The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-25 00:00:00

ABDUCTION.

At the quiet village of Broadwas, in this county, there
has resided, man and boy, some fifty-five years, one Mr.
Benjamin Davis, a farmer, who lately by the death o f
his -mother came into possession of considerable property
and estates in that neighbourhood, besides a tolerable
round sum in hard cash invested in the funds. Benja-
min, whose father has long been dead, was from his
youth remarkable for tenacity to the state of "single
blessedness." Many powerful and premeditated assaults
have been made to provoke within him the tender pas-
sion, but without success ; and though it was the latest
request of his mother that he might at once " settle
down," Benjamin has nevertheless remained unmoved
and impregnable. Rumour, however, indicates that na-
ture at its birth did not bestow that modicum of intellect
and cunning, which unfortunately has proved but too
strongly developed in others with whom he was destined
to come into contact.
Some years ago was received under Mrs. Davis's roof
a Mrs. Pullen, who, from time to time, was there visited
by Mrs. Dobney, the widow of a dancing master, &C.,
who, we believe died abroad. Mrs. Dobney, it seems,
had cast upon the son a "longing eye," had several
times importuned him on the subject of marriage, and
otherwise uselessly assailed him ; till at length Mrs.
Pullen was informed that if she did not prevent the visits
of her friend she must seek shelter elsewhere herself.
This had the desired effect ; and no more was seen of
Mrs. Dobney till after the death of Davis's mother,
which took place during the terrific tempest of Septem-
ber last. Then it was that Mrs. Dobney returned to the
charge, presented herself at Benjamin's dwelling, and,
although at first the inmates pretended not to recognise
her, she was admitted and feasted, but was at length
unceremoniously snubbed and dismissed. Though many
years his senior, the lady was not yet finally repulsed,
again and again she threw herself in his way, and tempted
him with endearments such as ladies so well know how
to practise. _ _ _

The farmer, as we have before said, was proof against
her artifices ; and, with a widowed houdekeeper named
Scott, 74 years of age, went on as comfortably and un-
susßectingly as need be, occasionally visiting Worcester
on market days, and at length absolutely believing that
all annoyance from the "fair" one was at an end.
On Saturday last, Davis and his housekeeper, as
usual, drove into the city ; the latter being dispatched
to make various purchases, while her master proceeded
to the Green Dragon Inn, Newport-street, to await
her return. Directly after a person named Wilson
entered the inn yard, and inquiring for the ostler,
offered him half-a-crown to convey a message to
Davis, to the effect that Mrs. Scott had been seized
with a
.fit, and was dangerously ill, and that a fly,
sent at her request, was then standing at the
door to convey him to her with all dispatch. The
ostler, suspecting a trick, refused, and the flyman was
then pressed into the service. Davis instantly com-
plied, was handed into the vehicle, and was soon rattling
along at a fair pace, but whither he knew not, having
neglected to ask the question. The fly was driven up
Newport-street to Bridge-street, and at the bridge
Wilson was observed to mount the box. The fly then
proceeded by way of Lower Henwick, through Hallow,
and—as Davis imagines, for he was unacquained with
the country—to Holt, where it was pulled up at a pri-
vate residence, into which Davis was handed by Wilson
(" the man with one eye,"" as Davis describes him) and
another, since ascertained to be Mrs. Dobney's son.
He was then led, in a state of great alarm, into an
apartment where a female was sitting, and Dobney told
him he must marry his mother or go to the mad-house.
Davis replied that they might take him to the mad-house
as soon as they pleased, as he should fare there as well
as the rest. Upon this Wilson placed upon the table a
pistol, a bludgeon, and a pair of handcuffs, observing,
as he did so, that he must "do his duty." The female
then retired, and Dobney fetched in his mother, re-
marking he could not see what objection. Davis could
have to her. Davis replied that he was not obliged to
answer that. Dobney rejoined that it was to be "done"
by eight o'clock the next morning ; and his mother, ad-
dressing herself to Davis, said, " Will you have me ? "
To this question, through fear, he did not give any di-
met answer. After remaining in the house between two
and three hours, Davis was reconducted to the fly by
the same persons, and driven to the New Inn, Ombers-
ley-road, about two miles from Worcester, when the
trio alighted, and the fly was sent home. They had tea
and supper at the New Inn, during which time Wilson
and Dobney continued the conversation as to the mar-
riage with Mrs. Dobney on the following morning.
Davis was then escorted up stairs into a doublerbedded
room, Davis lying in one bed and his captors in the
other. Davis, in great trepidation, called out seve-
ral times that he would not be married to her for all
the world, and requested, as a more pleasant alterna-
tive, that he might be taken to the mad-house, and
the night was passed amidst sobs, cries, entreaties, and
remonstrances.

