The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-04 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR IN MARYLEBONE,

time had come.
Mr. Commissioner Law remarked that the proper
time was when this case was heard, and such an app
cation had not been made. It was not professed to be
asked for.
The Insolvent said the case was pending in the other
court. In November next, if it was in his power, he
should attempt to get it tried. It had not been tried.
He had the opinion of Lord Denman and three other
judges that the authority was
proceeded with the reading of
his judgment. In weighing evidence it was necessary
to consider what was in one scale and what in the other,
but in this case one scale was full and nothing in the
other— it was mere pretence, and no belief. When Miss
Coutts and Mr. Marjoribanks swore it was not her
handwriting, that point was settled.
The Insolvent again interrupted. Mr. Marjoribanks
had said be did not believe it was her writing. He (the
insolvent) bad sworn that he believed it was her writing,
and he still believed it. He would support that evidence.
When she was asked in Guildhall to write, she refused
to write.
Mr. Cooke said it was not true. Miss Coutts was
she was asked, but her counsel, Sir
ready to write what
Frederick Thesiger, refused to allow her.
Mr. Commissioner Law remarked that he had got all
the evidence.
The Insolvent said, let truth go before the public and
he was satisfied.
Mr. Commissioner Law pmeeeded. There was no
M
one before Lord Denman to prove that it was her hand-
writing, and there was no one to prove it on the trial
which was to have come on in February before Lord
Campbell.
Th® Insolvent, interrupting, declared that what the
was $ mistake. There was a
commissioner had stated
person named Wells to prove but he was suborned.
Mr. Cooke protested against such repeated inter-
ruptions by the insolvent.

