The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-04 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

SOMERSET ASSIZES, WrLts, SEPT. 2.

BEFORE MU. UARON GARROW AND • SPECIAL JURY.
- CRIM. CON.
PORTER e. JONES, ZSQ.
Mr. MERR TWEATIIE it opened the pleadinga and • • •
Mr. Serjcant PE LL stated the plaintiff's case to the jury, and
observed, that the case they had that day to try was one of a
most disgusting description, and would require all their atten-
tion -tO enable them duly to appreciate the condtict pf the de-
fendant on the record ; for he had destroyed the litipoiness ora
young man entering into life, by taking from hint the wife of
his bosom, who had been always most all'ectionately inclined
towards her husband, in which the Wily arts of the adulterer had
succeeded in causing her to forget the itacred and 'solemn duty
of a wife. The Jury would find as curious a case developed In,
the present instance as ever appeared in a Court of Justice.
Actions of this description differed in their character; and le
thought the Jury wouldafrree with him in thinking that theitese
now before them was as singular and aggravated .a one
ever brought under the consideration of a Jury. The coo
difficulties attending it, that required the application of all-their
judgment in the consideration of the various Circumstances con-
nected with it. Ile would assert, that there never .wasa Ca,sq!
that denianded a calmer and more deliberate attention,,,,ii
that called more loudly for large damages from the defendant,
for an injury that he could never redress, and which theconduct
of the plaintiff towards his wife ought hit have protected hint
against. The plaintiff was a young man of the age of 24, earr}:-
ing on the business of a land surveyor and clothier at Frome,
this county, and the defendant was a gentleman .of fortune; he
would say of considerable fortune, for his property, if he were
rightlz informed, amounted to between 40 and 60,000/. His age
was 21. Mr. Porter married in the year 1822, in the month of
June. There had been a courtship between Mr. anti, Mrs.
Porter of a year and a half. When the acquaintance com-
menced Mrs. Porter was between 18 and 19, and was the daugh-
ter of a most respectabletlirmer named Yeoman, who, with ,Mrs.
Porter, had six or seven children, all brought up well in every
moral and domestic duty, and calculated to he an ornament to
society, and a comfort to those with whom they were connected.
Up to the period of this. unhappy transaction the conduct of the
plaintiffs wife had been free trout blame—indeed, it had been
exemplary; it was truly without reproach. Porter, soon after
his marriage, connected himself with the defendant, by taking a
house of him, in which he (Jones) was to have apartments._
After he was married, for the first 6 months he lived with his
Wife's father, 31r. Yeoman. He afterwards removed to a house
near Frame, at Kaford Terrace, the defendant having a house
to let at Lower Kaford. The plaintiff ultimately took it, and
Jones himself lived at Rutford, about fiften or sixteen miles
from Frome; but considering it necessary (having large pro.
party there) to live occasionally near Frome, it was agreed
that he should have apartments in his own house that had been
taken by the plaintiff at Lower Kaford, for which he was to
pay 20/. per annum. Alterations Were accordingly made to
keep Jones's apartments separate from Porter's. 'rite house
had a ground,floor, a bedroom floor, and one room over it.—.
There was one general door to enter at ; on the left of the
ground-room floor was the defendant's parlour, and to the room
above, where he slept, he passed by a separate staircase to the one
used by the plaintiff's family. There was a passage to the right
on the defendant's staircase that led to the plaintiff's kitchen.—
Porter's parlour was on the right of the passage leading from the
out door, and on the left was plaintiff's kitchen, and there the
staircase was leading to the defendant's bed-room. The door
at the top of this staircase was locked in consequence of Mr.
Jones's lodging at Porter's, and a person wishing to come from
Jone's bed-room to Porter's bed-room must come down stairs
through the door of communication, which, as he had stated,
was at the time to wittrli he referred kept locked. Over the
bed-room floor, as he had stated, there was a servants' room, in
which on one occasion two of Jones's servants slept. Porter's
servants consisted of a man named Slade and his wife, who
would be called that day before them; they slept in an out-
house, to which the house did not communicate. A factory was
at the back of this out-house, and on that account it was neces.
sary to have a person sleep there for its protection. Porter took
possession of this house about Michaelmas 1823; Jones only
slept one night in the house between Michaelmas and the 19th
October. On 19th Oct. Porter was obliged to go to London on
business; when he went to town the defendant was not at Lower
Kaford. Porter thought his wife would go to her father's
during his absence, or have a Miss Smith, who would be call-
ett before them to-day, to stay with her. In point of fact, she
did go to her father's for three or four days, but she returned,
and met Jones at Lower Kaford. The Jury will perceive that
during Porter's absence Jones crime, anti found that he was
front home. He then brought his two servants; and in this
part of the case he wished to state, that lie did not feel,justified
in making observations that might naturally serve his case ;
but, if his friend did not ask the questions to which he alluded,
his Lordship would allowany of them to ask such -questions as
might tend to elucidate evidence. Jones, on. the 27th October,
came to Lower Kaford, and found that Porter was gone to
London. On the 2d of November he came again, and brought
two servants; one of whom he sent away on.the. 6th, and • the
other on the 7th. He was observed looking at the house, and
keys of the doori that were kept locked, on-the Bth of Novem-
ber. On the morning of the 9th, Mrs. :Slade came • into • the
house to light the fire, and prepare breakfast, front the house
where her and her hustand slept, and went first into the defend=

ant's sitting room. He ought to have stated, that on the pn.
