The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

THE BELGIAN GIRL'S CASE.

Adolphus Harrison, alias Feistel, and Alexander Desanx,
the father of Madame Denis, were brought up for re-exa-
mination at the Westminister Police-court, yesterday,
charged with conspiring to procure the defilement of Alioe
Leroy.

As on the former occasions, the court was densely
crowded, a number of gentlemen absolutely seating them.
selves in the felons' dock, in their anxiety to see and hear.
Mr. Parry, instructed by Mr. Sheen, from the Institu-
tion for the Pro',ection of Women, appeared, as before, to
prosecute; and Mr. Morgan, of the firm of Humphreys,
Morgan, and Humphreys, defended.

Mr. Parry, addressing Mr. Arnold, the presiding magi-
strate, said he would simply state what course he intended
to pursue. If it met his sanction, he proposed to call three
more witnesses to complete the case of Alice Leroy, and
then solicit a further remand. The name of a French girl
who had been brought over to this country to be de-
bauched, but who had, fortunately, escaped pollution, had
been mentioned on the last occasion as a new case, but no
information had as yet reached the society prosecuting
from her, although it was daily expected. He should be
disposed to ask for a remand on the ground of the new case
he had alluded to, while it must also be taken into consi-
deration that the absconding of M. and Madame Denis had
the effect of creating some embarrassment in the prosecu-
tion. He regretted to add that the girl Newman, formerly
a servant at the house of M. Denis, and who gave
evidence on the last examination, had disappeared ;
and it was not for him to say of those charged
with the very grave offence he was now prosecuting,
that they wore parties who knew something of her dis-
appearance, but it was a reasonable surmise that parties
deeply interested in the result of this inquiry, and who
might be seriously affected by it, could account for it. If
the absent witness is not forthcoming at the time the de-
positions were completed, it would be his duty to apply to
the magistrate for compulsory process against her, in
order that she might be bound over in the usual way to
prosecute.
The first witness called was Mary Murphy, who said—l
entered the service of Madame Denis eight days before
Alice Leroy escaped. On the first evening I was there I
saw her upstairs. She was sitting on a sofa in the second
floor front room. She was crying. In consequence of see-
ing her crying, I spoke to Elvire Cerckel, who was in the
house. There was neither light nor fire in the room where
Alice was sitting crying. I saw her several times after
this, and whenever I saw her as she seemed if she was in
trouble. I remember the night before she escaped. I had
agreed with Elvire to assist her in effecting her escape, and
on that night I did not undress myself at all. I know the
two defendants. The elder one is the father of Madame
Denis. They were there all the time I was there. I had
arranged the escape of Alice, and can tell you how it hap.
pened. Elvire told me to go and do the front steps of the
door, so that the door being open, Alice could get away.
That was, I think, at a little before seven in the morning.
I did it, and she escaped. I went with her as far as the
the corner ; so did Elvire, and when she came back, and
Alice had got away, Elvire went to madame's bed-room
door, and told her she had escaped, and I cried out as loud
as I could, " Alice is gone." (Much laughter.) Madame
immediately got up, and seemed to be very cross. Elvire
took the old man, madame's father, the wrong way to
look for her. I saw the defendant Harrison that
morning. Ho came about eight or nine o'clock. When
he came he went in the parlour where M. and Madame
Denis and the other two young ladies were. I gave
madame notice to leave on that day, and Harrison came
to me and asked me the reason I wanted to go, when
I told him that I could not make myself comfortable in the
house. Harrison said something about my staying, and
offered me more money to do so. After Alice was gone the
kitchen and area doors were locked, and the old man
(madame's father) unlocked the kitchen door and let me
out. The kitchen door and tho gate were locked upon
Elvire and her mother. On the next morning madame told
me she was going for a few days into the country, and she
left between 8 and 9on the following morning. Harrison
came the day following and told me to take care of the sil-
ver plate in the house. I know a Mr. Bowes, of Greek-
street, Soho. I was sent to him by madame's father, and
he used to come to the house.
Cross-examined by Mr. Morgan—l am still in the house;
There was plenty of provision left in the house. I have had
about 2s. from a gentleman who came with Mr. Simonds
(Mr. Sheen), to get any little thing I wanted. I am the
only person in the house, except a dog and a parrot. No-
body but Mr. Simonds, the inspector, comes to see me
in the course of the day. Mr. Sheen does not come every
day. I never saw him there but once or twice. I went
over the house with Mr. Simonds and Mr. Shaen when
they went to look for some papers. I recollect a few pic-
tures were taken away that were found on the top of the
drawers. I did not gratify my curiosity by looking at
them.
Witness having concluded her testimony at this point,
sat down and burst into tears, when Mr. Parry, observing
it, said, in allusion to the last question respecting the pic-
tures before alluded to, "that although the poor girl was
in humble circumstances, she had no right to be insulted
by such a question."
Mr. Arnold remarked that it was both unnecessary and
improper.
Richard Watkinson, 208, B division—On Thursday, the
16th ult., Elvire Cerckel made a communication to me, in
consequence of which I gave her permission to bring Alice
Leroy to my house, and on the following morning at about
half-past seven she came in company with Antonio (a ser-
vant who had recently left madame's). She was greatly
agitated, and trembled and shook very much. She continued
in that state all day, and if a knock came to the door she
crept behind a sofa where you would scarcely think a child
could get. She appeared to be in a genuine state of alarm
and distress. I saw Harrison on the same day; he had called
at my house to see me, and came again at half-past six in
the evening, when I was at home. He asked me if I knew
the address of Antonio, when I replied, "no nearer than
somewhere in the Vauxhall-bridge-road." He said he
wanted him, for he had taken away that morning the lady's-
maid from Madame Denis's, and ho believed she had taken
some money away, and was most likely with him where he
was lodging, and if I could give him any information where
that was he did not mind a few pounds. In speaking of
the girl as the lady's-maid who had left, he did not ou that
occasion say where he had brought her from. I did not
tell him the girl was with me. I did not see him again
until I took him into custody. Mr. Simonds was with me
at that time, and, calling him on one side, I told him that
he must con.ider himself in custody for conspiring with
others in bringing a young girl from Belgium to 3, Den-
bigh-terrace. He admitted bringing her from Belgium,
but had engaged her there as lady's-maid, and she had been
three years in the service, and it was a false charge against
him. He added, that he had just consulted his lawyer
upon the subject. On the following morning I took him
out of the cell to give him some fresh air, when he repeated
that the charge was false, but very serious; and said I must
know him from having lived in the neighbourhood some
time, and that if I would say a word in his favour I might
believe him to be my friend. He said he hoped that it
would not get into the newspapers, as, if it did he should
be a ruined man, as he was just on the point of marriage.
Mr. Parry thought it a lucky escape for some one.
Witness continued—ln consequence of a message I re-
ceived, I went, on the evening of the 16th ult., to 3, Den-
bigh-terrace. Madame Denis, after looking through the
window, admitted me, and I went into a small room with
M. and Madame Donis. He asked me if I knew where
Antonio lived, and I told him I did not. He said some-
thing had happened, and he wanted to know where to find
him, and he wished me to catch him if I could. I asked
him for what, when he replied, " Never mind; I will tell
you that some other time." I said I could not do business
in that way.; he must let me know the charge before I took
Antonio. Antonio came to me at about half-past ten that
evening, and I went with him to Madame Denis, who
opened the door, as before. She called out, when she saw
him, "Antonio is at the door." Antonio and M. and
Madame Denis, then talked together, but I did not under-
stand what they said. I asked M. Denis if he had any
charge to prefer against Antonio, and he said " No." I
was not then aware of the full nature of what had taken
place, or I should have taken the parties concerned into
custody. I took the prisoner Donna. on the 3d instant in
the evening, when he attempted to close the door and get
away from us, but we took him.

