The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-22 00:00:00

THE TURKISH WIFE.

As naturalists to the embassy from France to
Constantinople, M. Fontanier was supposed to
possess a knowledge of medicine, and was thus
requested to visit the wife of an inhabitant of
Amassia, who was ill, and who passed for a
beauty even where all was beautiful. She was
a Turcomaun, and had married the Amassian,
from motives of ambition. She received a
splendid dowry, and although, from reverse of
fortune, he had been despoiled of his wealth,
even to the loss of his pipe-bearer, she would
scarcely snake any allowance for his support,
though, for her own service, she maintanaed a
retinwe of negro slaves. " Before entering the
harem," says M. Fontanier, " the good man
took the precaution to make inc wait in the
interior
for until all was arranged in the
for my introduction. The lady did not disturb
herself either for her husband or for rue ; it would
have been difficult to have found a more hand-
some woman; her bracelets and necklace were
adorned with emeralds, and her velvet robe was
richly covered with gold embroidery ; 'ter pipe
was studded with diamonds, and she wore a
number of precious stones on her fingers and on
the fastening of her girdle. As soon as I had
taken my place, she ordered her negresses to bring
me coffee and a pipe, and stated her complaints,
which appeared to me to be more imaginary than
real. I recommended her to take exercise and
change of air." " That is precisely the thing," said
she to me ; " I am the daughter of a Curd ; I can
scale the mountain's top, and govern a steed ; I
formerly wandered freely over the country, I
needed no veil on going abroad, for what can a
virtuous woman want with a veil ? Thus did I
live and breathe freely ; but now I must conceal
myself, walk with gravity, and, followed by a
troop of slaves, go and visit a parcel of stupid
Turkish women. Yes, tbe air would do me
good, and liberty more than any thing." The
husband did not hear my advice with any thing
like the same satisfaction that his wife testified ;
she perceived this, and told him pretty smartly
to go and order more coffee, and to return when
she should send for him. He went out and
left us there alone ; the lady then said to me,
"You see this old animal ; he is the true cause
of my illness, and that illness is nothing more
than ennui at the sight of him. He is out of
fortune's favour ; and what pleasure is there in
living with a man who remains in the city with-
out power, without authority, and without even
any thing to eat ? My friend, are there no
means of ridding one's sight of him ? You
are the prince of all physicians, the very cream
of doctors ; have you no medicine, which, with
God's help, might deliver me from him ? I
should then return to the country where I am so
well, and would quit this city, which I pray God
to overthrow."—lontamer's Travels in the
East.

An itinerant showman was in the act of exhi-
biting the well-known comic spectacle of Punch and Judy
to a crowd at Story's-gate, Nyestrnisster, yesterday, when
suddenly a violent gust of wind took the stage, and, iu
spite of the effoits of the showman inside, precipitated it
to the ground with a heavy crash, which broke it to pieces.
Punch and his lady, together with the whole parapher-
nalia, were pitched into the muddy road, amidst great
laughter from the crowd, whose faces exhibited a striking
contract to the poor showman, who looked any thing but
pleased at the upexpected tikx ,

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Aram 21.