ceding night the defendant seemed anxious to get Mrs. Slade
to bed. When she got to the house the next morning, and was
in the defendant's sitting room, she heard a noise in the pas-
sage, like a person walking without shoes ; and immediately
after saw Jones, with only his shirt on, in Porter's part of the
house. He then said to Mrs. Slade—" Pray don't mention you
have seen this." When she next saw him he was dressed.—
He again asked her not to mention the circumstance. He
spoke this slightly, that he might not injure Jones's case.—
He did not mention it with that view, and he only ;lanced
at it, lest it should not be proved. Mrs. Slade afterwards
went into Mrs. Porter's bed-mom, who was in bed,
and on seeing Mrs. Slade, she lad her head under the bed-
clothes, and seemed confused. Mrs. Slade afterwards exa-
mined the door, and found the staple forded. Airs. Slade
and her husband afterwards had a communication, and it
would appear that Mr. Jones had offered them both money.
—lle believed that he should also prove expressions had been
used on the part of the defendant hat whatever the nature of
the came might be, could not be justified, for they were the
taunts of opulence over poverty, andetilded oppression to injury ;
for the defendant spoke of not cart% for what had happened, as
he had more money than Porter. tie would assert before the
Gentlemen of the Jury and his Lordship, any allusion to pro.
perty tinder such circumstances was sdding oppression to insult.
On the 18th of November the *WO returned from London,
and on the '2Bth January following the communication of his
wife's infidelity was announced to him. None had been made
to him befOre. Neither Slade nor, his wife had mentioned it.
Whether it was good or bad feeling was not tbr him to say.
The communication was first made to Porter's brother, and be
did not know how to act. lie threw out hints before .Mrs. Porter,
and ultimately he believed that Or wife informed the husband
herself of the disgrace that had taken place. Mrs. Porter re.
rosined two days afterwards in the house, sleeping in a separate
bed from her husband. She was now under her father's protec.
tion. It might be that Slade and his wife might come to com.
mit gross perjury to-day, but he thottght the Jury would re-
quire more evidence on the other side man they would have be.
fore they would 'Come to that conelesion. If they thought the
crime had been perpetrated, then came the question of the '
damages : and here he could not but express his satisfaction
that Mr. and Mrs. Porter had no family ; but the Jury would
consider that an affectionate wife has been tome from an indulgent
husband, and that would be heard to day from members of the fa-
mily, who would declare what sort of man 3lr. I'. was, anti how
kind and affectionate towards him was Mrs. P. It was impossi'he
to believe 'that Mrs. Porter's mind has not been corrupted
before her body ; and if it was not done by a long course of
persuasion, so much deeper was the injury, for it spewed the
defendant had determined to gratify his passion the tiro. time
•he saw Airs. Porter. It was unpoesible to know if the crime
had been committed before Bth November; but he thought no
one could venture to break in upon the sanctuary of a mar.
riage.bed without knowing the state of the woman's mind.
Probably the unhappy female's mind was in a state of uncer-
tainty as to the course she should pursue when the destroyer
broke open her door; but this he had good reason to know,
Airs. Porter's affections continued in favour of her husband
after her fall. After Porter knew the fact, what could he do ?
this. He had heard reports that is beamed Friend might
flimemmhuisst wife.eitile alilluomwojueralossu'assy Ftlohrbiagt Ilafillittlisincoamfcoorutntorry rite
entleavoor to embody into proof; but he thought it would be a
disadvantageous course for him to itursue, without he could
beyond all doubt spew Mrs. Porter a woman of abandoned
habits, and plaintiff's conduct unbecoming in a married man.
lie might attempt that course, but he warped his Friend that
It would be a dangerous one. The damages were laid high.
They were as high as 5,000/., ant! It was for the Jury to say,
whether they would give the whole or what part of the damages
to the plaintiff
but, in adverting to the damages, he mould
not avoid again reminding them of the property of the defen-
dant. The come was in their hands, strip he had no doubt they
would let justly bed,• parties,
estemined by Mr. MERRY WEATHER
_ww. present whendimyrsister
wit Married to the I
priatelatihret.erier. hem, Deter, on e oh of
June, lti2:!. My.twoltisterJand • other branches of m f roily
were present. My sister was Air: Porter had beenYpaayi -
Hs addrClview tonlyesieter aboula year and a hale. Air. Porter
inns about Mr., and' Mrs. rorter, after their marriage, at
first dived. with nay father. My father-low nine children: -In
lialf Is year, Alr. Porter thdleilnvacelnas ntit.o,Kla 8f713. H
1 Terreatcheen line.eliirvt edto
there tineLatly.t 11el
hitothy4x:e. live
en
togetherrllrs. Porter been in
ntathe.
smhabit.le
ioftismeee past wi
ingAir.natenrd,
hlssnys rversince they have been married. They
?11 r. Poeteetante!to ruv father's house with Alias Smith.
