The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-19 00:00:00

CHARGE OF RAPE.

William Handley, a respectable-loosing young
man, about 30 years of age, in business with his
father, an undertaker, in the Waterloo-road, was
indicted for assaulting with intent to commit a rape
on Ann Sarah Hodges, living with her parents in
Brighton-place, Waterloo-road.
Mr. Lilly, instructed by the Associate Institute
for the Protection of Women and Children, prose-
cuted, and Me. Robinson, instructed by Mr. Edwin,
defended the prisoner.
The Court was densely crowded by a large num-
ber of tradesmen from the neighbourhood in which
the parties reside.
The prosecutrix, a modest-looking young girl,
said that she was fourteen years old. She knew the
prisoner, who lived in Agnes-street, Waterloo-road,
near her father's. She also knew the daughter of
the prisoner, and about five o'clock on the evening of
the 3d inst. she went to the prisoner's to take tea
with his daughter. When she got there she went
into the kitchen and saw the prisoner's house-
keeper and his daughter. In about half an hour
the prisoner came in and sent his housekeeper up
stairs to change her dress, and his daughter was
sent to get some water-eresses for tea. Directly
they were gone the prisoner took her roughly by
the wrists and asked her to sit in his lap. She re
sisted and told him not to pull her about, and got
back to her seat again. He took hold of her again
by the wrists and pulled her towards him. He then
pulled up her clothes and attempted the offence
mentioned in the indictment. She tried to get
away and tried to scream, but could not, as she
thought she was choking. She told him she should
tell her mother, and after that he let her go, and
when she was going upstairs to put on her things
the prisoner pulled her down, and told her she
should not go until she had some tea. A knock
was heard at the door, and on the prisoner's daugh-
ter coming in she asked witness what she was cry-
ing for. Witness did not tell her, but threatened
to tell the housekeeper, when the prisoner ex-
claimed, " Oh, for God's sake, don't do that and
expose my family." She then went upstairs and
told the housekeeper what had happened, and im-
mediately left the house and proceeded home. She
then told her mot her what had occurred, and after-
wards went with her and her father to the station-
hotme. The prisoner was then charged with the
offence,

The mother of the girl gave evidence corrobo-
rative of her testimony as to her complaining of
the prisoner's conduct as soon as she came home,
and they went to the house of the prisoner's father
in the Waterloo-road. While there the prisoner
came in, and said he had been playing with the
little girl. Witness then gave him into custody.
Mr. Constable, assistant to Dr. Wakem, said he
examined the child, and although there were slight
abrasions of the skin the capital offence had not
been committed.
Other evidence was given, when

Mr. Robinson addressed the jury at some length
on behalf of the prisoner, contending that all th©
prisoner did was what any other father of a family
would do who was fond of children, and the story
about the indecent conduct was trumped up against
him. The child's story was all a fabrication, from
first to last, as it was not likely that the father of a
family in such a respectable position should conduct
himself as had been described. The learned counsel
alluded to Ehe Case of the Rev. Mr. Hatch, and
begged the jury to be extremely careful before they
convicted in such a case. Ho called
Mrs. Sebbon, the housekeeper to the prisoner,
who said she had two rooms in his house. She re-
collected the complainant coming to the house, and
the prisoner entered and told her he was in no hurry
for tea. She went to dress, and while there the
complainant said she wanted to go. She never com-
plained about Mr. Handley, and the latter never
made use of the expressions alleged by the com-
plainant. She had always found Mr. Handley a
very exemplary man, and a good father to his
children.

A vast number of highly respectable tradesmen
were called, and they gave the prisoner one of the
first of characters.
Mr. Lijey replied, and the Chairman having

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summed up in a careful manner, the jury retired to
consider their verdict.
After an absence of two hours, at seven o'clock
the Jury returned into Court with a verdict of
Acquittal.
The verdict was received with vociferous cheering,
which was at once checked by the officers of the
court.
The accused was at once liberated, and left the
Court with his friends.