The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-05 00:00:00

CURIOUS CASE OF BIGAMY.

QUEEN-SQUA 11E.--Yesterday the 01.kce wag
very much crowded, and the most intense interest was excited
in the examination of a well-looking young man, a native, of
Africa, nained.Edward Francis, who was brought before dr.
GREGORY, the Magistrate, charged with having intermarried
with a fine young Indian woman, named Ann Lambert, hie
former wife Margaret being still living.
It appeared in evidence, that in the month of August, 1815,
the prisoner, who was then in Ireland, married his tirst
wife at Saint Mary's Church, Limerick, according to thi,
Catholic rites, and on coming to England they were re-
married in the Protestant Church. They continued to live
together till about six months back, when, in consequence of
some dispute, his wife left him. tie then formed an acquaint-
ance with the second wife, who was at that time married, but
her husband was in a dying state, and she living in the family
of Major Creece, No. 25, 13aker-strect, Portman-square, as an
nit mdar t on the Major's Lady, which situation she now fills.
About a week or a fortnight after their acquaintance had com-
menced, her husband died, and in a few days after his funeral,
she and the prisoner were married at the parish church at Mary-
lebone, by banns, which had been published bet Ore her hus-
band's death. A day or two ago the first wife returned home
to her husband, and, to her astonishinent, found that in her
absence he had taken to himself another wife ; she tlaereforc
caused him to be apprehended.
The certificates of the marriage of each of the wives were,pro-
duced, and the prisoner admitted having intermarried, cos_
tented that the first marriage was invalid, ivarsmuch.as itAvas
solemnized according' to the Cotholic religion.
The Indian wife declared, that she knew that, unless the pri-
soner was positive in his opinion that the first marriage was
invalid, he would not have offended the laws of this country--
Ile had told her in what way he had been married, and B},:e also
thought it illegal.
Magistrate.—you ought to have asked some person respect-
kg it that knew more of the laws than you did.
Indian Wife.—Ah ! never mind dat ; if he be sent over de
water, I will go with him, if it cost me 100 guineas.
The prisoner, in his defence, said that it was true he had
married both the women, but he believed at the time the .firte
marriage was not binding. The prisoner was then fully com-
mitted to take his trial, and the Indian wife was bound over in
the sum of 401. to prosecute.

MOST A FFECTI CIRCUPASTANCE.—LaSt i'Ven-
ing, about eight o'clock, a very shocking accident took place in
Montague-place, Manchester-square; a fine boy, of the age of
seven years, son of Mr. Jones, was standing on the first floor at
a window which opened as a venetian door,. leaning forward,
looking at some persons passing ; his mother was sitting in -the
room a short distance from the window, looking .at her favourite
child, who in a playful manner swung round. the window, logs
his hold, and uttering a piercing cry, fell on the pavement—..
11 is mother beheld him fall without having the:power. to save
him, and sunk almost lifeless in a fit on the ground. The
child was taken up and instantly carried into the house, and
Mr. Marris, a medical gentleman, attended, but declared no
surgical skill was of any avail, the scull being so dreadfully
fractured. The child remained in a state of stupor for twenty
minutes, and then expired. Mrs. Jones was with difficulty
recovered from the fit; but such are the effects of the shock
caused by the lamentable occurrence, that it is believed she
cannot recover.

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—On I,Vedne.sda v,
Mr. E. YOUENS' a boot and shoe-maker, in Red Lion-street,
Holborn, arrived at Brighton with his wife, her brother and
sister. The Ladies went in search of lodgings, while Mr.
Youens and his brother-in-law walked about. The atten-
tion of the latter having been diverted for a few minutes,
when he returned, his brother had disappeared, and from
that time was not again seen alive by any of his friends._
Every inquiry was made, but without success, till the same
evening, when a coat and waistcoat were found lying on the
beach, apparently as if deposited there ; the sleeve Of the coat
was yet warm, and in the pocket was found 40/, and some
memoranda. Shortly after the body was found in.the sea op-
posite the Regency-square.—A Coroner's Inquest was held,
when the brother-in-law stated that his unhappy relative had la-
boured under mental despondency, and a verdict was recorded,
of " Drowned himself while in a state of temporary derange-
ment."—The deceased paid his addresses to the lady whom he.
had but just married, as long as 12 years ago. Not being able
to obtain the consent of her father, the courtship was then
broken off, and, on the death of the father, was renewed. He
was 42 years old, and his wife about the same age.
An Inquest was held yesterday at the Feathers,
Waterloo-road, on the body orf Sophia Thomas. The deceased,
who was a lady's maid, was in a few days to have em-
barked for the Continent with a Nobleman's family, an-I
had requested her brother, a waterman, to carry her in
his boath from Qucenhithe to the steam-boat. A little girl
accompanied them, and on their return the brother rowed up
to London-bridge against tide, and was passing under the arch,
when the boat struck against the starling and upset; the bro-
ther caught one of the sculls and drifted close to the place
where his sister and the girl were clinging, they caught him
round the waist and held him firmly, he was unable to keep
above water, and they all sunk together. The young.tnari and
the girl were subsequently picked up, but Sophia:. Thor.p, 'was
erawnett—Verdict—" Accidental Death." •