the May following I was brought
to bed. Before this, 1 had done my father's do-
mestic business as a servant—he kept no other per.
son. After I had told • the Defendant that I was
with► child, lie advised me so take some stuff. We
met iii the Abbey one Sunday evening, and he de-
sired me to stop a few usiuutes, as he wanted to go
home to fetch---

Mr. Justice PARK here observed to Mr. Jervis,
to take care how he proceeded, urstinig this
evidence he might be treading upon dangerous
ground—he thought they had not better go into
any evidence upon which au indictment could here-
after be founded.
Mr. Jeavi stated to his Lordship. that it would
not amount to u felony, suit lie apprehended that
as far as a misdemeanor went, the evidence could
be euterei into with safety ; if they ►hewed that
there was au endeavour to utlininister any thing cal-
culated to 'procure an abortion.
Mr. Justice PAKK-." That is now In offence
of a capital nature, you know."
Mr. JEIVIS—" Then we shall abstain from go-
Mg into that evidence, but there is somethine, worse
behind."

Witness continued —" My father became we-
quinuttd with my situation. but the Defendant
bade me not to !Hind my tidier or lumber. My
rather Mud the Defendant had some conversation

afterwatilo. Ile asked my father, " What was the
matter ?" sod he replied, Matter enough."—
Defendant told him not to mind or make bimcelf
uneasy, as he would marry me in the November
following, and he chewed toy father the money
i.e bail. My father and, he hoped the Defendant
would marry me before he brought toe to any more
shame awl disgrace. My father said, he would
give me 40/. and he 1184 two fat pigs in the stye,
nod he would give him one of them.—(Lartgliter.)
—Def. inlaid said he did not want money ; he want-
ed nothi•p; but tae, and if any father felt uneasy
lie would hires room for me, hut any father would
Out consent to that. Defrinlaut wished me to go
to his 'islet's, in London, but my father did wit
approve of that. I laid in et the Brook-house,
sod my father paid the expenses ; he also main-
tained the child for about 2l weeks. After I had
lean in the Defendant never came to me, but mid
we the following letter, which was in his own hand-
writing. It wus put in and read lay Mr. Williams,
the associate

" Wine!womb, Oct 201, 1818.

- - - -
31y DEAR GIRL—I received your afecinate letter, and
ham stoney you have any sicasion to write till gerbil SUltierkt,
is which you states the trouble you sec and the hardship you
undergo. But my dear put this question to yourself, is it
not threw a fruit father ? %%by should be dispise me as he
du' or why sbueld be use you ill threw twin with me, and
altos your poor mother' My dear, I feel as much fur you as
ever you can feel fur yourself. You moon 'hook that it was
very hard for me to say that I Inver would be with you again,
but you must know that it was for your good, and to avoid
your being used ill threw me ; fur as I have told you, 1 have
seen enough of his pashous, though be ',ever shooed them
to me ; but I had rasher he had, than used you ill after I was
vine, which I ham sure he have done times enough. My
dear girl, you seem to thick that I shall tint continue your
frieud.—lint since he have done as he have, he shall find
that I will be as °thwart' as him. But hies and his brother
Hoary, and Jiney, are ready to poison me ; but I will put
it out of their power to Burt me, ray dear, though all they
are trying to lager me all as they can, yt t I will always do
soy thing in my power fur you or your mother ; but ant fur
condor down to your house, I nevei will se king as there is a
slat epos the roof of that house again, fur the other night
sports gave Mt the sirk of bring there. My dear, I will nut
say ihet I *ever will be • ith you ageism, hut this I will say,
that I
again, for I can ace plain, that when you Pre with roc, it
gives Pain to your father, sod his mother, and sister-in-law;
ao I will a dose, though no person w iii. you Belit•r thee I do,
or ever shall. But I have been used ill, ---, though I
do sot blame you, Miss Yardington ; you seem to cast some
little Refeekshise ow me is youis. Yoe soy that you think
I hems got souse other thing is vire, But I beg your per-
due, I have been to deeply Ingaged with you!. ! to think of
any one thing else or any other My Dear—you know that I
would have dune any thing in the world for you ur your
parents; bat as things have been as they have, I will and
must suffer the law far what I have dose ; But my dear Girl
I will always Love you and do any thing fur you ; for you
are to Be pityed instead of Blamed sod used ill, as you have
been. But from this hour fare well all girls fur nee, fur I
have pretty well got the sick. My Dear, it is not you I dis-
like, But I dislike the lineage, fur you know I would do any
thing in the outlet to serve. So I remain your ever trot and
afreiliate lover nutty fur ever.
" BROKEN HARTED."
"To Miss 1.. Yardintom, Wieclecomb."

