The Sun.
London, England, 1830-10-27 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, O(.T. 27.

Mr. George Seaman, a gentleman of fortune,
residing at Enfield, was indicted for assaulting
Elizabeth, the wife of John Stiles, with intent to
ravish her.

The proeecutrix, a woman of moderately good
appearance, and apparently above 30 years old, de-
posed, that she lives now at Chesbunt, but in
August last was living with her husband at Etifield.
On the 20th of that month Mr. Seaman came into
her bowie. it was early in the efternotm. She did
not see him till he was dose upon her, when he,
caught hold of her with his right arm, and fixed her
against a large chest in the room. He had not been
in the practice of coming to the house previously.
All this took place immediately on his coming in,
and without saying a word to her. .She begged of
Itim to let her go, but he still kept his bold, and
said he would give her a sovereign to five sovereigns
if she would be for his purpose. Those were the
first words he said to her, She did not understand
what they meant. She again begged him to let her
go, and threatened to tell her husband when he
came home. lie undid his trousers and passed his
left hand up her clothes. All this while he was
still holding,her, tight with 11.!S right hand. He isid
if she would not tell her husband, he would always
.supply her with plenty of money. She refused to
promise, and begged him to let her go, as she was
very ill. He then left her, and went away through
the garden; but as he went, turned his head round,
and --- her for a bitch, and said he would serve
her mit. She went out soon Ayr to the cottage of
Mrs. &Ott, 4110 lived about , twenty rods distance,
and told her what lied happened.
Cross-examined by Mr.Abouinua--Is a lawfully
married woman. She has been married twice. The
last time was at Norwood church. She had three
children by her first marriage, She could nOt
dissolve" how many she had before being Married

at all. Peing bid by the Chairman she must 0' tr-,
awer, she admitted having had a child prior to her
first marriage, and while she was living at Lewis.
ham. Her present husband was a labouring man, in
tire employ of Mr. Seaman at the time she says he
committed the attack upon her. The house they
occupied belonged to Mr. Seaman, in fact it sva,.:
the lodge of that gentleman's estate. He had giver,
them permission to occupy it. She felt very ill,
and could answer no more questions. She did not
know her husband had notice to quit the lodge five
days previous to the 26th of August. She had
Token the truth; and could answer no more ques.
Hons. Site never ran in the direction of Mr. Sea-
ma►n's house screaming. She did run screaming,
(rut it was not murder.

Mr. ADOLPHUS—Pray did you scream while Mr.
Seaman was treating you in the manner you say ?
The a fitness made no answer.

The question was repeated, end the CHAIRMAN
told her she must answer, but she notwithstanding
persisted in remaining silent, as she did likewise to
several subsequent questions.
The CHAIRMAN addressed the Counsel, and re-
commended him to let her go down; indeed, it was
evident that the Court and Jury had. for some time
past been satiofied that the charge was base and un-
founded.

The Jury said it was quite unnecessary to cal
any witnesses.

Mr. Amultus said he would rather they should
be heard.

Mrs. Atkins was then called—She deposed that
she and her husband were rtaying on a visit with
Mr. Seaman.. About three o clock on the afternoon
in question she was ivulking with Mr. Seaman to
meet her husband, who had been absent from the
previous day, and who was expected to return about
that hour. As they reached the lodge•gate they
saw her husband approaching, and Mr. Seaman pro-
posed that she should wait where she was till her
husband came up, and he would pass into the lodge
and see about some repairs he had ordered to be
done. She was then standing- within three yards of
the cottage, and quite in view of its door, which was
open. Mrs Seaman returned to her within three
minutes. The doer had continued open all the
while. She heard no scream or noise of any kind,
nor was there any change in the appearance or man-
ner of Mr. Seaman on his rejoining her. Her hus-
band had previously come up.
Mr. Atkins was then called, but the Jury and
Court expressed a strong opinion of the inutility of
hearing any more evidence in a case in which the
vindication was already complete, and a verdict ac-
quitting Mr. Seaman was instantly returned.
Mr. Seaman, with some warmth of feeling, ex-
pressed his regret that he had not been allowed
more fully to establish the infamy of the prosecu-
trix, and vindicate his own innocence. They would
then have seen that he had been the victim of a tnost
gross conspiracy.
Mr. BODKIN advised him to indict the woman.
Mr. Seaman then left the Court, surrounded end
congratulated by numerous friends.
Mr. Henry Hastings was indicted for assaulting
Mr. John Wutts.
The prosecutor deposed that he was formerly
music-master, but was now living retired. On the
30th of August he was in his bed-room, about ten
o'clock at night, in the act of undressing, when the
door was suddenly forced open, and the defendant
rushed in and struck him most violently. He could
not tell of any reason for such conduct, as he was
on rather friendly terms with the defendant.
Defendant—Did not I tell you, you —, that
it was !remise you had taken liberties with my
daughter ? Prosecutor—lt was a shame of you to
suppose than an old man like me, 71 years old, would
take liberties with such a child as your daughter.
Mr. PRENDERGAST, in reply, admitted he could
not justify the as-ault, but for the purpose of show-
ing that the defendant laboured under an impression
that the plaintiff had attempted to injure bun in a
way naturally calculated to excite a father's feelings,
called the daughter, who deposed that Mr. Watts
had called at the house in the afternoon' and made
her a present of some fruit, and before leaving had
squeezed her hand, and putting his arm round her
neck, " saluted her." He did nothing more. On
the father's coming home in the evening, she told
him what hod tuken place, and he instantly left her
to go to Mr. Watts's house.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the defendant was
evidently a man of quick feelings, and likely to be
easily excited, but still his tnisupprehension of a
matter was no reason why he should go and vio-
lently assault a person,
The Jury found him guilty.
The CHAIRMAN a ked the plaintiff whether,
tinder all the circumstances, he should wish to press
for a severe judgment.
The plaintiff said be would take none of his
money himself, hut he should certainly wish him to
be punished by being made to pay a handsome sum
to a public charity.
The CHAIRMAN then sentenced the defendant to
pay a tine of 10/. to the King.