William Simonds, an inspector of the B division, was
sworn, when

Mr. Parry requested to be permitted to put two or three
more questions to the last witness, who was accordingly
re-called, and in answer, said that when Alice Leroy came
to his house she had only a morning dress and slippers, no
bonnet or shawl.
Mr. Morgan—Has not she got on the same gown now ?
Witness—Yes.
Mr. Morgan—ls it not a proper dress ?
Witness—l am not a dressmaker. Ido not understand
about dresses. (Laughter).
Mr. Simonds said—l first received information on the
18th ult. at the station about this charge. Between four
and five o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 21st, j
saw Harrison get out of a cab at Madame Denis's, and go
in there for about 20 minutes. I then followed him after
he came out, and took him into custody. I told him I
wanted him for conspiring with others. (Here the inspec-
tor repeated the charge.) He said the charge was files
and unfounded, and got up for the purpose of obtaimm.
money. He said she came over as lady's-maid, and had
been in the service three years. He afterwards said that
he meant Elvire. He said he had just received a letter
from a gentleman that he was to meet that evening about
some wine, and if he could not go it would be his ruin.
On the 3d inst. I apprehended Dessau, and a very fine
large dog came towards me. (The lad Antonio to whom
the dog was very partial, was with the police, and pre-
vented his attacking them.) I artewards searched the
house, and found some prints.
Mr. Parry said that, from the filthy character of the pie-
tures he did not mean to produce them.
Mr. Parry intimated that this closed the case of Alice
Leroy, and he now asked for a week's remand, when he
would pledge himself that if he had not got sufficient evi-
dence of the other case he had spoken of, not to press for a
further remand, until fresh circumstances which he was
not yet acquainted with arose, but rely upon the one case,
the depositions of which to go before a jury would then be
completed.
Mr. Arnold requested that between the present time and
the remand the learned barrister would determine in what
form he would shape his case, so that the admissibility of
bail might be determined, Mr. Morgan no doubt intending
to press his former application.
Mr. Morgan said that he meant to ask that his client be
admitted to bail, as a right.
Mr. Parry wanted to demonstrate that there was no
such right.
Mr. Morgan addressed the court on behalf of Desaux's
liberation. He wanted to know what kind of conspiracy
he had been guilty of, unless it was walking about the
house chatting with the girls and smoking ?
Mr. Arnold—The evidence against him goes to prove
that he was the gaoler of the establishment.
Mr. Morgan—There is some evidence to prove that he
did not wish the girl to be seen at the window ; there was
no great impropriety in that.
Mr. Arnold would not go into the " propriety of the
the establishment," but remanded the prisoners for a
week.
We had almost omitted to state that at the conclusion
of the proceedings, Mr. Simonds complained that a well.
dressed elderly man had on two or three occasions con.
ducted himself most offensively, by following the Belgian
girl, Alice Leroy, while with the inspector in the street,
and putting his face in a most offenaive way under her bon.
net.
Mr. Parry said that that was an assault.
Mr. Simonds said he believed the party in question Wu
in court.
mr. parry directed he should be brought forward, but
oipip•osor, oa looking round, /quad he goo.