The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-23 00:00:00

RE SEPTIMUS STEVENS.

The insolvent in this case was described as having been
the master of the Union Workhouse at Croydon. Al-
though his name appeared in the original opposed list no
creditor appeared against him ; however in his examina-
tion by the Court he admitted that he had been pre-
viously certified as a bankrupt for upwards of 2,0001.—.
Discharged.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME ClRCUlT.—Chelmsford, July 22.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Lord Chief Justice TINDAL.)
John Lunn Campbell, aged 54, a Major in the army,
was indicted for a rape on the person of Elizabeth
Sayers, under the following extraordinary circum-
stances :
Mr. Ryland, with whom was Mr. Johnson, con-
ducted the prosecution, which was instituted by direc-
tion of the Visitinr, Justices of the county gaol ; and
Mr. Dowling defended the prisoner.
Elizabeth Sayers, an intelligent girl, between 13 and
14 years of age, stated that in the month of May last her
father was confined in Chelmsford gaol for debt ; her
mother had been dead for some years, and she at pre-
sent resided with her grandmother. Witness was in
the daily habit of visiting her father at the
prison after she left school. Had known the prisoner
for some time, in consequence of his also being confined
for debt. On the 14th May, witness went to the gaol
as usual, shortly after twelve o'clock. She went into her
father's room, but not finding him there, looked out of
the window into the yard ; at that moment she saw the
prisoner go down stairs from his own room to the pump,
which was in the yard. Shortly after he came into her
father's room, and asked her to go up stairs to his room
with him. She at first made no answer ;he again asked
her to go up, as he wanted her to do someting for him,
she having frequently gone on errands for him.
She said she could not, as she wanted to see her father.
The prisoner then laid hold of her and forced her up
stairs before him into his own room. He then asked
her if she would have some dinner, but she refused, and
again repeated her wish to see her father. The prisoner
then set her upon his knee, and said, " Never mind about
seeing your father now, you can see him presently."—
(Witness then described the assalt committed upon her.)
She cried very much and tried to get away from the
prisoner, but did not call out very loud, as she was afraid
to do so. As soon as the prisoner left her he put a
penny into her hand, and desired her not to tell any per-
son what had happened. She then went to her father's
room and saw him, but did not mention what had oc-
curred. Did not like to say anything to him. She was
very unwell for some time after the assault. About a
fortnight after the day alluded to the witness was in her
father's room, when the prisoner entered, and asked her
to fetch him a pint of beer, but she turned her back
upon him. He went out of the rorm to fetch a jug
and her father asked her whether the prisoner had been
doing, anything to her ; she then told him what had
occurred.
Cross-examined—The long room, which is common to
all the prisoners, was very near the room occupied by
the prisoners, if she had screamed out it Was possible
she might have been heard ; but she was afraid to do
so. Never mentioned the circumstance to any person
till she told her father of it. Was quite sure she did
not consent to the prisoner's meddling with her ; tried
to get away from him, but he held her down.
William Sawyers, the father of the last witness, stated
that he was a shoemaker, and was in May last confined
in gaol for debt. On Friday, the 28th .May; his daugh-
ter came to see him, and whilst there the prisoner en-
tered the room, and asked' her to fetch him a pint of
beer. He (witness) saw her countenance change very
much, and observed that she turned her back upon the
prisoner, which induced him to believe that something
wrong had occurred. As soon as the prisoner left the room,
he questioned the child, when, after some hesitation, she
admitted that the prisoner had been taking indecent
liberties with her ; but he did not at the time suppose
it was to such a serious extent. The prisoner returned
to the room in about five minutes, and he (witness)
called him an old villain, and told him that if he
ever entered the room again, he would knock his
head off. The prisoner said, " Well, well," and
walked into the yard, and sat down in a
chair, which belonged to him (witness). He told
him he should not sit in his chair, and took it away
from him. The prisoner upon that said to the
other prisoners in the yard, " I can't think what's the
matter with that Sayers." Upon which he told them
that the prisoners had been attempting to commit a rape
upon his daughter ; to which the prisoner replied,
" Why, that was more than a fortnight ago : why did
you not tell me of it before ?" He then mentioned the
subject to the Governor of the gaol, and an investigation
subsequently took place, by direction, of the Visiting
Justices.

Mr. John Thomas Gibson, surgeon to the prison,
stated' that he examined the prosecutrix, by direction of
the Magistrates, and there were certain indications upon
her person, but • not sufficient for him to say whether
violence had been med.

Mr. Dowuwo addressed the Jury on behalf of the
prisoner, and

The LEARNED JUDGE' having summed up,
The Jury retired to consider their verdict, and after an
absence of nearly four hours, returned a verdict of guilty,
accompanied by a strong recommendation to mercy.
Lord Chief Justice TINDAL ordered sentence of death
to be recorded against the prisoner, and intimated that
although he should recommend that his life should be
spared, it could be otily with the understanding that he
would be sent out of this country for the remainder of
his life.