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

VERY SINGULAR AFFAIR.

At the Westminster Police-court, yesterday,
Viscount Raynham, M.P. for Tamworth, accom-
panied by Mr. Sleigh, barrister, appeared, under
the following peculiar eircurnstance3:—
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 since 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--I did ; but, lam Sony to say, I
deceived that gentleman.
Mr. Sleigh—Did you tell Lord Raynham that on
a recent occasion your husband had scalded you
with a kettle of hot water ?
Complainant—I 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 had
thrown it over you, and showed the marks of the
injury.
In further examination, complainant admitted
hat she had also told Lord Raynham that defen-
dant had ill-treated her mother. Her husband had
not been guilty of any acts of violence to her (com-
plainant). He 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 lot dship 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 he 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).
Defendant repeated she was sorry she had de-
ceived the gentleman, and knew she had done

g 0 nt auvpi n
solelygb e been
wroniglordship said he really did not wish to have
herHpsunished for what she obtained from him.
h his brutality.
Mr. Sleigh observed that his lordship was clearly
her
observedhusband
that
hadat 8 beenhe
of opinion that she was in the need she suggested,
and the subsequent story of her never , .
screen him from the consequences of .
ArnoldlY
perjury. He could underst had committed
and that she might
from vindictive feelings -
ill-treated
i4.r.
against her husband at th have fabricated a charge
sustained that char e e moment, but she had
of
coming
into gup to pretty well the moment
court. He •
serious and considered this a very
peculiar ca
accused for se, and should remand the
a Week in should di order to consider how he
spose of the matter.
with weight His lordship's wishes
would have full •
The
woman
WI him.
n 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 suffering.
LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.—Messrs. Hurst andror
I3lackett announce the following new
publication during the present month :
' orseback
by the Hon. Mrs. Norton, 3 vols.;
"T'sravßide beyond the
in Mantchu Tartaty, being a Summierining, 1 vol., with 60
Great Wall of China," by Georg
the k blood.l
y r,
ta: hw
ht hol ° Fleming,
among the
illustrations ; " Adventures andl
vol.,
with illustrations ;
Ander:turns," by Dr.
M"at'Mrs. Brotherton, author of
" Respectable Sinners," by
leadnidd-
"Ll:sotnawrind"Sted,"
arefv favour,
adapted for
" Arthur Brandon,"
3 vole.
olloway's Pills.—Flesh and
[ADVE EsTISE3!ENT.Ies...
10 t
i,
Blood.—lt is mean '
firmness of
eine
andhy purityg na
.we
the beingseas
source of eu.ering.
oi
into
th'sh ,P
universalol3diilcls oilea
us
onptdehnreieere 1 :
Pills on this account
strengthen
asttornuliatcfuhl,
urifying agents. For
ade ends upon the strength
Pdpes its wholesome work ( ' an
t i eThh i s
emhme btsnae si
t
have
COebsit°,,, tno in good
reviving tonic, and 0
en Holloway'
and completely.
sonably, .
keep theluletly, sea•
Occasional doses of these Pills
set the liver right when its functions
and
are deranged by
sold, excess, or other causes.

NEWS p
- •
A-41 \rd
of February lota, a few days befor
lordship succeeded to the title and 7.fter;frOikasSilil LAX4,I
and attained the age of 62, and is sk_reillit?Keeti,)
eldest son, Sudeley Charles George Bsfeik-Sliffe.ief'-"'
(Grenadier Guards), in his 26th year. Tge testator •:-1
has left a liberal bequest to his relict beyond her
marriage settlement, and to each younger son
£20,000, and to each dinghter £25,000; and there
arc annuities of £5OO each to three of his sisters.
The residue of the property he has bequeathed to
his eldest son, Lord Sudeley. The will of Mr. Wil-
liam Gregson, late of Liverpool, has been proved in
London. The personalty was sworn under £50,000.
The testator has bequeathed upward of £lO,OOO to
different societies and institutions, principally in
Liverpool,fte follow;:—'I‘o the Liverpool Church Aid
Society and the Liverpool Church of England Scrip.
ture Readers' Society, each £4,500; Liverpool Royal
Infirmary, £100; the Dispensary, Bluecoat Hospite.l,
School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution
Eye and Ear Infirmary, Church of England Mag ,
-
dalen Institution, County Refuge, and the National
School, Edge-hill, each £5O; and to the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel, Church Missionary
Society, Co:oniul Church School Society, Chnich
Pastoral Aid Society, Irish Church Missions to
Roman Catholics, and to the Malta Protestant Col-
lege, each £lOO. The residue, after deducting
several legacies and annuities to his relations, ser-
vants, and others, ho bequeaths to two of the exe-
cutors.