The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-29 00:00:00

NIX .V. SMITII.-SEDUCTION.

This was an action for the alleged seduction o.
the plaintiff's daughter.

Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., and Mr. Keane appeared for
the plaintiff; and Mr. Palmer and Mr. Couch for
the defendant.

Mr. O'Malley, in opening the case, said the plain-
tiff was a baker, residing at Whittlesey, and was
the father of four sons and four daughters, of whom
the subject of the present action, Catherine, was
one. Before the year 1857 the plaintiff was a mem-
ber of a congregation of Reformed Wesleyans, and
his daughter Catherine was a teacher in the Sunday
school conducted in connexion with the chapel, In
1857 the defendant, who is an ironmonger at Whitt-
lesey, also joined the Reformed Wesleyans, and
soon assumed a prominent part in the congrega-
tion. He was a married man, With two sons al-
most grown up, and he first became a teacher, and
subsequently a local preacher. between the de-
fendant's family and Catherine Nix a close inti-
macy commenced in 1857, when she was about six-
teen years of age, and as she frequently stopped
out late at night, her father remonstrated with the
defendant on the subject. He replied that it was
extremely profitable for the girl that she
should come to see him, for they spent
their evenings in singing, reading, and prayer.
The suspicions of the father being thus
quieted, the intimacy proceeded. In February,lBsB,,
a person named Vincent lectured at Peterborough,
and the defendant proposed that the plaintiff's
daughter should go to the meeting. The plaintiff
at first objected, but ultimately withdrew his op-
position, and the young woman went to Peter-
borough with the defendant and some other friends.
She walked home with the defendant late in the
evening, and when they were about two miles from
Whittlesey he lingered on the road, so that they
fell behind the other persons who had been with
them. He then attempted to take liberties irAti
her, but she resented and repelled them., and for
some time the intimacy between the parties was in-
terrupted. It was afterwards renewed, however,
and the young woman, in April, 1858, went to the
defendant's to stop a week at his house. While she
was there the intimacy took place, which led to the
birth of a child and in the present action being
brought.
Evidence in support of the plaintiff's case was
being proceeded with when our report was de-
spatched.

CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice 'Williams.
The calendar contains the names of about 20 pri-
soners, but none of the cases are of a very special
character. This afternoon the learned judge charged
the grand jury, and proceeded with the business of
the court.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—DEvizEs, March 28.
TIIE ASIICOMBE MURDER.
Scrafin Manzano, the Spaniard charged with the
murder of Anastatia Trowbridge, at Ashcombe, on
the 3d of November last, was again placed at the
bar this morning.
' The case flay the prosecution closed late last night.
The prisoner manifested the greatest indifference
during the whole of yesterday, and frequently
smiled at the witnesses and spectators around him.
Mr. II• T. Cole applied to the Court to allow the
prisoner to make a statement preparatory to his
addressing the jury.
Mr. Baron Martin, after consulting Mr. Baron
Channell, said, as there were precedents for it, he
would allow the statement to be made. At the same
time he did so against his own judgment. He re-
garded it as a most dangerous practice.
The prisoner then made a statement to the effect
that he met a man and woman, the former of whom
asked him to exchange clothes. He did so, and
slept with them in a shed, but before he awoke in
the morning they were gone, and he did not know
in what direction they went. The man was dressed
somewhat like himself. He was a taller man than
himself,