DOE, EX DEM. GRINDALL, V. sTGRT GRINDALL

The proceedings in this case were resumed this
morning.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, at the conclusion of
his opening speech, stated, that in what he had said
respecting Mrs. Suett, he meant nothing to the dis-
paragement of her character. She was now of a
very advanced age, and as she resided in Yorkshire,
and was unable to travel, the defendant could not
have the benefit of her testimony. Her written de-
position had been taken in the suit in Chancery; but
as by an extraordinary rule of that Court, neither of
the parties was allowed to see the depositions until a
particular period in the cause had arrived, he (tbe
Learned Counsel) had not had an opportunity of
perusing Mrs. Suett's depositions.
The first witness examined on the part of the
lessor of the plaintiff this morning, was blr. Wake-
field, an apothecary, who stated that he had at-
tended the testator, Mr. Grindall, for three years,
from 1823 to 1826. Prior to that time he had been
attacked by apoplexy. There was nothing like in-
sanity about him, but he was imbecile and childish.
Mrs. Suett remained with him till 1826. She ge-
nerally spoke for him in aaswer to witness's ques-
tions. Ile was forgetful. If witness went to him
one day and mentioned to him on the next what had
passed, he had no recollection of it. Witness and
he were defendants in a Chancery suit, and witness
had occasion to see him on the subject of it. He
could not be made to understand any thing about it.
He could not understand why it existed. Mrs. Suett
appeared to exercise great influence over him.
Dr. Mayo examined by Mr. BaouGHals—l was
sent to see Mr. Grindall on the Ist of October,
1826. At first I saw him alone. The second time
I saw him with Dr. Yates, at Bolton-house, a
lodging-house kept by one Sawyer, at Tunbridge-
' wells. I was with him about half an hour the first
time. I found him in n very weak and wavering
state of intellect, which gave me the impression that
he was an imbecile person. His understandiug ap-
peared to have been impaired.
Mr. W. H. Pulley, a Proctor, of Doetorsi-com-
mons, had known the late Mr. Grindall for twenty
or thirty years, and had done business for him pro-
fessionally. In 1815, or 1816, witness observed a
change in his health. Witness had prepared a will
for him, arid in Februery, 1824, Le came, accom-
paled by a friend of his, Mr. Dawson, an auctioneer,
to witness's office to execute it. Witness read over
the will, and the testator filled up the blanks. There
was an indecision and childishness in his manner,
that induced witness not to allow him to execute the
will, particularly as he (witness) was an executor
under it. At the commencement of the iuterview,
witness thought he was perfectly competent, but in
the progress of the business became of a different
opinion. Mr. Dawson made a remark as to the
amount
.of the legacies he had left. He then became
greatly agitated—apparently from the fear of offend-
ing his friend Mr. Dawson. The childishness of his
manner, coupled with the conversation, induced wit-
ness to say that the execution of the will should not
proceed. Mr. Grindall was the executor of the will
of Mrs. Baddeley, the actress, who went by the
name of Stricland. He had proved her will, and in
1825 he received a circular from the Legai•y-office,
requiring him to settle the duties. He brought it to
witness, and said that he had no recollection of
having proved such a will as the letter referred to.
Witness, on referring to his books, told him he had
proved the will, and he must settle the duties. He
said he should leave it to him (witness) to do what
he thought best. Witness's opinion was, notwith-
standing what he saw on the former occasion, that
the testator at this time (1825) was competent to
have made u will.

Mr. Gower, a merchant of London, who had
known the testator, stated that for several years
prior to his death he was in a very weak state of
mind and body. Ile used often to send fur witness,
and on his going to him he had forgotten what he
had sent to him for. Witness often went away
without knowing what he had been sent for. On
money matters he was conversable, but on many
other subjects he appeared to have no memory.
John stone Grindall, the second nephew, was
next called, and gave evidence to the effect that his
oracle was imbecile.

The deposition of Mr. Richard Ogle, the sur-
geon, was read. It stated that the deponent had
attended the testator professionally from 1799 to
1816. He was first seized with apoplexy, followed
by paralysis, in 1815, and before he had recovered
from the first attack the second came on. It left him
in a state of extreme debility ; it affected his speech
and other organs of sense, and very materially im-
paired his memory and understanding. He never
recovered from the attack, and was unable, in depo-
nent's opinion, to exercise any understanding or
judgment with respect to his affairs. Before that
time he was a man of strong understanding. Depo-
nent would not sfterwarde have trusted him to do
any business requiring the exercise of discretion or
judgment. From his weak and torpid state, depo-
nent considered that he was a man extremely liable
to be influenced, defrauded, and imposed on with re-
spect to his property.
Mary Gillett—l lived with old Mr. Grindall itr
Judd-place. I went into his service in October,
1826. He used to ask me to write for him ; not
eery frequently, as I had sometimes refused. He
was easily alarmed. The opening of a door or any
noise would alarm him. He appeared to be childish.
Mr. John Grindall behaved very affectionately to his
uncle, but the old men treated him very harshly.
Mrs. Isabella Lawson, of Seymour-street, knew
Mrs. Swett, and was also acquainted with old Mr.
Gsieriall from 1823 to 1826. Mrs. Suett came to
witness's house when tLe old gentleman turned her
out of doors in 1826. She continued to live in
witness's house till the spring of 1827. Captain
Sturt called on her shortly after the Tunbridge-wells
affair. Ile was, he said, very happy to see his old
friend. She told him how very badly Mr. Grindall
had used her in turning her out of the house with-
out her clothes. Captain Sturt said if he could get
any one to join him, he thought he could make
something of him. He added, " If I could succeed
in getting him out of the house to dinner, it would
be better for you." Witness always understood that
Captain Sturt was Mrs. Suett's friend. She was
in very bad health when he called on her. She cried
very much. Above. a fortnight after she left wit-
ness's house Captain Strut called to ask for her ad-
dress. lie told her that he had had a good deal of
trouble in endeavouring to get her money for her,
and had not been able to succeed. Winless never'
heard Mr. Grindall speak of Captain Sturt. The
old gentleman appeared very infirm and childish.
Mr. Lawson stated that the testator used to speak
of his pore! ty. When there was a want of butter
he would say he was too poor to buy any. He used
to say that every person about him was in the habit
of robbing him. From what witness saw of him,
he should think he way a person liable to be influ-
enced.