, -
MIDLAND CIRO-CIT.—WARWICK, AUG. 3.
THE BARONESS VON BECK CASE.
CONSTANT DERMA DE MORODA V. GEORGE DAWSON, HENRY
WITTON TYNDALL, RICHARD PEYTON, AND ARTHUR
RYLAND.—ACTION FOR FALSE IMPRISONMENT.
(Tried before Mr. Justice Maule and a Special Jury.)
Mr. Sergeant Miller and Mr. Field were counsel for
the plaintiff.
Mr. Macaulay, Q.C., Mr. Mellor, Q.C., and Mr.
Hayes, appeared for the defendants.
The plaintiff is the younger son of a noble Hungarian,
who holds the honorary office of Equerry to the Emperor
of Austria, as King of Hungary. He is a native of
Pesth, and is now about 32 years of age. His education
was at the military college in Vienna, and he afterwards
served in the Austrian army. Quitting the profession
of arms, he travelled through Germany, France, and
Belgium, and ultimately found himself in London, at
the time of the Great Exhibition. It was in the April of
1851 he first became acquainted with the lady calling
herself the Baroness Von Beck. That lady, some short
time before, had published, through Mr. Bentley, a book
entitled "Personal Adventures of a Lady during the
late War of Independence in Hungary." She had writ-
ten it in German, but it was translated into the English
language by a gentleman of high classical acquirements,
Mr. Garvey, student of one of our Inns of Court. The
Baroness had sold the copyright for 401. M. Morods
had met in France with an Irish lady, who, having read
the book just mentioned, was desirous of possessing an
autograph of. the Baroness. The Baroness had figured
in the Hungarian war of independence, siding with her
countrymen against the yoke of Austria. The plaintiff,
at the request of the lady whose acquaintance he had
made on the Continent, promised to procure the auto-
graph, and for this purpose obtained the address of the
Baroness from her publisher. She was residing in
a house in the neighbourhood of Soho-square, was
in great distress at times, and the plaintiff, as a
countryman, advised with and sometimes relieved her ,
in a pecuniary sense when his own slender finances
would permit. The Baroness was about to publish another
work by subscription, and for the purpose of collecting
subscriptions she proceeded to Birmingham, armed with
letters of introduction to certain influential persons in
that town, given by Mr. Gilpin, the publisher, of
Bishopsgate-street. The Baroness, who was advanced in
life and in very delicate health, owing to an affection of the
heart, was solicitous that M. Morodo should accompany
her, as he spoke French fluently, which she did not. They
went to Birmingham, putting up at the Clarendon
Hotel. Messrs. Sturge and Southall were waited upon,
and a prospectus of the forthcoming book produced, the
terms being to subscribers 1/. 45., and to non-subscribers
1/. 10s. 6d. The plaintiff and the Baroness were re-
ceived very kindly by the different parties with whom
they came in contact, and among others by the defen-
dants ; and Mrs. Tyndall, the wife of one of them, in-
vited first the Baroness to take up her abode in her
house, and subsequently Morodo also. Up to this time
all had gone well, but suddenly the defendants became
impressed with a belief that the two were impostors,
and under that impression went behind the backs of the
parties before a magistrate of Birmingham (Mr. James),
since dead, and made the following declaration : --
" Henry Witton Tyndall says :—On Sunday, the 10th
inst., I called at the Clarendon Hotel, Birmingham, to in-
quire after the Baroness Von Beck. I saw a person who
represented himself as her secretary, and on my intimat-
ing my desire to assist the Baroness Von Beck, he
immediately left the room and soon after returned and in-
troduced to me and my wife (who was with me) a woman
as the Baroness Von Beck. I told them we should be
glad to assist them in obtaining subscriptions to the new
work, of which I had seen printed proposals, and had ar-
ranged that my wife should accompany the Baroness the
next day to obtain subscribers. On Monday, the 11th
instant, hearing that she was ill, and that her medical
man stated that the only hope of her recovery was her
immediate removal to fresh air, and perfect quietness,
I immediately made arrangements for her removal to my
house. She came there on Tuesday, the 12th inst., and has
remained there up to this time. She has told me that Kos-
suth was a dear friend of hers. I have repeatedly introduced
her to my friends as the Baroness Von Beck. She cannot
speak much English, but, I believe, understands English
when it is spoken to her. I and my friends in Birming-
ham, upon the faith of ber representations, have procured
many subscribers to her new work. I produce the printed
proposals given me by her agent, Constant Derra.
" H. W. TYNDALL.
" Sworn at the borough of Birmingham, the 29th day of
August, 1851, before me, James James, Justice of the
Peace for the said borough."
" George Dawson, of Birmingham, gentleman, says :
Constant Derra was introduced to me on Wednesday, the
Gth day of August inst. He represented himself to me as
the friend and agent of the Baroness Von Beck, and in-
formed me that the baroness had published an account
of the late war in Hungary, and was about to publish
another account of her own life, and requested my
assistance in procuring subscriptions, and arranged with
me to introduce the baroness to me the following
Friday at my house. On Friday, the Bth instant, Comon-
stant Derra came to my house with a woman, wh
he introduced to me as the Baroness Von Beck. The latter
presented me with printed proposals (which I now produce)
for a new work—the story of her life—and requested my
assistance in obtaining subscribers thereto. She ei
stated herself to be a Hungarian, and an intimate friend
of Kossuth, and that her husband was killed at the barri-
cades of Vienna, in 1848. In consequence of these repre-
sentations I then paid to Constant Derra, in the presence
of the Baroness, 11. 45., as my own subscription to the
new work. On Saturday, the 23d inst., I paid to Con.,
stant Derra, on her behalf: a further sum of 41.165., which
I had procured from other subscribers to the same new
work. Upon conversing with her I found she could not
speak French ; and, as the before-mentioned proposals
stated she had been brought up in the Court of Vienna,
this greatly surprised me. I now believe that she is not
the Baroness Von Beck.
" Sworn, &c. " GEORGE DAWSON."
i c Richard Peyton, the younger of Birmingham, che-
mist, says:—On Saturday, the 9th day of August instant,
I was introduced to a person calling herself the Ba-
roness Von Beck, as such Baroness, and to a young
called Herr Von Derra, as her agent or secretaryol.ngl haveman
since seen and had conversation with them very
fre-
quently, almost daily ; and in conversation with the said
persons, the said baroness has represented herself as the
Baroness Von Beck, and as an intimate friend of Kossuth.
And the said Herr Von Derra, in the presence of the
work, of
which to m e
said baroness, acted as her agent, and has i
printed proposals for the publication of a ws
I now produce a copy ; and, in consequence of the repre-
sentations of the said baroness, that
f. she was a friend of
usitdh,plroapogrsealet,lantodtakpreocaorcoortho the book described in
Kossuth,
the names of several of my
friends, and paid to the said Herr
ofDAerraugofsotrthe
baroness at various times since the 9th of inst., said
the
sum of 10/.165. for copies of the
printed form of receipt which I said book. I produce a
Von Derra. received from the said Herr
"Sworn, &c., RICHARD
" Arthur Rylad, o Birmingham, PEYTON, jtm."
oath that from inquiries heentleman, maketh
that the person caning herself made he verily believes
Baroness Von Beck, and

