The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-02 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S.

Yesterday evening an amateur performance took place at
this theatre. The play of the "Hunchback" and the farce
of "John Dobbs" were performed by a party of ladies and
gentlemen, who appeared to be accustomed to acting toge-
ther, and to have some little experience of the art which
they practise for amusement, and we believe occasionally for
charitable purposes. The principal characters in the comedy
were taken by Mr. Clinton, Misses Grosvenor and Willing-
ham. The former lady was announced as having been
connected with Drury-lane Theatre ; the latter was stated
to be a debutante, at least on these boards, and it is but fair
to say that she exhibited many qualities which fit her for the
exercise of the profession of the stage, if, as we presume,
she intends to accept it as a vocation. Of course, in cases
of this kind, criticism is out of the question; but it may be
conceded that the friends of the histrionic aspirants, who
nearly filled the house, were gratified by the exertions to
please, which were apparent on the part of every one con-
cerned in the representation of the evening.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF WIFE
DESERTIO.Ar.

(From the Plymouth Journal.,)

At the Plymouth Guildhall, on Wednesday,
William Chapple, a man forty years of age, appre_
hended under a warrant, was charged with desert-
ing his wife, and allowing her to become charge-
able to the parish.
The defendant said he was not aware, until he
was apprehended, that his wife had applied to the
parish for relief.
Mr. Pardon, relieving officer, said he knew the
defendant, and he believed he was able to maintain
his wife. Three years ago she became chargeable
to the parish, and had remained so up to the pre-
sent time. Frequent inquiries had been made for
the defendant in the interval, but the parochial
authorities could obtain no information respecting
him until last week, when they heard that he was
in Exeter. On Monday a warrant was obtained,
and on Thursday the -witness went to Exeter, under
the orders of the guardians, and there he found the
defendant employed as a groom at Mr. Hutchings'
Railway Hotel.
The defendant said he had been ill for two years,
and during the last twelvemonths he had been
paying off debts that he had incurred. When he
left his wife she was perfectly able to maintain
herself.

Mr. Phillips—Mrs. Chapple, how many years
has your husband left you altogether ?
Mrs. Chapple, a woman apparently 80 years of
age, replied that, so far as she could remember, it
was between 17 and 18 years.
Hr. Phillips (to the defendant).—Why did you
leave her ?
Defendant—The fact is, sir, I was not comfort-
able. I was a foolish boy when / married her. I
was not more than 19.
Mr. Phillips—How old was she ?
Defendant—Oh, 50 or 60. (Laughter.) I was a
fool.

Mr. Phillips—lt was your own choice.
Defendant—Not altogether; in fact I was a fool-
ish boy of 19.
Mr. Phillips—Well, go and live with her. (A
laugh.)
Defendant—l could not do that, but I will allow
her 2s. 6d. a-week ; that is as much as I can pay.
Mr. Bulteel—That is not enough, for the
guardians will have a heavy bill of expenses against
you-18 years' desertion !
Defendant—Well, I will say 3s. a-week.
The defendant's sister, who was in court, said
Mrs. Chapple, at the time her brother married her,
was old enough to know better thau marry a mere
boy. When his mother heard that he had been
such a fool, she was regularly astonished.
The defendant—We were both servants together.
Mr. Bulteel said he must remand the case until
next day, so that the guardians might be communi-
cated with, and Mr. Pardon might better instructed
how to proceed.
Mr. Pardon—When he deserted his wife he went
off with her daughter, and has since had eleven
children by her.

Upwards of 2,000 of the German Legionaries,
who at the close of the late war were located at the Cape of
Good Hope, have volunteered to serve in the Indian army,