The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-20 00:00:00

(Before Dr. Lushington, Dean of Archesi
The promoter of this suit is the Bishop of London, and
the defendant, the Rev. James Bonwell, incumbent of St.
Philip's, Stepney, in his lordship's diocese.
Sir J. Harding, the Queen's Advocate, and Dr. Tristram,
appeared for the Bishop. Mr. Bonwell conducted his own
case, assisted by Mr. Sorrell, his solicitor,
Sir J. Harding said he had little to say as to the opening
of the case, which he thought he should be able to prove.
With regard to two of the witnesses he should produce he
had to say that they had been in Mrs. Bonwell's service,
and were thus as it were brought out of the opposite camp.
(The learned advocate afterwards said he did not mean to
imply that the witnesses had been in Mrs. Bonwell's ser-
vice ).
Mr. Bonwell said he was prepared to declare that the
evidence of the witnesses alluded to he could easily upset if
they were called. Their evidence had been concocted, and
if they gave such evidence as was stated in the articles he
should certainly prosecute tbem for perjury. One of these
witnesses stated in the articles that Miss Yorath wore a
nightcap. He had ascertained that Miss Yorath never
wore a nightcap.
Mr. Collis, a clerk in the Consistory Court, proved the
license of Mr. Bonwell to the perpetual curacyof St. Philip
Stepney, on 11th April, 1845, vacant by the resignation ol
the Rev. G. T. Duffield (now rector of Bow), on the floral'
nation of the Principal and fellows of Brasenose College,
Oxford. He produced a certificate of Mr. Bonwell's „err'
riage with Miss Sophia Bird, at Christ Church, Bradford,
Yorkshire, on the Ist of January, 1839. Mr. Bonwell was
described in the certificate as a bachelor and a schoolmaster.
Mr. Humphreys, coroner of East Middlesex, gave an
account of an inquest held in September and October last
on the body of Philip Yorath, the child, out of whose death
the present inquiry arose.
Miss Georgiana Ames said she now resided in Bath with
Major Watts, her grandfather. She had known Elizabeth
Yorath for two-and-a-half years. She paid a visit to
Major Watts on the 12th of September, 1858, at Margate,
and left on the Ist of December. She knew a Mrs. Robin-
son at Margate. She recollected meeting Mr. Bonwell at
their house. That was the first time she had met him.
Miss Elizabeth Yorath was with her. She was not aware
that Miss Yorath had met Mr. Bonwell before. They became
acquainted on that evening, and talked together. After that
Mr. Bonwell called at her grandfather's house, when MisS,
Yorath was there. He called on Miss Yorath. He celiac,
frequently, and they were often in company together. Sho
had seen them sitting on the sofa together. She had seer,
him put his arm on her shoulder and round her waist, but
she had not seen any improper conduct. This was not till
he believed he was engaged to her. From his general
conduct to her she supposed he was engaged to Miss Yorath•
He was exactly like an engaged lover to her, and Miss
Yorath told her that she was engaged to him.

Mr. Bonwell—That is not evidence.
The Judge—Certainly not.
Dr. Tristram—Did Mr. Bonwell ever tell you that he
was engaged to Miss Yorath? Witness—No.
Mr. Bonwell—l never told any lady. so.
Examination continued—She did not remember that Mr.
Bonwell ever said anything about his being a widower.
Mr. Bonwell—lt shall come out in evidince that Miss
Yorath knew all the time that I was married
Examination continued—She remembered Mr. Bonvvell,
and Miss Yorath going together to Ramsgate. She thought
they went to Ramsgate two or three times while they were
all at Margate. Mrs. Robinson accompanied them, witnt
she thought, one exception. She believed they wont alone
when Mrs. Robinson did not accompany them. On that
occasion they went away between one and two o'clock in the
day, and returned between eight and nine in the evening'
She did not see Miss Yorath again until the Bth of June?
1859. She called at Major Watts' house in Margate, and
left on the next day. She believed, from her appearance?
that Miss Yorath was pregnant.