('rocs-examined by 31r: A believe Porter was in the
brisitiess'before he married. He was once clerk to an
attorney.
Ile Was in no business when he married. The house
Porter first went to was six miles frost my father's.
Mr. Robert Lee sworn--I have visited the plaintiff' at Kaford
Terrace, and always thought he and his wife lived comfortably
together. Attire end of last year, they removed to Lower lie-
fo'rCdr.ess‘-le7xlineiliii first
byk nAelvi r. te'. ortFer
. e'turint*.taa3sitli—rvegrrier has been
something in the surveying and Something in the clothing way.
Mr. 'Joseph French sworn--I know Mr. Porter. lam his.
foreman, and have been so fifteen months. He lived, when
first I knew hiM, at Kaford Terrace; he then went to Lower.
Kaford. He had formerly been a clerk to Mr. Wickham, the
attorney. 1 have frequently seen Air. anti Mrs. Porter to.
};ether; they appeared very happy. In October Air. Porter
went to London. I sent him several pieces of cloth to London.
Ile stayed three weeks and three or four days in town. Ile re-
turned on the 13th November. He brought his wife a very
handsome gown-piece and shawl. Porter rents his house of
Mr. Jones. Before Porter took possession of the house there
was a door-way that communicated between one set of rooms
and another stopped up. There was a staircase that commu-
nicated between the different rooms above stairs. Airs. Porter
is a very comely woman.
,Hiss Elizabeth Smith sworn—l know Mr. Porter and his
wife; I am the sister of Mrs. Porter by the mother's side ; I
had not been staying with them. The witness was told she '
might withdraw for the present.
Mr. John Lawson sworn-1 am a clothier in London, and
first saw Mr. Porter on the 27th or 20th of October last in
Cateaton-street ; I had transactions with him ; 1 did not see
him in London after the Bth November.

Susan Slade sworn—l am a married woman ;my husband
and myself went to live with Mr. Porter last Michaelmas;
there was an apprentice boy beside; Mr. Porter's house was
divided, and there was no communication between Mr. Jones's
and Mr. Porter's sleeping rooms; my husband and I slept in
an outhouse t I know Mr. Jones t I first saw him on the Bth
Of October; I waited on him ; he stayed then one night ; he
came again on the 27tia; he stayed till the 30th ; he returned
the Ist or 2d of November, and brought a footman and boy ;
Mr. Porter went to London,. on the 10th of October; tlrs.
Porter did not go; she went to her father's for two or three
days; I first saw Miss Smith on the 16th of January; Mr.
Jones returned to the house on the Ist or 2tl November; when
Mr. Jones returned on the Ist or 2d of November Mrs. Porter
was at home; she had then returned from her father's; on
the 27th October she was not at home; Mr. Jones then asked
me where Porter's people were ? I said he was in London and
away
on wife at her father's ; one of Mr. Jones's servants went
on the Gth November, and the other on the 7th. The man
went away first, and the boy on the 7th. I know the door that
leads from the passage to the kitchen t it is kept locked. The
other door that leads to Mr. Porter's stair-case is also kept
locked. When they are locked all communications are cut off
between the two parts of the house. On the 7th November Mrs.
Porter stayed up after me. I went to bed about ten. She was
in the parlour. I went to bed through the kitchen. I saw Alr.
Jones in his parlour just before! went to bed. The next morn.
ing I came down at half-past five. flat myself in by the back
door, the key of which I had. I first went into Mt. Jones's par-
lour, the 'door of which was open. I lighted the fire there, and
then I heard some person coming without shoes from Mrs.
Potter's room, along the passage to her staircase. It was then
quite light. Mr. Jones came down Mr. Porter's stairs and
opened the passage door. He then had only his shirt on, with-
out stockings or night esp. He ran by me up his own staircase
When he got up stairs, he exiled me. He said, " Slade, Slade,
Slade, come up." He was then only in his shirt. Ile got me
by the arm 'and said, " Don't say a word, you must keep your
own counsel." I told him I should not. He then said "it is
done, and cannot be helped.—Jt wax not the woman's fault, it
was all my own." The boy went in the afternoon of the 7th.
.tones said, " I broke open her room door and took the keys
Yesterday on purpose, and I sent away my boy George on pur-
pose that he might not know." Mr. Jones's servants had slept
in a room over their master's. My husband was then in
the stable. Defendant said again,. It you will keep your
counsel I'll make your fortune--I'll make your fortune,