Mr. JAILVIs wow stated to the Court awl Jury,
that there were iu the whole seven of those extra-
ordinary letters; but he shuul.l only trouble his
Lordship awl the Jury with one other.
It was handed in and read :

" {tinelintmh, Nu,. 1, 1615,

My ever afreinale 01r1,-.—ln answer to yours I Write
to Say, that in your's I thought to have Ind some little com-
fort, Hut italesil of that of which you Acute ine of. I ham
as buena as • Child, in which is flAttersty and deceit. I
hair no Such thing as that dwells in My Brest; I think you
Say in Yours that you See Me On the Same Side the Streit
its you Was ars, you ought to be A.limni'd to Say So: du you
think that I Hans One of that Sort ? if you do, you arc
very Much Mistakes oil Me • for, My Girl, you know if
ETU' More Could See your lyrsr Ever Seca lips, I Shedd
Sy to Grasp you lu My /Islip., but I leer I Nevi, Shall
Again, As it is so long 11l Chi istmas--how Can I Writ tit
Own ? if I Can Writ til then, I Make it (het, You &mu to
!ay nt your., that if it bad ktecu Susie Wrath that I hail

Met in Click's. that i Should have /Woken to them,
but I Bans &mixed at you fur Sufereing your Pea to
Write Such Words, fur you Brow that there is we Out
Liveing As I Should. So Soon Speak to As Your
Self : it Seems Altho' you Wisli'd to Distress Me With
your Letter rather than we Me Ease. You Say you
Wonder at My out being Married—Why do you Pen gurb
Words' you say I thick that I have 114) Love for you Or
Would out be wills Su Massy. What bare I done to Deserve
Suck • Charitur ? Shute I Hans the Worst of Boys. Nuw
you Mind Ido not Aeus• you of any thing; I think you
Ought to have snug consideration ; I think yea Said When
I Cause to Cbeltus. I Wes to Callon you, I Cold kin Make
a Jamey the Purpose, but I Cannot Came to your Mailers.
I Waist to Se the Some Where that I Could &toggle your
Chest Dore More: they tell Me that it is Blooming nod red:
what Can Idu Se you to Unfold my Sesstisnesets? I Can
Ardley hold My Pen to Write 0 LORD. If you think me
Worthy of Au Answer, Write Me a Letter with • little feel-
ing, and Pity My Sitoatied. I bail forgot, My Dear Girl,
I feel My Self Very Much Oblied to you for your kind Pre-
sent, sod I hope Some time 1 shall have it in My Power to
return the favour—Excuse the Scribble. I Must Conclude
With My Sensase lows and %Yell Wishes, frets your Ever
hfccinate Lover,

-
u S_ CE G—.—N.
" You naiad 1 limed heraway, and &Hied leer at the fight,
when She sedelowl fight My Dear."
Misr nth:lton cress-examined by Mr. DAUNCEY.

1 had frequently written to the Defendant—the
present I sent him was a bit of ribbasid. He sent
the first letter by a man named Penton, who is
dead, and 1 used to write to him by the same con-
veyance. 1 cannot tell when lie first became inti.
unite with oar, but 1 am sure it was not four years
ago. He never had intimacy with me before 1
went to Cheltenham; it was nearly half a year after
had quitted Cheltenham; I frequently used to
meet I in the Abbey. Defendant supped at
my father's house one night about Christmas ; the
Defendant brought a couple of rabbits to be dress-
ed, but my father said they should not be dressed
there; but they were dressed there, amid my father
paitouk of them. _ _

Mr. Dan NC EY—So he condescended to stomach
the rabbits, and to sup with the Defendant, did he?
(A laugh.)
Vitus'.—e Yes, Sir, he supped with us. When
I went out with the Defendant, I used to take the
key of she door with me. The !Magistrates made
no order for the exiiriises of the month. hut the
Defendant gave use 31. to purchase aiticles of dress
for the child.

'fins bring the case on the part of the Plaintiff,
Mr. DAUKCSY addressed the Jury in mitigation
of damages.
Mr. Justice PARK, previous to his recapitulation
of the evidence, observed to the Jury, that he did
not consider the cue one which called for damages
out of the way. At the saline time, lie con►idered
seduction to be one of the deepest injuries that
could be committed in society, lioneeee idle peo-
ple may go into Courts of Justice, and often inter-
rupt the solemn proceedings necessary tti such
'occasions, by intemperate fully and laughter He
had no hesitation in sling, in the hearing of that
very crowded Court, and he trusted it would ulti-
mately be advantageous to those present, that a se-
ducer was a very wicked character indeed. Still,
however, the Jury were nut by their verdict to
punish.
The Jury consulted for a short time, and found
a verdict for the plaiatiti—ilainages,/Vy Pounds.

.