The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-31 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—WARWICK, March 29.
NISI PRIUS COURT.
(Before Lord Chief Justice Cockburn).
KENNEDY Y. BROWN AND TJX. —THE SWINFEN
CASRe—VERDICT FOR area PLAINTIFF IN £20,000.
This case came on for adjourned hearing to-day,
and the greatest possible interest was taken in the
trial, the court being crowded during the whole
of the day.
The examination of Mrs. Brown was resumed this
morning at the point where she was stating that in
accordance with the plaintiff's solicitations she went
to London and took lodgings in Ballstone-street in
1859, in order to be near him, and confer with him,
with reference to her then approaching trial. She
continued :—Mr. Kennedy said that in consequence
of undertaking my cause he had made many
enemies. He implored me not to forsake himself
and his family. Next morning Mr. Kennedy called,
and we walked to the Zoological Gardens. We
sat down on a seat, and he asked me if I would
give him a reversion of the Swinfen estate as a
security for him to borrow £2,000. He said I
should be quite safe in doing so. I might have full
confidence in him, and he would return it to me at
any time I wished him. I was a little staggered
at §uch a proposal, and said I did not know whether
I could consent to it. I had my relations to pro-
vide for, and I had debts. He said the best way
would be to leave £lO,OOO for my relations, and
£lO,OOO for my debts. After some hesitation I con-
sented. As far as I remember that was all that
took piece then. I never saw the draft of the deed
until I saw it at Mr. Collis's office. In that con-
versation Mr. Kennedy never said, " You have got
£20,000. Do you consider yourself as owing me
that money." I did not say, " Oa, certainly, but
you can't have it at present." Mr. Kennedy did
not say, "That will do, I can have security." I did
not say, " I have given you the bulk of my estate."
As far as I can remember he did not leave the deed
with me. I went down to Birmingham some few
days after that. Mr. Kennedy did not produce a
will before-we went to Birmingham. Ho wrote to
meet the at the station on the 10th of May. I went
with him to Mr. Collis's, and found the deed prepared
there. I believe I read it myself. Mr. Collis asked
me if I knew the meaning of the deed ? I said I
did. He asked me if I would give him a letter, in
ease of anything unforeseen occurring about the
deed. I believe I did not promise anything of the
kind. Mr. Kennedy visited me at Swinfen on
the 10th of May, and asked me to execute it. He
proposed a will drawn up. Nothing passed be-
tween up in reference to the will until it was pro-
duced. lie asked me to attest it. He asked me if
anything happened to my relations, some provision
should be made for them P I never asked Mr.
Kennedy to draw up the form of the will. I never
dictated to him what its terms should be. In the
month of June, or at all events shortly after this
interview at Collis's, I was again in London. I had
no conversation there with Mr. Kenndy about this
will. He had frequently spoken to me about taking
a house, a small house in London, where he could
practise. He wished me to take his children, and
give him a power of attorney to manage my pro-
perty. I said I would not do anything of the kind.
I said I should like to manage my own property.
I recollect Mr. Kennedy being at Swinfen in 1851.
I then gave him £2OO. He said the affairs of the
Crystal Palace printing establishment were in a
very bad state, and he wanted me very mach to be-
come a partner or to take a share. I said I did not
understand anything about such a business. He
asked me for a loan of £2OO, and I gave it him.
This was in Auaust. I travelled to Scotland ia
September, and there met my present husband, Mr.
Brown. I became engaged to him there. I wrote
to Mr. Kennedy after that. I have destroyed the
answer I received. It was exceedingly threatening
and violent. He said if I married he would appear
against me in a court of justice in concert with my
deadliest enemies. That is all I recollect of the
contents of that letter. I have not kept the second
letter. He said I will make a last speech, cover you
with infamy and shame, and leave the country.
His letter was awful. Ile threatened to tear to
pieces the man I had dared to marry. I believe I
did not answer that. I wrote kindly to Mr. Kennedy
alter that. Between the two letters I have alluded
to I wrote a letter, of which the one I have here is
a copy :

" now write to reply to your cowardly and in-
sulting letter. I must refer to facts. You offered
to conduct my cause, knowing it was' a just one.
You felt yourself able to undertake it. You saw an
.opportunity to distinguish yourself. Therefore
whrt I faltered you promised me to pause. If my
cause had not been a just one and good, you, with
all . your exertions and ability, never could have
won ; neither could you have succeeded if I had not
myself possessed a :spirit which could not brook
tyranny and oppression. When you won the cause
for'me, and the estate was mine, I felt the deepest
love and gratitude for you, and told you more than
onCe-Fshould like to place you as an idol on a high
poi:Waal, and 3-our wife by your side ; you ought.to
have that letter by you as well as others. Well,
when the estate was legally secured to me, I had