The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-22 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, DEC. 21.

THE KING, IN THE MATTER OF TURNBULL, v.
HODSON AND OTHERS.
This was an indictment for a conspiracy to invalidate a will
made by a Mr. Stephenson in favour of Dr. Turnbull, at the in-
stance of Dr. Turnbull, a physician, residing in the neighbour-
hood of Hull, against the defendants, Mr. Hodson, a gentleman,
who was the master of a pack of fox.hounds at Beverley ; Wil-
liam Young, formerly the groom to that gentleman, and his
wife; and Nancy Watson, a relative, and formerly a resident
with an elderly gentleman of the name of Stephenson, who
died in the year 1829. And this indictment was founded on
an action of ejectment tried at York in August, that of
" Turnbull v. Sheppard," before Mr. Baron Bayley, in which
Hodson, Young, and his wife, appeared as witnesses, and the
object of that action was to get possession of some property
left to the plaintiff by a Mr. Stephenson, a gentleman resid-
ing at Beverley, in Yorkshire. It appeared from the state-
ment of Sir James Scarlett, with whom was Mr. Kelly,
that Mr. Stephenson, a man of considerable property but
of advanced age, who had been fond of horses, &c., had re-
siding with him a relation of the name of Fanny Watson, who
officiated as his companion and housekeeper. Mr. Hodson, the
master of a subscription pack of hounds, lodged with Mr.
Stephenson. Some years before his death, the latter gentleman
had occasion to consult professionally Dr. Turnbull ; these pro-
fes.sional meetings eventually terminated in a sort of intimacy
between the parties, which led to a consultation on the private
affairs of Mr. Stephenson. Thus matters went on till early in
the year 1829, when Mr. Stephenson being taken ill, and having
some time previously consulted Dr. Turnbull as to a proper
party to make his will,—one who would make it short, and at
little expense,—a Mr. Dales, a conveyancer of Hull, was recom-
mended by Dr. Turnbull. On the latter receiving a note
from Miss Watson stating the wish of Mr. Stephenson that
Mr. Dales should attend for the purpose of preparing
the will, on the following morning Dr. Turnbull, who had
given notice to Mr. Dales, met the latter gentleman at
Beverley. On the Doctor calling on Mr. Stephenson, who
was in bed, the latter expressed his wish that his in- ,
structions should be taken by the Doctor himself; accord-
ingly the latter wrote down at the dictation of Mr. Stephen.
son, by which, after leaving 2,0001. to Miss Nancy Watson, and
legacies to some other parties, to his surprise the Doctor found
himself named as executor and residuary legatee. It appeared
Miss Watson expected the bulk of this property, and conse-
quently a disappointment followed at the death of the testator
on the terms of the will being published, that the Doctor should
take the bulk of the property, which it appeared would amount
to about 15,000/. An action to get possession of a part of this
was brought by the Doctor, as we have before stated, and the
result was, that the plaintiff was nonsuited, on the grounds of
the will not having been properly executed ; and this was
founded on the evidence of Mr. Hodson, Young, and his wife,
given on that trial. Circumstances having led to a snore close
investigation, they appeared to warrant the present proceed.
lugs, in which Miss Watson, although not a witness on the
trial, appeared to be implicated, and was made a party in the
present indictment. There were other reports circulated to the
disadvantage of the plaintiff.
The Court were occupied till near eleven o'clock this even-
ing in hearing evidence on the part of the plaintiff: To-mor-
row morning, at half-past nine o'clock, that of the defendant
will be gone into.