The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-19 00:00:00

LAW INPELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

SED7CTION- SHEPHERD V. WILKINSON-DAMAGES 500/.
This was an action, brought against the defendant,
under the following circumstances, for the seduction of
Miss Agnes Shepherd.
The defendant, allowed judgment by default, and the
Master now sat to hear the evidence and assess the

damages.
Mr. W. F. Howe appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr,
James Watson for the defendant.

Mr. Howe said that the defendant had, by not
pleading, confessed the seduction of Miss Shepherd. It
was, therefore, his (Mr. Howe's) duty to lay before the
Master the circumstances under which the seduction
was effected ; and which, he should submit, would
entitle the plaintiff to substitute damages.
Miss Shepherd was a very pretty and acomplished
young lady, aged 17, and resided with her father, a gen-
tleman of large fortune, at Hanover-house, Dalston.
The defendant is a surveyor, of good character, also
residing at Dalston, and is about 30 years of age,
The young lady herself would prove the facts.
Mr. Howe then called Miss Agues Shepherd, a re-
markably fine girl, but who seemed greatly agitated.
On being sworn, she 'said—l am only 17 years of
age. I have known the defendant ever since I was
a child. From the beginning of May, 1855, the de-
fendant was my accepted lover, although mamma
much objected to the disparity of our ages. No
positive arrangement as to our marriage was
made, but it was understood we were to be
married. I have frequently walked out with
defendant. On the Bth of October last year the
defendant solicited me to accompany him to the theatre.
Having obtained papa's permission, I went. I think
t was called the " Adelphi " Theatre. We had cham-
pagne at the theatre. We had a private box. The de-
fendant, in the course of the performance, left me for
half an hour. On his return we had the wine. The
defendant poured it out, and I remarked that it did
not taste like papa's champagne. I became
very " drowsy " after partaking of it. We did not
'stay to witness the last piece. The defendant
called a cab, and directed the man to drive
to some street, but I do not recollect the name of it.
It was not far from the Theatre. When we got to the
door I asked the defendant why he brought me there.
He kissed me, and said, "My darling, it is a friend of
mine to whom I wish to introduce you." Oa going into
the house I was much struck with the peculiar character
of the place ; and my astonishment was great, when I
wa ushered into a room in which there was a
bed. I had, however, no suspicion whatever of
the real character of the house, but asked the
defendant how it was we were shown into a bed-room.
The defendant replied he would inform me presently.
From his manner, I then became very much alarmed,
when a female entered, and defendant whispered some-
thing to her. She returned shortly after with some
wine in a decanter. I at first refused to taste it, but at
the earnest entreaty of defendant I drank some. I have
no recollection of what followed, for I became senseless.
When I recovered, I found defendant in bed with me.
I was undressed, and the defendant or some other
person had undressed me. I found I was seduced.
[ cried very much, and reproached defendant
for his cruelty. He tol3 me it was all through his ha-
tense love for me. I said I could not face my parents
after this occurrence. The defendant replied he could
easily appease papa. I went home by myself, and directly
I saw mamma I made her acquainted with everything
that had happened. She was very indignant, and wanted
to give defendant into custody, but I would not sanction
it. When papa heard of it he was very much in-
censed, and it was only at my earnest entreaty that
he refrained from giving defendant into custody. The
defendant was forbidden our house the day following.
I have met him since, but have never had connection
with him since that unhappy night. (Witness here be-
came very much affected, and sobbed bitterly.) I was
confined on the 6th of June last. The child I have in
my arms is the defendant's child. I dearly love the de-
fendant, and cannot help feeling that he is sincerely at-
tached to me.