Yesterday Mr. Wakley held a lengthened inquest in.
the Marylebone Workhouse, on Mary Anne Barnard,
aged 21, housemaid, late in service at 22, Gloucester-
road, Hyde-park, and her newly born female child.
Mr. Broughton, the magistrate, was in attendance to
watch the case.

John Simpson, private in the Coldstream Guards,
stated that he saw deceased on Tuesday evening week,
about ten o'clock, deliberately jump from the Park-road-

bridge, Regent's-park, into the canal. Witness gave
the alarm, but did not wait to see the body taken out,
as he was late for barracks.

John Chapman, 88 S, said that, having received in
formation that a woman had thrown herself into the
canal, he hastened with other constables to the spot, and
seeing the bubbles created by deceased's struggles in the
water, they quickly succeeded in getting the body out
by means of a rope and hook. Perceiving symptoms of
life, they immediately sent off for medical assistance,
and in the meantime used brandy and friction, in the
hope of restoring life. Mr. Allen, surgeon, quickly ar-
rived, as also did Mr. Head, who having ineffectually
attempted artificial respiration, ordered deceased, who
was far advanced in pregnancy, to be conveyed to the
baths and washhouses, in the hope that a warm bath
might save life, and accordingly she was conveyed there
on a stretcher. But upon arriving at the gate they found
it closed, when Mr. Allen and a constable got over the
railings, and after much difficulty had the door opened,
and the deceased was carried in and put into a warm
bath, which failing in its object, she was taken out, and
the child was removed from her by an operation.
By the Coroner : Fully a quarter of an hour elapsed
before they were admitted into the bath-room. De-
ceased had been in the canal about five minutes.
Mr. Edward Head, surgeon, Park-road, St. John's-
wood, was called to deceased on the night in question,
and, assisted by Mr. Allen, ineffectually adopted every
possible restorative, whereupon they had the body con-
veyed to the baths and washhouses, thinking that a
warm bath might restore animation. As soon as they
were admitted to the baths deceased was put into a
warm bath and there kept until all hope of saving her
life was gone, when, as was their duty, they turned their
attention to the saving of the life of deceased's infant,
and for that purpose performed the Caesarian operation,
with the assistance of Mr. Fuller. After being born it
showed symptoms of life, but soon afterwards expired.
By the Coroner : Had they had proper and timely as-
sistance at the baths and washhouses, he was strongly of
opinion that the child's life might have been saved. But
upon their arrival there they were refused admission,
and thereupon a very angry altercation ensued, when
Mr. Foote, the superintendent, struck Mr. Allen, who
resented the insult ; after which they were admitted.
While they were performing the Caesarian operation,
cold water was allowed to flow to such an extent into
the bath that it overflowed. After the birth of the child
they required warm water to put it into, which was
tardily supplied by Mrs. Foote, who nearly poured the
scalding water upon witness's hands and the infant, and
upon being remonstrated with for such conduct, she said
it would be a good job if it scalded him, and also said it
would be well if the infant was dead. While they
were performing the Caesarian operation, the superin-
tendent even went to Mr. Broughton, the magistrate,
to get his advice, and upon his return informed them
that Mr. Broughton said that they should have taken
the mother to the hospital. Witness never beheld more in-
humanity nor experienced more incivility than were be-
trayed by Mr. and Mrs. Foote, who even accused the
medical men and the police of drunkenness.
Mr. Allen. surgeon, fully corroborated the previous
witness, as also did Mr. Fuller, with the exception that
he did not speak as to the infant having lived.
Mr. and Mrs. Foote and one of the attendants ad-
mitted the delay and assault at the gates, attributing
the former to the establishment having been closed at
that hour, and charging the medical men with the
latter.
Sarrah Farringdon, deceased's landlady, said the de-
ceased, who was in a very distressed state of mind in
consequence of her condition, had some time ago said,
" I think I will make away with myself," of which wit-
ness took no notice, as she thought it an idle threat.
On the evening of her death she left home in apparently
good spirits.
Mr. Squires, house-surgeon, performed the post-mortens
examination, and found that the mother died from
drowning, and that the infant had been born alive, but
he could not say what caused its death.
Other witnesses having been examined,
The Coroner elaborately summed up, observing that
the condifct of the officers at the baths and washhouses
in obstructing three medical gentlemen in their humane
efforts to save life was inhuman in the extreme. As
regarded the birth of the child, he did not think it pro-
bable that it had a separate existence from the mother.
The jury, after a short consultation, returned a ver-
dict to the effect " That the deceased, Mary Anne Bar-
nard, destroyed herself by drowning, but there was no
evidence as to her state of mind ; that the deceased
child was removed from the mother, but whether the
child lived after such removal was not proved." The
jury begged to add their high approval of the conduct
of the medical men, and their regret at the obstructions
received in the performance of their duty at the St.
Marylebone Baths and Washhouses.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