Taking the reader back to Worcester, it is here neces-
sary to mention that at about five o'clock in the after-
noon of the day in question Mrs. Dobney presented her
self at the registrar's office, in Edgar-street, and ob-
tained a licence for her marriage with Davies, which
was appointed to be solemnised at Claines Church on
Sunday morning. She gave the necessary information
as to Davis's name and whereabouts, and described
herself as residing in the parish of Claines, which
was purely an invention, having never lived near that
locality. Mr. Clifton, well knowing Davis, was not a
little surprised at his choice, but had no suspicion of the
imposture.
In due course also, the housekeeper returned to the
Green Dragon to seek her master, and it was not till
some time afterwards that she was informed of his ob-
ject in going away in the fly. Inspector Chipp was im-
mediately sent for, and directly afterwards a note signed
S. W." was put into Mrs. Scott's hands, intimating
that Davis was gone to the country for a few days. The
inspector at once gave chase, and traced the fly in the
direction we have already indicated, though he was thrown
off the scent for a couple of hours by the keeper of the
Renwick gate, declaring positively that the parties had
taken the Martley road. Little suspecting that they had
taken refuge at the New Inn, Chipp came on to Worces-
ter, having discovered that the fly had gone through the
Barbourne-gate. However, he soon sought out the
driver, who revealed to him how the case stood, and at
6 o'clock on Sunday morning, Chipp, with a tradesman
from Worcester, was in readiness to rescue Davis as soon
as his prison should be opened. When this was done,
the poor fellow bellowed lustily at his deliverance, Dob-
ney coolly observing that he had treated Davis well, and
Wilson asserting that he knew nothing about it. Davis
was then taken home, from whence it is hoped he may
never again be allowed to depart without some constant
guide or protector.—Worcestershire Chronicle.

DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A FEMALE.
Yesterday afternoon information was received from
Westminster Hospital, of a determined attempt at self-
destruction of a young woman named Dinahßrock, aged
25 years, who resided at York-road, Lambeth, by swal-
lowing a large quantity of sulphuric acid, under the fol-
lowing circumstances :—lt appears that the unfortunate
woman was heard to groan by some of the lodgers,
which attracted their attention, when on entering the
room, they discovered the unfortunate creature lying on
the floor with a tea-cup by her side, that had contained
the deadly poison, and a letter directed
.to her mother,
which expressed herintentioisenod, when of committing
suicide. An
alarm was immediately raised, Police-constable
No. 164 L hal her instantly conveyed to the Queen
Anne's Ward of the above-named valuable institution,
where Mr. Holt, surgeon, and Mr. Faxon, attended by
the medical staff, was promptly on the spot, but from
the severe internal injuries, not the slightest hopes are
given of her recovery. No cause is assigned for the rash
act.

FRIGHTFUL FALL AND PROBABLE Loss OF LIFE.—
atY ems t ee rs ds r
sa y. asnwaa cnc i
and d e n t
Eodf
gaa ezQserious
itt naturee
nors ud
t rrereet,
by which a painter named James Buckingham, residing
at No. 5, Sherborne-street, Blandford-square, sustained
ouch severe injuries that his life is despaired of. It ap-
pears that the unfortunate man was engaged in the re-
pairs of the exterior of Messrs. Swan and Edgar's pre-
mises, and for which purpose was upon a ladder, which
slipping on the foot pavement, he was precipitated with
fearful violence to the ground, from whence he was taken
in a state of insensibility to Charing-cross Hospital, and
placed under the care of Mr. Adkins, house-surgeon, who
ascertained that the wounded man had sustained a com-
pound fracture of the lower jaw-bore, fingers dislocated,
seriously contused, and such severe internal injuries,
that no hopes are entertained of his recovery. The crash
was so violent with which be fell, that the teeth from
both the upper and lower jaws were forced out, and scat-
tered over the pavement.

A STEAMER RUN ON SHORE.—FALMOtaII, March 24.
—The Lady Eglinton, a new iron screw steamer, bound
from Liverpool to London, on Wednesday afternoon,
got on Trefusis Shore, in going hence. On this day she
was got off ; but as she was found to leak badly, the
captain determined to beach her, which having beelie
complished, the passengers were safely landed. The
cargo is likely to he discharged.

Loss OF THREE
LAND.—A. very severe gale of win • d suddenly swept over
showers
the
The morning Northumberland
coast
at sea. As soon as the storm
came of Monday was fine, and several
on the poor fishermen left their lines and ran for
the shore. They all appear to have reached a place of
safety except a boat's crew belonging to Blyth, consist-
ing of James Foggin, Thomas Dixon, and James Arm-
strong, who were upset in taking the bar at this little
seaport, and drowned before assistance could reach them.
They have all leeft
from famib lie
eing drowned. s. Several other fishermen had
a narrow escap
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.—CAUTION TO POLICE
oFFlCEßS.—lresterday, the Commissioners investigated
a case relative to two sergeants, who, whilst on duty,
were inclined to enjoy themselves with a launch ; but
whilst in th dropped" of their repast, one of their inspectors
suddenly " in, and having laid the cause of
complaint, against the twd men' they were forthwith
summoned to Scotland-yard, and both ordered to be
suspended for a fortnight, adding to the sentence of one
r are the othe r
daywhite ;
his transportation to another letter of the metropolitan
body of police.
A TRULY STRANGE FACT.—A Correspondent of the
Elgin Courier states that a respectable married woman
in the
alower
negropart child.of thisTheco
father and deliveredmothe
and a black man has not been in'the
district for two
years. The occurrence is accounted for by the
the woman's having heard much of the performancesfact of
of
Mr. Lewis the mesmerist, and, as she states,
having her
imagination so much impressed that, to use her own
words, " she cold not get him
out
child, whose very hair was woolly, of her head." The
did not survive.—/to
verness Advertiser.