The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-02 00:00:00

THE ACOMB HOUSE INQUIRY.

YORK, SATURDAY MONT.
Yesterday, after the reporter withdrew, Mr.
Pemberton, the solicitor on behalf of Mrs. Turner,
addressed the commissioners at considerable length,
laying before them a narrative of the ctuel treat-
ment which Mrs. Turner had had to endure whilst
an inmate of Acomb House.

Mrs. Turner was then sworn and examined. In
the course of her examination, which extended over
a period of more than four hours, she deposed to
the repeated outrages committed upon her by Mr.
Metcalfe and those under him. The treatment to
which she spoke consisted of ty:dily torture inflicted
upon her at various times ; continom,nt in small
dark rooms for a; long us 1;:, Louis, (luting which
she was denied the offices of nature ; indecent lan-
guage and offensive epithets repeatedly applied to
her by Mr. Metcalfe. Amongst the most poin'ed
part of her evidence was a declaration that Mr.
Metcalfe was continually in the habit of applying
an offensive and filthy epithet to her. On one oc-
casion particularly, when Mr. Metcalfe threw her
down and ordered her to undress in his presence,
she refused to do so, upon which he repeatedly
called her foul names. He said she was a-, and
that it was nothing new for her to strip herself
before men, and be would maks her undress herself
before him then. She refused to do so, upon which
he said, "Oh, you are a pLus -, are you f If
you were not such a pious, sanctified --, 'could
do with you." He ultimately, by force, caused her
to be undressed, and she was in a state of nudity in
his presence. When she was dragged from the
Iviuse in Blake-street, in York, by Mr. Metcalfe
and his groom, she was shamefully used by thorn,
and struck several time,.
At the close of Mrs. Turner's examination in
chief, whiehgiteraetceolmeamrnisessino,nAerrrs. riezmicahrakreddnelniaydnetriein
withgiven _
tor for Mr. Metcalfe, said he should wish his cress-
examination of Mrs. Turner to be postponed, on
the ground that he lisd not had time to consider
the course he should take.
Mr. Petribeiton resisted the. application for a
postponement of the cross-exammation as the most
extraordinary ho had ever heard made. He (Mr.
Pemberton) did not wish to cast reflections on any
one, but it
.must be perfectly clear to the commis-
sioners that the cress-examination was postponed,
an opportunity might be afforded of the domestics
in Mtrr.elNalo eut7ut of Mrs, Turner,lfe'sestiarblislun ei
ent,who
ng tampered
had witnessedpered
the
with.

Ultimately, the commissioners consented to tho
cross-examination Wing postponed until this morn-
ing, Mr. Pemberton protesting against it.
Mrs. Serginson, the lady with whom Airs. Turner
lodged in Blake st:eet, in York, after her escape
from Acomb House, was next eximined, and de-
posed to Mr. Metcalfe and his groom breaking cpeu
Mrs. Turner's bedroom door, and to their violent
cmiduet towards her.

At 8 o'clock the proceedings were adjourned to
this morning, at 9 o'clock.
This mornii.,, Mrs. Ttuner presented herself for
cross-examination, but the only question asked her
by Mr. Richardson was if she borrowed any mosey
in York when she escaped from Acomb House,
when she replied in the affirmative.
MirindAh Hill, the attendant on Mrs. Turner
during Ler stay at Acomb House, was under exa-
mination the greater part of the day. She stoutly
denied Mrs Turner's statements as to the illegal
ill-treatment, but admitted that Mr. Metcalfe
pushed her down in the bedroom when he desiitd
her to undress, but he did it gently.
After some objections taken by Mr. Richardson
as to tha cross-examination, which were overruled
by the commissioners, the further investigation
was adjouined for a week.

MR. SIMPSON'S BENEFIT AT CRE3IORNH GARDENS.--
The enterprising lessee of these attractive gardens ham
announced his benefit for Thursday next, on which noes-
Bien the entertainments will be on the same scale as those
designed for the great fete a fortnight since. Mr. Sirs!.
lett, Mr. Frank Pastor and other Alhambra stars bare
7i
bt h.
l e
for the town, and it will bring immediately together
offered their services, and a grand treat is promised to
the visitors on the occasion.
HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO LEEDS.—We hear with
igroatater3i
o n
o of satisfaction
N.is
visiting;
i ng
that
Leeds Her
olNala jive, sotnydahy, the 6th of Sep.
has intimated her
Tuesday,haielsoirnablething possible
e s s
t
t‘leTme IbieerlleavnedthoipsevuilnligbtehtehTweomons
most d
'
Her Majesty's visit and the Musical Festival. To the
inhabitants, also, who receive guests, or who make pre.
parations for oth events, it will be a convenience
that they should be on days immediately cmlsecutive.
Her Majesty is to reach Leeds at 6 o'clock in the
evening of Monday, and to leave the town on Tuesday
punctually at hall-past 1 o'clock p.m. The Mayor, we
understand, is still in London, in consultation with, the
authorities on the subj9ct of the arrangements for the
Royal visit, and it is stated that the programme, so far
as regards Her Maj,sty's entry into the ball, will be
slightly modified ; but, as. the official programme will
most likely be published mxt week, we need not men•
tion the manure which are current,—Leeds Mercury.