The Sun.
London, England, 1802-03-18 00:00:00

A RUNAWAY NARRIAC:E.

At Coe York Assizes, on Saturday, a trial came
on which muell_rnore than the question of peace or
war has, for the/last eighteen months, interested the
whole county of Ygrk, and formed the 5 übj,!ft of
conversation at eery tea-table in every female
circle.

It was a bill of indiffinent preferred by -Bacon
Frank, Esq. a very aaive and valuable• Magistrate,
residing near. Doncaster, against Mr. Hewitt, a
Gentleman who has made a very large fortuoe in the
Westindies, but now residing. gear Doncaster :
and Colonel Sowerby,:of.the artillery, an. elderly
Gentleman, residing in Doncaster; for a conspi-
racy to make Mr. Frank's..son elope and marry the
daughter of the said Colonel Sowerby. •
The Trial began at amine o'clock, on' Saturday
morning, before a trowdeThCouit,. and the prose-
cution was • opened by -Serje.ant COCKELL, who
stated, that Mr. Bacon. Frank is
.a 'Gentleman of
great respeetability, possessed of property to the
amount of about 60001: per ann.
.That his son,
at the time of the marriage, wanted about half a
year, of being of age ; that he was a young man of
weak -intellefts, unequal to the- regulatibn of his
own conduft, and consequently easily prevailed up-
ca tO
.follow
.any advice ;
.that 'an estate of 40001.
per ann. was entailed on his person, while the lady
he had married was not possessed of a penny,. or of
any expeftation. She was a fine, -sprightly,- clever,
beautiful girl, rather older than her husband; and
looking to her situation, 'to the chataaer of Mr._,
Frank, ,Jun. „and to -his
~fortnne.,' the. Counsel infer;.
red ,it was not probable she could have married hot.'
affe4ion, but that a splendid equipage .and hand-
some style of living must 'have been her Objea.—
Previous to their running away, the Lady's father
had asked the consent of Mr. Frank, sen. for his
daughter to marry his son, which he pereinptarily
refused. Notwithstanding this, Mr. Hewitt and
Colonel Sowerby conceived it would be' a good
match for the girl, set about effeeting the marriage,
without the fattier's consent. The Parties were. in
Oaober z Soo, prepared, one night, for elopement
a chaise was got from' Ferrybridge, and they set
off: from \lr. Hewitt's house,- for Gretna-Green,
Mr. Hewitt accompanying them in the' chaise,
knowing that young Frank was not to be trusted.
The Counsel said, he -should call-the post-boys, who
drove the parties, to prove, that young Frank, so
far from being in high spirits which lovers usually
display on these occasions, Was exceedingly l9w
and deje&ed ; that tears were seen to come from
his eyes, and no- doubt-could remain- he- was in-tiini-'
dated into the match. They went to Gretna. Green,,
and were- married ; the „father, Colonel Sowerby
following, met the parties, on their return, at Car.
lisle. These were the circumstances .of ,the case,
on which the Counsel commented 4 great :length ;
on the enormity of•the offence of seductog or force.
ing a young man under age, of weak intelleds, not
,master of himself, into a marriage, against-the will
of those who were his natural guardians, and who
were best able to guide his condto •

A number of. wirnes§es, chiefly post-boys_ and
persons
.on the road to Gretna Green, were called
to prove the case;- but nothing was made out to
establish a conspiracy.
About one o'clock, Mr..PAAK, Counsel for the
Defendants, rose, and in an able speech of upwards
of an hour reprobated the Prosecution, saying, he
would bring forward witnesses to the satisfaClion
of the Court, and the shame and astonishMent of
the Prosecutor as a father ; that he would prove
it was a match of affeaion, solicited by Mr.
Frank, jun. befoxe the elopement took place, and
unfeelingly refused by his father, though Miss Sow-
erby. was a 'young lady in every respeet suited to
be his wife=--she was a young lady of great beauty,
accomplishments and ability ;. and, the rank her fa-
ther .held_ in the army justly placed her on a footing
with Mr. Frank, though she might not possess so
Many pounds sterling. He denied that Mr. Frank,
jun. was a persbn of such weak intelleetS as re-
preSented, and: promised to prove him- capable
of aCting• for himself. Since he had been of age
he had again married Miss Sowerby according to,
the forms of -the, Church of England; and they
lived a very happy couple. With regard: to the
Defendants, be- said Mr. Hewitt was a Gentleman
of large-fortune, and of a chara&er respectable in,
the highest degree, who could have no other objza.
in the part he took than to make two young lovers
happy.. Colonel Sowerby was a Gentleman:equally
respeftable, and not the less to he venerated for,his•
long, and meritorious services in defence of his coun-
try. Mr..Park_denied that any conspiracy existed,
or that the slightest proof of conspiracy, had been
:made out.
~ • .

On Mr. Park's sitting down, the Judge (RooKE)
suggested the propriety of the Prosecutor's consult-
ing with his Courisel, that he might consider of the
prudence of withdrawing theproseCution, before the
Defendant's witnesses were ,examined, or that the
question came to the determination of the Jury.
On consultation, Mr. Frank, sen. thought it •ad-
visahle to.follow the suggestion of the Court, and
to abandon the prosecution. The Defendants were
of course acquitted to the great joy of one of the
most numerous and brilliant assemblages that ever
was present at the York Assizes.