Mr. Cole, in addressing the jury for the prisoner,
complained that everything had been done to ex-
cite prejudice against him. He had been photo-
graphed with a policeman's hand upon his shoulder,
and those photographs had been publicly exhibited
in different places in the county. Even the she-
riff's, chaplain had assumed the prisoner's guilt, and
held him up as a warning to his congregation. The
learned counsel then proceeded to contend that the
only fact against the prisoner was the possession of
the prosecutor's clothes. The possession of those
things, however, had been accounted for by the•
prisoner, and he asked the jury to believe the state-
ment which the prisoner had made. If the prisoner
had committed the murder he must have been
covered with blood, and he argued that the ab-
sence of blood from the prisoner's clothes com-
pletely established his innocence.
His lordship, in summing up, said he felt bound
to allude to some observations which had fallen
from Mr. Cole. He was not aware whether the
learned counsel heard the sermon of the sheriff's
chaplain on Sunday Morning. He (the learned
judge), did, mid he must say it contained no state-
ment calculated to prejudge the case against the
prisoner. With regard to the photographs which
had been taken of the prisoner and a policeman, he
said it was decidedly wrong, and:he hoped never to
hear of such a thing again. Ho was bound to tell
them, however, that neither of these facts had the
slightest bearing upon the case. They were bound
to try the prisoner upon the evidence, and he was
sure they would not allow anything which had
taken place out of doors to influence their minds.
His lordship then read through the evidence, and,
with regard to the prisoner's statement, he said if
they believed it, they mint also believe that the
person who really committed the murder must
have allowed him to take the whole proeeeds of the
robbery.

The:jury then retired, and in about half an hour
returned with a verdict of guilty,
His Lordship then 4ssmned the black cap, and
sentenced the prisoner to de4th in the usual form,
and held out no hope that his sentence would be
commuted,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—March 28.

WESTMINSTER. Jane Hoden, alias Anne
Martin, alias Dufrea, a woman 30 years of age,
with an infant in her arms, underwent a length-
ened examination before Mr. Paynter, charged
with extensive swindling, under very novel and
peculiar circumstances.
About two months ago the police received infor-
mation that a woman was obtaining various sums
of money by advertising for the situation of cook.
The answers to her advertisements were to be ad-
dressed to J: 8., Belvoir-terrace, Vauxhall-bridge-
road. On inquiring there the police found that she
had received a great number of letters, but did not
again present herself. Subsequently the authori-
ties learnt that the same systematic and extensive
frauds were being committed by a person to whom
letters were addressed in Grosvenor-street West,
but in this, as in the former case, she did not again
make her appearance. As there had been in the
advertisements the peculiarity that the professed
cook was willing also to attend to the bakehouse
and dairy, the police narrowly watched the adver-
tisements which appeared from day to day, and
finding one answering the description—" Address
to C. E., 44, Churton-street"—Birch, a detec-
tive of the A division, kept a watch upon the
house, and apprehended the prisoner as she was
leaving the place with a large bundle of letters
respecting engagements. Upon inquiries at the
houses where they had good-naturedly, but
imprudently, permitted her to have her letters ad-
dressed, it was ascertained that she averaged 50
answers, out of which, it will be clearly seen, she
selected her victims.

Mrs. Smith, of Ingatestone, Essex, said she an-
swered an advertisement in the papers, a month
ago, of a cook requiring a place. She saw prisoner
at the Stag Brewery, Pimlico, by appointment,
when she told her she had lived nine years in a for-
mer situation, and lastly two years with Mrs. Has-
luck, at the Rectory, Enfield, which she was about
to leave, owing to the return of an old servant. Her
account was so extremely satisfactory, that com-
plainant engaged her to come the following Wed-
nesday, unless she got a letter to the contrary, and
upon prisoner requesting her fare from and to En-
field, complainant willingly gave her 3s.
Mr. F. Hasluck, of the Rectory, Enfield, proved
that prisoner, who had never lived in his service,
had also obtained money from him to go to Enfield.
He had seven or eight applications from persons to
whom the prisoner had used his name. He saw the
prisoner, in answer to her advertisement, at his
business house in Hatton-garden, where he gave
her the money.
Mrs. Adams, of 20, Upper Bedford-place, Russell-
square, said she answered an advertisement in the
papers 10 weeks ago, and prisoner called upon her.
She said she lived three years and a half with Mrs.
Griffiths, of Oak Lodge, Chiswick, and gave her
own address, Mary Blaney, Alma Cottage, Chiswick.
Complainant was so satisfied with her statements
that she engaged her subject to her character being
approved of. Prisoner then complained that she had
not had any food since she left home at 7 o'clock
in the morning, upon which complainant sent her
up luncheon in the drawing-room. Before leaving
prisoner said she had not sufficient to pay her fare
back to Chiswick, whereupon complainant gave her
a shilling. The lady further stated that not hear-
ing any more of the prisoner she was driven in her
carriage to Chiswick, where she met the postman,
, also in quest of the accused, with a letter com-
plainant had addressed to her. She took him up
on the box by the side of the coachman, and after
three hours found their search for prisoner fruitless.
Mrs, Biddulph, Eccleston-square, proved a simi-
lar case against the prisoner, who obtained money
from her in consequence of alleging that she had
lost her purse.
Mrs. Walker, of the Chase, Enfield, and her
daughter, proved another charge against the accused.
Inspector Humphreys having intimated that he
could produce a hundred cases against the accused
in which she had obtained various amounts,
Mr. Paynter observed that she appeared to have
been a most successful swindler, and said he would
take two of the present charges against her for trial,
and entertain a third, spoken of by the inspector,
on Wednesday next, to which day the prisoner was
remanded.

