The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-09 00:00:00

VERY SINGULAR AFFAIR.

At the Westminster Police-court, yesterday,
Viscount Itaynham, M.P. for Tamworth, accom-
panied by Mr. Sleigh, barrister, appeared, under
the following peculiar circumstances:—
Mr. Sleigh said his lordship was president of a
Society for the Protection of Women and Children,
of which he (Mr. Sleigh) had the honour to be the
counsel. His lordship's benevolence and kindness
were exceedingly well known, and it was in the
exercise of those qualities which had induced him
to interfere in a matter now to be brought be-
fore the Court. A few nights ago he saw a
middle-aged woman, named Crawley, sitting near
the Westminster Hospital, groaning, and appa-
rently in great agony, when, in consequence of
some statements she made, he took her to a place
for protection, and came to this Court and obtained
process against her husband for assaulting and ill-
treating her. It was quite clear the woman, who
had been daily at the Westminster Hospital, had
been most brutally ill-treated—according to her
statement made to his lordship when he first saw
her—but now that the case was about to be called
on, the woman informed his lordship that the whole
of the statement which she had previously made,
and which had so excited his compassion and kind-
ness, was untrue. He would, however, put her into
the witness-box, and endeavour to ascertain the

facts, if possible, from her lips on oath.
Mary Ann Crawley, a respectable-looking middle-
aged woman, was then placed in the witness-box as
complainant, and John Crawley, her husband, was
placed before the magistrate as defendant.
The woman, who stated that she resided at 24,
Chapter-street, Westminster, was than examined by
Mr. Sleigh. She said she had been sinca Thursday
night week receiving medical advice at the West-
minster Hospital for a fracture of the ribs. On that
night she was out in the street, moaning and in
great pain, when Lord Raynham spoke to her, be-
haved very kindly to her, and obtained her shelter ;
but she must say she had deceived that gentleman.
She had been drinking, and fell down stairs and
fractured her ribs and bruised her thigh, but she did
not feel it exactly at the time.
Mr. Sleigh—Did you tell Lord Raynham that
the injuries which gave you so much pain had been
caused by the brutal conduct of your husband—by
his blows and kicks ?

Complainant—l did; but, lam sorry to say, I
deceived that gentleman.

Mr. SleighLllid you tell Lord Raynham that on
a recent occasion your husband had scalded you
with a kettle of hot water ?

Complainant—l did.
Mr. Arnold—And was that true ?

Complaint—l was boiling some rhubarb, and my
husband seized it from the fire. I went to take it
out of his hand, and got scalded by accident.
Mr. Sleigh—You told Lord Raynham he bad
thrown it over you, and showed the marks of the
injury.

In further examination, complainant admitted
that she had also told Lord It•tynham that defen-
dant had ill-treated her mother. Her husband had
not been guilty of any acts cf violence to her (com-
plainant). Ho might have pushed her, but never
struck her.
Mr. Arnold—What made you say your husband
had ill-used you ?
Complainant—l don't know. He got me out of
my work.
Mr. Sleigh observed that it was abominable that
a gentleman of humanity and feeling should have
been imposed upon—if the statement now made
was true—by such an impudent tissue of falsehoods.
It was not to be endured that a philanthropist was
to be treated in such a manner,
Mr. Arnold observed that the question for the
consideration of the learned counsel would be
whether, upon complainant's present statement, he
would take proceedings against her for obtaining
charitable contributions from Viscount Raynham
under false pretences.

Mr. Sleigh said he was much obliged to the ma-
gistrate, and would adopt his suggestion.
The complainant, Mary Anne Crawley, was then
placed in front of the dock.
His lordship repeated the statement of finding
her, as made by his counsel, and of her detail of her
husband's brutality, adding that she told him she
had no place to go to, and thought of throwing
herself over Westminster-bridge. Finding her
houseless and destitute he procured her lodging and
give her money for food and clothing during her
attendance at the hospital. She had told him that
if be would take a warrant against her husband she
would appear against him, and she bad never
uttered one single word in denial of that statement
until that day (yesterday).
she
hadh done
adde
ceiDved theefendangt
ernetpierneat
de
nd
,shane
dwaksnesworryshe

wrong.
His o
punished for what she obtained from him.
Mr. Sleigh observed that his lordship was clearly
of 0 h
her
p i .
ilonr dtshbai itisshsoi d he really did not wis to have
w
as in the need she suggested,
and the subsequent story of her never having been
ill-treated by her husband had beeil got up solely to
screen him from the consequences of his brutality.
Mr. Arnold observed that she
peijury. He could under B+
.and
had
committed
from vindictive feelings have that she might
8 g
against her husband at
theiave fabricated a charge
sustained that
of coming into charge up to pretty well the moment
court. He
serious and considered this a very
peculiar case, and should remand the
accused for a week in
should order to consider Low he
dispose of the matter. His lordship's wishes
would have full him.
The ht • h
g with
The woman was then removed in custody.

Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere will be un-
able to attend the levee and drawing-room next week, and
as Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets, to present the
officers of the district regiments by an attack of gout under
which the gallant viscount is at present :Ain, log.
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