The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-23 00:00:00

" No, no, no. Net a month more of such a life—not
even a week—it is infernal to me—it is the vengeance of
God 11 Yes, you have ruined me, physically and morally.
You have destroyed everything in me—my talent, my
peace, my heart. Come, miss ; you have only one of three
things to choose—you will either marry me, or insure me
enough to live upon, or I shall leave England.
" You have three days to think it over.

" V. C."

When I spoke to him about money he was always exces-
sively violent to me, and said I deeply injured him. 1
asked him if I could do anything for him, and he said if I
would give him more money, and keep their secret, he
could, perhaps, then be reconciled to existence. I after-
wards had another interview with him at the Pantheon.
had a horror of the interview, as I felt he had determined
upon doing something. He said to me, observing my
agitation, " Don't be afraid." Ite then repeated that I had
deeply injured him, and, in answer to his enquiries, I said
I would give him £2,000, or anything else for the return of
my letters. He said I should have them, as that sum of
money would do for the moment. I told him not to think
that, as I could not and would not do anything more for
him. I again called upon him at the end of July, in
Ovington-square. When I went he said, " Well, what
have you decided ?" I said, "Nothing." He replied, " I
thought you would have it in your hand ; this is a time
when a woman ought to sell the very last thing she
possessed. He was very violent in voice, and holding
his coat, said " This is the way in which you should be
dragged along by me." I again asked him about my
letters, and he said he must have £lOO (of the £2,000 he
was to have for the letters. I afterwards met him at the
Baker-street Bazaar, and gave him the £lOO. Nothing
particular was said at the time, further than that I was
very much disgusted with him. I wrote a few words on a
small sheet of paper on Friday, the 2d of Aug., directing
the prisoner to meet me at the Pantheon on the following
morning at half-past 10, to exchange the letters for the
money I had agreed to give. I obtained 19 £lOO notes,
and went out with them. I saw him at the appointed
place, and I said to him, " Where are my
letters. He replied, " I have them." I said
" Where," and he showed me something in his pocket, and
then said, " Remember how you obtain this money, it is a
very large sum. All the notes are numbered, and they can
be very easily traced." He said, "give it me." I said with
great emphasis, " Give me my letters," and he then gave
me a brown paper parcel. I then gave him the money.
When we got to the entrance hall I said, " I want you to
give me a stamped receipt for the money, but he declined
to give it me. When I handed him the £l,OOO I did it to
recover my letters, I afterwards hired a cab, and after
I had gone about 100 yards I opened the parcel
and discovered a bundle of old newspapers and One letter in
my handwriting, which had been carefully placed at the
bottom of the parcel within sight. When I got home I
communicated with my brother, Mr. Campbell Johnstone,
and placed the whole affair in his hands. I shortly after-
wards received the following letters from the prisoner :--
"August 16.
"My Dearest,—l have just received a letter which makes
me laugh, and I think you will also laugh when you read
it.

" By G—, I think you have chosen a bad path, and I
warn you, if you take another step not friendly, I will give
your letters into the hands of a magistrate, in order to de-
mand my rights.
"Miss J., with your hands you would ruin me, and with
your own hands you shall save me from the precipice into
which you have thrown me. You have destroyed my
future, and you shall give it back to me. I swear it to you
by my mother I
"The idea makes me laugh much at steps against tee.
Do you mean to say you will make my conduct public ?
"But this is what I wish, in order to justify myself be-
fore the society in which I live. Remember, you have not
even a reason in your favour, The star in the ceiling of
my studio—the star in your hair—the picture—the star in
the little bottle received fri,m you as a token of love—and
your hair, would be sufficient proofs, without the letters, to
condemn you. Know that if any one shall dare to force me
—to be violent with me, it will cost their life—at the peril
of their life I The letters are mine, and no one has a right
to demand them. I will not give tkem up except when you
—you shall wish it. Adieu. Remember, that you will
gain more by being friendly than by waging war against
me ; and that I did love you, and that you, as a reward,
have ruined me.
" P.S.—Come and see me as speedily aspossible ; and,
if you like it, in company with the gentleman who wrote
the letter, as I shall be very happy to make his acquaint-
V. C."
ance. "August 17.
"It is now more than three years you have known me,
so that you ought by this time to have known my character
also ; and therefore you ought to think that the path you
have chosen is a bad one. I stand on my rights, and on the
laws of this country. There is no mortal man can touch
that which belongs to me without scandal and behaving
scandalously ; therefore away with useless excuse or foolish
bravadoes. Can you see me in good friendship as you have
done in times past ? Then you and I can arrange and see
what else we can do. Remember that to get out of the ruin
into which you have thrown me, I am ready for everything
or anything—know this I Alas, I beg of you do not push
me to extremes, which may be dreadful for you and for me.
You have placed me in a position from which there is but
one path to get out yet—the path is in your hands I Come
and see me. Adio. "V. C.
" P.S—Do not make your guardian write to me, for it is
time lost, I have already said I shall not open the letters."
"August 16.
"Dear Sir,—The answer to the letter I have received is
that
tsend r
profound
ft
otuontdh
ce
ohn
op.sidseeraoyf otnh,e.yloaudry
very
fry whomobediyeonut
are the guardian.
servant, " V. CoLLuccf."
The wax impression on the parcel is from a seal I gave
the prisoner.
ined by Mr.
Beene---No ono was pretont