The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-14 00:00:00

AN INDIGNANT PARENT.

At the Guildhall Police Court yesterday Mr.
Alfred Edward Pountney, described as a clerk in
the post office at Ely, was summoned before Alder-
man Hale for having, on the 19th of August last,
committed wilful and corrupt perjury in an affidavit
made before one of the surrogates in Doctors'-com-
mons, for the purpose of obtaining a licence for the
solemnisation of matrimony between himself and
Miss Elizabeth Evans Cropley without the consent
of her father.

Mr. Marshall (of Ely) conducted the prosecution;
and Mr. Poland, instructed by Mr. G. S. Hall, soli-
citor (of Ely), appeared for the defence.
The affidavit was read, and among other things
it recited that " Elizabeth Evans Cropley was of the
age of 21 years and upwards," and that the defen-
dant had had his usual place of abode within the
parish of St. Bride, Fleet-street, for the space of 15
days preceding the application for the licence.
These statements formed the allegations of perjury.
Mr. William Hatch Cropley, a farmer of Witch-
ford, in the Isle of Ely, was then called, and said—
The defendant's wife is my daughter. She was born,
I think, on or about the 18th of July, 1845. In
consequence of certain information which reached
me in August last, I called on defendant's father,
and in the defendant's presence told him that I
understood a marriage between defendant and my
daughter was contemplated, that she was only 18
years old, and that I objected to it.
Cross-examined—My daughter has lived with
her grandmother. I never heard that she approved
the match. I believe the defendant and my daugh-
ter are still living with the grandmother, who
brought my daughter up and educated her. The
grandmother always denied all knowledge of the
defendant being acquainted with my daughter, and
told me that she did not lend them the money to
come to London and get married.
Alderman Hale—This is a very peculiar case.
The defendant seems a very respectable young man,
and, the marriage having taken place, I would ask
if the present proceedings would make matters
better for either party. Although the care of
the young lady has devolved upon the grandmother
for the last 14 years, during which period the pro-
secutor does not appear to have acted the part of a
parent towards her, I can yet feel for the father,
whose authority has been set at nought, and I there-
fore speak as a father when I suggest an amicable
arrangement of these family differences.
Mr. Poland said—l appeal to Mr. Cropley, now
that he has vindicated the law by bringing this
matter forward as he has done, not to utterly ruin
the defendant's prospects in life, and destroy his
daughter's happiness by sending her husband, to
whom she is much attached, to prison. They have
done wrong in marrying against his wishes, but
will it not be better for all if he now withdraws
from these unfortunate proceedings ?
Mr. Marshall—l must vindicate the charge against
my client of neglecting his duties as a parent to his
daughter. The grandmother, who lived within two
or three miles of the prosecutor, felt lonely, and his
daughter went to live with her to keep her com-
pany. He was in the habit of seeing her every
Sunday at church, and frequently at other times ;
and when he heard of the engagement between de-
fendant and his daughter, he took her away, and
would not allow her to return until the grand-
mother assured him the engagement was entirely
broken off. With regard to the character of the
defendant—

Alderman Hale—We have nothing to do with
that here. I again repeat that for the happiness of
these young people, for the father's own comfort
and peace of mind hereafter, it would be better not
to go on with the prosecution, which can only em-
bitter the lives of all concerned.

Mr. Cropley said, in reply, I feel much obliged
to your worship for your advice ; but there are cer-
tain circumstances iu this young man's conduct
which make me feel it my duty to prosecute him.
A letter sorter in the post-office at the railway
station at Ely was then called to prove that the de-
fendant was at work nearly every night with him,
and could not therefore have resided in the parish
of St. Bride, Fleet street, as sworn to by the de-
fendant in his affidavit.

This witness, on cross-examination, said that the
defendant told him that the grandmother was
anxious to have them married earlier than they

were.

Alderman Hale—Am I still to understand tha
the prosecutor wishes to press this charge ?

Mr. Marshall—He has taken two months to con-
sider the course he has taken, and has come up 70
miles to prosecute, which he would not have done
had he not already well weighed the whole matter.
Alderman Hale—To show my opinion of this pro-
secution I shall accept the defendant's own recog-
nisances to appear and answer th© charge at the
Central Criminal Court.