Mr. Varty—l was a :tenant of the late Mr. Grin-
dell for 20 years. I occupied three houses under
him, at a rent of 112/. During the latter part of
his life there was a considerable chauge in him he
appeared to be almost childish.
This was the case for the lessor of the plaintiff.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then rose to reply to
the evidence adduced in behalf of the plaintiff,
after which the Jury expressed themselves quiet
satisfied, and after deliberating for one moment re-
turned a verdict for the defendant.
The Lokp CHIEF JUSTICE said he perfectly agreed
with the Jury iu their opinion of the case.
This verdict establishes the will.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Aram 21.

William Crawley, late of Wood-etreet, Cromer-
street, Brunswick-square, a lieutenant )11 half-pay
of the 27th Foot, was opposed by a creditor named
Alcock.

No case of opposition was made out against the
4reolTent, but upon application to the Court by the

opposing creditor, the turn of 10!. a-yeas was
ordered to be appropriated out of his half-pay of
82/. a•year, towards the gradual liquidation of his
debts.

OLD BAILEY, APRIL 21.

Frances Mathews and Ann Mathews, both sis-
ters, and women of the town, were charged with
having feloniously assaulted John Williams, on the
King's highway, and forcibly taken from his person
five 101. notes, his property.
On the night of the 12th of January last, the
prosecutor, au elderly bald-headed man, of respect-
able appearance, met the two prisoners on the
Kingsland-road. They appeared mach distressed,
and asked him for money. He took them to a
public-house, and treated them with some gin, of
which he himself partook. He was afterwards in-
duced by the prisoners to accompany them to their
lodging, in order that he might be an eye-witness of
their poverty. " Finding nothing comfortable in
the room," he gave the prisoners money to purchase
coal, provisions, gin, tobacco, &c., and sat smoking
in the room with them for about two hours, when
he went away. During his stay in the room, the
younger of the two prisoners attempted to put her
hand into his pocket several times, and he admitted
having said that he had a large sum of money about
him. On leaving the house, the prisoners still fol-
lowed him, and again importuned him for money,
which he deelined giving, but treated them with
some more gin, and then went away. The prisoners,
however, still followed him, and the younger of the
two induced him to go with her down a narrow
passage. They were followed by the taller prisoner,
who struck him a violent blow, and knocked him
down. The prisoner Ana Mathews then robbed
him. She then said to het sister, " Corns along,
Fan, I have got it—it's all right." They then
went away, and the prosecutor became insensible.
Mr. Justice PARIC summed up, and

The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a
verdict of guilty against both prisoners.
The prisoner Frances Mathews immediately ex-.
claimed, " You have sworn falsely against us, Mr.
Williams, you know you have. The cries of our
mother will ring in your ears when you have hanged
us both. Oh my poor mother !"
Her sister also solemnly denied that she was
guilty, and they were both removed from the bar,
protesting their innocence.
Mr. Justice PARK observed that their lives would
be spared.