The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-26 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

Yesterday Thomas Rickers, a respectable looking man,
about 60 years of age, was brought before Messrs. LAING
and BENNETT, by Kimpton, the warant-officer of St. Pan-
cras, charged by Martha Rickers, his wife, about 40 years
of age, with having deserted her, and leaving her chhrge-
able to the parish, under the following extraordinary cir-
cumstances :

It appears that some years ago the prisoner became ac-
quainted with the prosecutor, to whom he paid his ad-
dresses, and they were eventually married at St. James's
Church, West, but after the ceremony had taken place, in
consequence of something that was said to the prisoner, be
left his wife, and the marriage was never consummated. She
had ever since been living separately from him, and latterly
she was compelled to seek parochial relief, when she was re-
ceived into the workhouse, in a melancholy state of mind,
and- she had, within a short period, made two attempts
upon her life. About six weeks ago she made a deep in-
cision in her throat, but she was recovered. Shortly after-
wards she threw herself into a water-butt, in which situation
she was discovered, and taken out in a state of insensibility ;
but by prompt remedies being resorted to she was again re-
stored, and she had ever since been kept in the workhouse as
a lunatic, preparatory to her removal to some place of safety,
she having evinced symptoms of a deranged mind ; and the
prisoner having been traced, he was apprehended by
Kimpton.

Mr. LAING inquired whether she was now in a proper
state to be sworn ?—Keys, the overseer, replied that she
was under the care of the parish surgeon as a lunatic, but
her mind seemed to be more tranquil.
Mr. LAING asked her how long it was since she was
married to the prisoner ? Prosecutor (depressed)—Four
or five years.

Mr. LAlNG—Where did you live at the time? Prose-
cutor—ln Essex-street, Strand.

Mr. LAING—And did he never live with you ? Prose-
cutor—Never. We certainly have been in bed together.
Mr. LAlNG—Where were you married? Prosecutor—
In St. James's-church, West.

Mr. LAING—Has he never allowed you anything for
your support ? Prosecutor—Never.
It appeared from Kimpton's statement, that there was
some secret cause, yet unexplained, that caused their sepa-
ration. He understood that after the ceremony the pri-
soner left her on the steps of the church door, somebody
having whispered something to him, and that they nover
slept together.

Keys- said that he had questioned her and the prisoner,
but he could not trace any settlement.
Mr. LAING directed the officer to take her outside, when
he asked the prisoner how he procured his livelihood.
Prisoner said he was a daily labourer. Although he had
not been compelled by the parish to allow her any thing,
he had allowed her seven shillings per week ; and that she
had eighteen pounds from him seven months ago, but lat-
terly his means were so narrowed that he could do nothing
for her.

Mr. LAING—What was your labour ? Prisoner--I am
a gardener.

Dir. LAING do you live ? PrisonQr—At
Chelsea.

Mr. LAING—Have you ever been a yearly servant ?
Prisonet4 have been in gentlernens' service, as a weekly
sei•tatal; qt flpttniirtg,tdn; 'Warwickshire, where the prosecu-
trix also lived ds

Mr. LAING—What is the reason that 7iiii!ert!,,ofir t ifs
Prisoner—l am sorry to say she was imprudent, and Bran
a little.

Kimpton—She drank a great deal.
LAINtt laid that insanity was generally the result of
excessive drinking. He asked the prisoner where he was
born ? Prisoner—At Bampstead.
Mr. LAINti inquired whether it was the intention of the
parish to cause her removal to a lunatic asylum ? Keys--
That entirely remains with the doctor a 3 to her state.

Mr. LAING said it was clearly established that they had
been married, and that she was left chargeable to the pa-
rish, and in the present stage of the proceeding it would be
advisable to take her back to the workhouse, until further
inquiries could be milde as to their legal settlement, and
what was best to be done with her.

Keys corroborated the man's statement that he had ;Al-
lowed her money, and parted with 181., and that his income
was now very limited.
Mr. LAING said that, judging from his demeanour there,
coupled with that circumstance, induced him to believe him
a respectable man, who wished to act properly, and he
discharged him, conditionally, that he would attend at the
office, on any future day, when called upon, which he pro
tr.ised to do, and his wife was taken back to the ►workhouse.