Mr. Watson, on behalf of the defendant, here :laid
he should not require any further evidence, as he 'thought
enough bad been proved of this very painf'al case to en-
able the Master to assess the damages,

The Master, after carefully considering the case,
awarded the plaintiff 500/. o,6mages.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day),

OLD COURT.
(Before the COMMON SERGEiNT.)
GAROTTE ROBBERY.—Tames Riley was charged with
feloniously assaulting William Josderine with intent to
rob him. It appeared from the evidence that about 11
o'clock in the evening of the Bth instant, the prosecutor,
who resides in Yorkshire, was passing through Gray's-
inn•lane, and turned into Fox court, when he was
assailed by two men. One of them caught him round
the waist with one arm and kept his arms down, and
with the other hand caught him round the throat, which
prevented him giving an alarm, whilst the other man
attempted to rob him, but in which he was unsuccessful.
The swivel of his watch was severed, but they were 11(1.
able to get the watch from his pocket, and in conse-
quence of his arms being held down the men were
unable to take the guard off his neck or break 'it. A
man, named Henry Bickman, was in the court at the
time and heard a noise like a dog choking, and on looking
about_he saw two men with the prosecutor, whom they
knocked down and then made off. Bickman ran after
them and succeeded in catching the prisoner as he was
entering a house in the neighbourhood. The prisoner
was well known to the police, and had been prevously
convicted.

The jury found the prisoner guilty.
The Common Sergeant said this was an offence of a
very serious character, and, as it was increasing, it
should be put a stop to if possible. Owing to the man-
ner in which the indictment was drawn he was unable
to sentence the prisoner to trans[ oriAtion, and he
therefore sentenced him to two years' imprisonment
with hard labour.

Benjamin Evans, a draper, 20 years of age, was
indicted for stealing five shawls and other articles,
value 301.,. the property of Thomas Poppy, his master.
Mr. Riland proeecuted ; Mr. Metcalf deft ivied.
The prosecutor keeps a draper's shop at 285, High
Holborn, and the prisoner had been in his service about
six weeks. On the 4th inst. the prisoner left on ac•
count of alleged illness. Prosecutor had missed some
property previous to the prisoner leaving, and afterwards
further discoveries of losses to a large extent were made.
The goods produced the prosecutor identified as hip, and
said they were in the same state as if they had been
regularly sold. He undertook to swear they had not
been sold (although he kept a great number of assist-
ant,), because be could not find the countercheck of
their sale. Me believed the prisoner's friends were very
respectable people.
A policeman of the D division said be saw the priso-
ner, on the Bth August, in the shop of Mr. Williams,
butcher, Walworth-road. He had a small parcel with
him, and asked for a parcel he had previously left there.
Witness, after some conversation with the prisoner, in-
sisted on knowing where he got the goods contained in
the parcel, and he replied he bought them at Manches-
ter, where he had kept a shop, but, not answering, he
had shut it up. As he would give witness no reference
he took him to the station, and the goods were ulti-
mately identified by the prosecutor. At a Mr. Dunn's,
to whom the prisoner referred for his character, vvere found
three boxes containing drapery articles, &0., soma of which
the prosecutor identified as his. When apprehended the
prisoner had on a diamond ring and wore an eye glass,
and when searched five sovereigns and other moneys
were found on him.

Mr*Williams, butcher, of Walworth•road, deposed
that for some weeks the prisoner had been in the habit
of dealing with him on Sunday mornings, bringing a
small parcel with him. On Sunday fortnight the pri-
soner came to his shop with a largo parcel on his
shoulder, and put it down, saying it was very hot. He
asked to leave it till the following morning, as the wea-
ther was so hot and the parcel so heavy he could not
carry it. After some reluctance on the part of the wit-
ness he consented. A few days afterwards the pri-
soner came to his chop, opened the parcel, and took
away some of the goods, and from the prisoner's manner
and refusal to take the whole of the goods away, wit-
ness's suspidions were aroused, and he gave information
to the police.

Mr. Dunn, who resides near Walworth•common, de-
posed that the boxes above referred to were left at his
house by the prisoner. The prisoner lodged with him
when out of a situation.

The Common Sergeant said the charge against the
prisoner had been clearly made out.
The Jury immediately found the prisoner guilty, with
a recommendation to mercy if it n as his first offence.
The Common Sergeant, in pacing sentence, observed
that Mr. Williams had acted exceedingly well, and like
an honest man. He sentenced the prisoner to 12 months'
imprisonment with hard labour.

FORGERY, &c.—Cornelius Urcll, 20years of age, clerk,
pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with felo-
niously forging, &c., an indorsement to a bill of exchange