Sir James Fergusson, M.P., for Ayrshire, ap-
peared to prosecute a complaint against Wemyss
Jobson, a person of gentlemanly appearance and
address, between 50 and GO years of age, who had
been apprehended by Knowland, one of the sum-
moning officers, on a warrant, charging him with
sending a threatening letter to the complainant,
whereby a breach of the peace might have been
occasioned.

Sir James said that the prisoner, who was utterly
unknown to him, had addressed a series of letters
to him, alluding to transactions to which he was a
perfect stranger. The first of these complained thv.t
defendant had been defrauded by relations of com-
plainant's, and the last contained a threat. Com-
plainant had inquired of persons whose names were
mentioned in the letters whether there was any
foundation for the grave charges they contained,
and was informed there was not.
The letter containing the threat, which defendant
had admitted to tahse
then officerrea
awhen t
he in capturedagi
st
rwa
taes.
written by him, w
It said, " With Mr. Wemyss Jobson's disdains, and
notice that i these cowardly efforts are further per-
sistedin„ he shall flog Sir James from one end of
-- (the word was unintelligible as it appeared)
to the other should he find him."
Defendant requiring the production of other
letters, they were read. They did not, however,
refer to Sir James personally, but contained a series
of charges and much invective against distant
branches of his family. One, however, imputed that
part of defendant's patrimony had been expended
to secure Sir James's return for Ayrshire.
Sir James expressed the astonishment he had
felt at the imputations, and repeated that he knew
nothing about defendant or his patrimony.
In reply to questions from defendant, Sir James
declared he never knew that his uncle and nephew
had got hold of defendant's familys property, and
had never heard of such a thing till now. Had
never had any of defendant's property ; never em-
ployed anybody to track his course about town ;
never knew him till he wrote the letters ; and never
saw him till now. Never met Lola Montes at Lord
Camperdown's, or set her to get him assaulted in
an American court of justice. Never threatened de-
fendant while speaking of him to anybody.
Defendant, in the course of a long statement,
said that Sir James's uncle had married his (defen-
dant's) niece, and then the parties getting hold of
another uncle, induced him to disinherit the de-
fendant, his brother, and sister, the two latter of
whom were in poverty and deep distress. All this
was done while he (defendant) was away in Ame-
rica. With regard to the threat in the letter, he
submitted it was clearly hypothetical, for if Sir
James did not annoy him there was nothing in it.
The defendant submitted he ought to be the com-
plainant, and if the law did not protect him, he
must do as people did in America—protect himself.
A very formidable dagger found in defendant's
possession having been produced,
Mr. Paynter said it was quite clear defendant
was suffering under some extraordinary delusion,
in which he entertained a strong feeling against
the complainant. People were not allowed in
this country to threaten to flog others, or to
carry about dangerous weapons to redress their
supposed or real wrongs, nor would well con-
ducted men do so. Defendant was to be feared
as a very dangerous man, became he suffered
under a very dangerous delusion, and he
must find two sureties in £lOO each for his good
behaviour.

