The Sun.
London, England, 1807-08-12 00:00:00

GREGORY V. WEST.

This was an =a6lion of damages for seduCtion of
the Plaintiff's daughter, who had become pregnant
per gnod.servitium amisit. The Plaintiff is a respea=
able widow. Lady at Camelford; the Defendant is a
Surgeon of the same place,
Mr. JEKYL, its opening the case, severely cen-
sured the profligacy of the Defendant,- wbo, from
his profession, was admi!ted Into the bosom of the
family, and under that sanaien had sednced this
young lady, even under the very eye of her parent,_
and had then boasted that he would spend a thou-
sand pounds in defending so disgraceful a cause.
Mr. JEKYL said he should produce a respe&able Al-
derman of the Borough of Camelford, who would
prove in evidence, that he had questioned Mr. West'
as to his views in sheaving so much attetition'as he
was..publiely observed to do foWards. Miss
Gregory—attentions which were no (11:A11)1:Construed
by the injured female as indicative of an honourable
attachment i that the Defendant had admitted to the
worthy Alderman,: that„-Mrs.. Gregory's dsughters
were respesaahle and fine girls, and that if any man
were the cause of either of them becoming pregnant,
he would be bound in honour to marry her; but
that for his part, he certainly had no such intention.
Mr: JEKYL having,- with his usual ability, laid
open his charge, proceeded to call his,first evidence,
who was Miss Gregory. Her appearance,
highly interested the Coin t in her favour, and she
gave her evidence with great, modesty and sensibi-
lity. She stated that she is twenty-four years of_'
:age, and that her mother, the. Plaintiff in this a6tion;
is a widow living in Camelford,' independent bf any
business, and that she was of service toiler mother
in. her household affairs; that the Defendant is a
=surgeon, who, three or fOur years ago„ came' ro.
-rest fie tit Camelford 'to - practice -in his profession ;,
that se had consilerable business, and attended her'
mtither's family as surgeon and apothecary ; that he
soon began tO pay her particular attention, which
continued till February 1806, when upon a Sun-
day her mother and elder sister went into the coun-
try, where they continued till the Tuesday follow-
ing, leaving her with her youngest sister at home.
That this younger sister went to the Methodist
Chapel about six,o'clock in the evening, leaving her
at home alotre, for that she. was prevented by indis
position &Otis accompanying her. 'That soon after
her sister had one -out, the Defendant came
into the house, in the parlour where she was sitting
by' the fire, and that after some, improper liberties,
and '-using,her very ill," he compleated his pur-
pose. That she became pregnant, and has been
delivered of a female child, ' which -is since dead
(Here she burst into tears); and that her !neither
'had paid every expence attendant on her unfor-
tunate situation.
On being cress-examined by Mr. PELL (who was
assistedby shree other Counsel), she said she never
informed the Defendant that she should he at home
on the day the offence happened; knows one Lot,
a hatter, btit. has been acquainted With him from
infancy, but lie is gone .away from Camelford to
live; never had any criminal intercourse with him,
or any other person whatever, except the,Defend-
ant : heard that Lot is now-in Bodmin, but
does nut knoW that her mother has had any conver-
sation with him since they have been at the Assizes.
Witsfess knows Mrs, Rosevear, of Camelford, who
lives near her mother's house, and has three sons;
but 'does not know that Mrs. Rosevear eVer objected
to her Sons coming to the Plaintiff's house on at- -
count of its' ill repute ; that she never said " it was
no wonder that Rosevear came so often and staid so
long at her mother's
.houSe, since he had no peace:
at home on her (the witness's) account."
Mr. -DAstrunt now called Miss Gresiory, the.
young-es sister of the preceding evidence, who says -
she is a milliner, and 21 years cif age: she corro-
'borated the former part of her sister's testimony.
--
A private conVersstion now took place between the
Counsel for both parties, when' it was agreed that
Twenty .Pounds damages should 'be taken, and the
trial closed. This was a Special Jury case..