ST. HELEN'S

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Tuesday at the railway station, St. Helen's, Mr. G.
Greenall, M.P., in the chair.
The report stated that the traffic returns for the past
half-year showed an increase of 4,0 the 00. over
increased the corre-
sponding period of last year,while
ex-
penses had been 1,6411., and the additional charge for
interest on loans and preference dividends 3,1171. The
increase in the amount of capital on which interest and
dividend are charged to revenue is 179,638/. over the
amount
ofor
charged revenue in June, 1852. The gross
tito
°half-year amounted to 23,6451., and the
working
reven
charges, rates, and taxes to 8,5291., or 36 per
cent. of the receipts, leaving a surplus of 15,115/. From
this sum is deducted 2,922/. for interest on loans, 3501.
renewal of permanent way, and 1851. for additional
works, leaving 11,6571., to which is added 796/., the
balance of the last account, making 12,4531. Out
of this sum is deducted 11,8651. for dividends of
11. per whole share, 10s. per half-share, 3/. 10s.
per 1001. preference share, 15s. per 251. preference
share, and ss. 7d. per 41 per cent. share, leaving a
balance for the next account of 5881. On the 21st June
last the Garston Dock was opened for traffic, and the
directors are confirmed in their opinion as to its proving
a most valuable part of the company's property. The
act authorising the extensions of the line to Rainford
and Eccleston coalfields has passed through Parliament,
and now awaits the Royal assent. The East Lancashire
Company have also succeeded in their application for an
extension to Rainford, and have made arrangements for
the use of the Lancashire and Yorkshire line from near
Ormskirk to Southport. The execution of these lines
will complete an efficient railway connexion between St.
Helen's and Southport.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
congratulated the proprietors that the dock works at,
Garston were nearly completed, and stated that he ex-
pected they would have a considerable increase in the
traffic.

After some observations from Mr. King, Mr. Fos-
berry, and Mr. Jack, resolutions were passed adopting
the report—declaring the dividends stated therein—and
re-electing the retiring directors and auditors.
The meeting was then made special, and resolutions
were passed authorising the directors to raise an addi-
tional capital not exceeding 120,000/. in shares of 201.
each, entitled to a preference dividend of 4!,, per cent.
per annum, subject to redemption at par from and after
August 1860.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the pro-
ceedings.

BORDEAUX AND CETTE;
A special meeting of the shareholders of the defunct
railway company under the above name, was held yes-
terday at the London Tavern, for the purpc.sse of prose-
cuting their claims to the return of the remaining moiety
of the caution money, the possession of which
is retained
by the French Government ; Mr. Alderman Salomons
was in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said, the last time the shareholders
riot together was immediately after the French govern-