On the intercession of Sir James, the bail was
reduced to two in £4O, but, as the court was closed,
he had no opportunity of procuring them.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—Robert Pitcher
was charged by the police with causing an obstruc-
tion on the public footway in Coventry-street for
betting purposes.
Leader, C 40, said he saw the defendant and six
or seven other persons altogether on the pavement
in the above street at half-past one o'clock in the
day. By such assemblages very great trouble was
caused.
Mr. Beadon—What do you call trouble ?
Witness—The way is obstructed, so that passers
by are frequently compelled to walk out into the
road or carriage-way, and many complaints, both
from the inhabitants and others, have been made in
consequence. The trouble was the difficulty in
keeping the footway clear. The defendant had one
or two books, which he believed were betting-
books, in his hand, and, seeing him, he walked.
away ; but as he had before cautioned him, he fol-
lowed and took him into custody.
Mr. Beadon asked the defendant why he per-
sisted in this mode of obstructing the pavement.
The defendant replied he was only speaking, and
was not aware he was doing wrong.
Mr. Beadon said he was liable to a fine, and, ad-
vising him not to repeat the .offence, ordered him
to enter into his own recognisance to be of good
behaviour for three months.

SOUTHWARK.—Thomas Crowther, a saddler
and harness-maker, of 26, Wilson-street, Finsbury-
square, was brought before Mr. Combo, charged
with having in his possession a large quantity of
leather and buckles, in the course of manufacture
for the Royal Artillery, the property of Messrs.
Oastler and Palmer, leather merchants, Grange-
road, Bermondsey.
Dennis Scannell, 177 M, said that in consequence
of information he received, he went with Strick-
land, 76 AT, another detective officer, to the pri-

soner's place of business in Wilson-street, Fins-
bury-square, and seeing him in the workshop,
he asked him if be bad not recently purchased
a quantity of harness leather. The prisoner said
that be bad; and went to a drawer, from whence
he took out a large bundle of leather cut roughly in
strips. Witness asked him where he got it, when
he replied that he gave 12s. for it a few days
prior.
The man's name v as Fadkins, he added, but he did
not know where he lived. Witness found also a
quantity of short strips and a bundle of buckles, all
of which he believed to have been stolen.
Mr. Charles Tomlin, manager to Messrs. Oastler
and Palmer's works at Bermondsey, said that they
had a large contract with the Government to supply
the harness, &c., to the Royal Artillery.. The
leather was manufactured on their premises in the
Grange-road, and cut into strips for making up, al!
each piece was branded. He identified the leather
produced as a portion of their stock intended to be
made up for the Government, but the ends where
the brands were had been cut off.
Mr. Combo asked how he could swear so posi-
tively to them.

Mr. Tomlin replied that they were peculiar reds,
manufactured on purpose for the Government.
Some were for flank straps and some for back straps'
and they were worth to the firm about £3.
Mr. Combe asked witness how it was likely that
they got out of their possession.
Mr. Tomlin said that as soon as they were cut
and branded they were sent out to be finished, and
as soon as returned they were forwarded to the
storekeeper at Woolwich. The leather produced
had either been stolen from their warehouse, or
made away with by persons who had the goods
given out to finish. If the prisoner was remanded
they would no doubt be able to ascertain the fact.
In answer to the charge the prisoner said that
he really did purchase the leather from a men
whom he had in many instances dealt with, and he
had no suspicion as to its being stolen. There were
no marks on it.

Mr. Combe told him that from the fact of giving
less than a fourth of the value he must have known
it to be stolen. He should remand him. for a fog
days, and in the meantime recommend him to find the
porson from whom he purchased it. The officers
would also have an opportunity of making further
inquiries.

The prisoner was accordingly remanded until
Tuesday next.

COUNTRY MAR.ICB2'B.