Cross-examined by Mr. Bonwell—She did not remember
on what day it was she accompanied Miss Yorath alone.
were
a ant
teenngtai
vgee d
to person
her. l'
Witness—You Mr. Bonwell—What do you believe to be the distin-
guishitinugesce—hayraecutewriest characteristics svery of
Mr. Bonwell—l was very attentive to you, was I not ?
Witness—Yes; but not so attentive to me as you were
to Miss Yorath. (Laughter.)
Mrs. Anne Rod inson, wife of Mr. Henry Robinson, said
she was living at Margate in September, 1858, and was on
friendly terms with Miss Ames and Major Watts. She
made the acquaintance of Miss Yorath there at tne time
through Miss Ames. She also made the acquaintance ca
Mr. Bonwell through having seen him at the Bedford
Hotel. He was afterwards several times at their hone°
with Miss Yorath, and dined with them on the 14th of
October. Mr. Bonwell's manner to Miss Yorath was vet/
polite and gentlemanly. He seemed pleased with her. She
could not recollect that Mr. Bonwell ever said he was un-
married or a widower. Mr. Bonwell sat OR the sofa, with
his arm round Miss Yorath's waist. There were several
people in the room. Miss Yorath went to town on Decerir
ber Ist, as far as she could recollect. She saw Miss Yorath
in May or June, 1859, at Marget°• There was 5
peat alteration in her appearance—in her size. She alr
Miss Yorath wont?
peered to be in the family-way.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bonvrell.—She did not remember
Monmouthshire. He 118'
anymak
make
nae
goodsaying
eo
ua
pt
lseu,papnedr
tt
hhaa
tt he e and
said,
max." " I am a married
Mr. Lewis William Yorath examined—lle said he was!:
Newport,practiceabaetthYorath. Mr. Bonwell said he Waa
asueriegteeoin
Missi n
Eiiz
shisater,t thathle he had to the
mother
not written ,„
thought •
was a guarantee that his intentions were honour-
sister was old enough "
decide for herself, arid that his position, he being of the
able. engaged
because
mr. Bonwell named a time for the marriage. Thne
churt h,
was to have taken place in June or July, 186,r
Here
said he should like to have the Rev. Chancellor •Viri.`;
hams to marry them. Mr. Bonwell and Miss Yorath use',
to stay up of er the other part of the household went to bed'
He (witness) and the others used to go to bed about twelve
o'clock, but Mr. Bonwell and his sister sat up two or three
hours.
Cross-examined
by Mr. Bonwell—He had stated at the
Evans's that he was a widower. He used to state so every"
where. Miss
Yorath bad been resent when he had s4ratsa
it. His conversation with Mrs. Evans used to be on roll-
gious topics. His sister was not at home at present. Pe
could not say why Miss Yorath left her mother—perbsP_
s
Mr. Bonwell could. He had never said that he would coo
to London at his own expense, if necessary, to ruin 111:'
Bonwell. He said he would write to the bishop and he'o
,44
justice done if it should prove his own fall as well. lf:
letter was produced which witness acknowledged to be 15
his handwriting, stating that he would go to London en
ruin the villain, although he thought Elizabeth was a wet?!
villain than Mr. Bonwell). His sister had never stated to
tru.
hint that she knew, while she was at Margate, that *L''''
Bonwell was a married man.

The case was proceeding when we went to press.

TESTIMONIAL TO SIR MORTON PETO,
M.F.—On Wednesday last a magnificent testimonial, in t„„'"
shape of a superb china dessert service, together with '—
elaborately worked plateau epergne candelabrum, and °the;
plate, was presented to Sir Morton Peto, at the Roy
Hotel, Lowestoft, About 150 gentlemen assembled
3
dinner, under the presidency of the Earl of Stradbroket
Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, who stated, in the oourse of a
very interesting speech, that the testimonial was the re;
stilt of a subscription made by about 300 gentlemen of ti,
district, who were anxious thus to testify their appreciatio
of the hon. baronet, especially in connexion with his sac..,
cessful efforts in establishing a complete railway system
the county. The cost of thy Articles presented was abouw
£2,000, •