The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-14 00:00:00

in great peril, and do great injury to innocent per-
son.. If the will was really made on the 14th of
April, his lordship thought, from the evidence of
Dr. Evans, who was admitted on all hands to be a
gentleman of *the highest character and respect-
ability, there could be little doubt that on the 14th,
when she made the will, Mrs. Higgins was in a
sound and disposing state of mind. If the jury
were satisfied on that point they would probably
consider it a matter of great importanc?. His lord-
ship here referred to three entries in Osborne's
book which confirmed his (Osbaree's) evidence,
and also Smith's book, and that of the innkeeper,
to the same effect. If those were genuine entries,
and not forgeries, it seemed to confirm the evidence
given as to the day when the will was executed.
His lordship here referred to the evidence of the
attesting witncsse., one of whom—Robin,on—did
riot seem to be very favourable to the defendants,
and cautioned the jury against upsetting a will
which had been attested as this had been. His
lordship- then read over the evidence of Mr. Smith
and his clerk (Osborne), and said that if their ac-
count was true the will was valid ; for, however

improper it might be that a will should be so
executed in favour of the att'rney's family ; therfe,
was no objection in point of law.
His lordship was Eel engaged in summing up the
evidence when we were compelled to elm) our
despatch.

CHARGE OF INDECENT ASSAUCT ON A
FEMALE BY A BROKER.

Yesterday William Henry Wyld, a sworn broker,
carrying on business in Lambeth, was brought be-
fore Mr. Burcham, at Southwark Police-court,
charged with indecently assaulting Maria Morpeth,
a respectable-looking young female, 18 years of age,
with intent to commit a cet -Wu. offence.

Mr. Solomon appeared for the accused.
The prosecutris, who gave her evidence in a very
straightforward manner, stated that she lived with
her parents in Salutation-street, Stamford-street,
and her father was a compositor. Shortly after
two o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th inst., the
prisoner came to their house and put in a distress
for 2/. 19s. 6d. rent due to the landlord. She was
at home with her elder brother, a sister 14 years
of age, and a sister 12 years old. The former left
the house to go for their mother. As soon as he
was gone the prisoner and his man commenced
taking an inventory, when the prisoner came to-'.
wards her and said he had better go upstairs and
see what were there, at the same time telling her
to follow him. She did so, and her little brother
ani sister xvanted to come after them, but the pri-
soner toll them to go back, as they were not
wanted, as he was going to see if they could not
put some of the things away. When they got
in'o the top room he sat on the bed and took an
inventory of the things there. While he was doing
so he jumped up and locked the door. Witness
was looking out of the window then, but she asked
him why he had done that ? He made no reply,
but caught hold her and attempted to pull her on
the b d, at the same time acting very improperly
towards her. He exposed himself, also, and pulled
out a purse, from which ho took a Is. and offered
it to her, saying that she would want it b.fore
Saturday, as she would then be starved. She strug-
gled hard, and got away from him, indignantly re-
pulsing his insults, and then she foun the door
unlocked and ran down stairs. There was no one
there- then but the man in possession and her
little brother and sister, whom she did not like to
tell what had happened. The letter, however,
asked her what was the reason the door was locked,
and the cause of the noise in the room. Shortly
after that her elder brother entered the house, and
she told him how the prisoner had treated her, and
then he was given into custoly.
In cross-examination by Mr. Solomon, witness
said that what she had stated was all true. She

had not trumped up the charge to save het-father's
goods. They had all been conveyed away when he
was given in . charge. When the prisoner locked
the door shb Went towards it to get out, but the
prisoner seized hOld of her and indecently. assaulted
her. She did not call out or make any alarm, but
she struggled and got away.
Walter Morpeth, witness's elder brother, 20 years
of age, slid that when she told him the manner the
prisoner had treated her, he went out and asked
the advice of a neighbour, who returned with him
to the house. He then fetched a constable, and
at that time his mother came in, and then the pri-
soner was given into custody. Witness informed
his worship all that his sister had told him, and that
was corroborative of her testimony.
Police-constable 103 L, said when he took the
prisoner into custody the goods were all being re-
moved from the house in a van. When told of the
charge, he denied having committed any such
offence.
Mr. Solomon, for the accused, said he was" in-
structed to say that he was a respectable moral man,
being married and having a large family of children,
whom he brought up in the paths of virtue and
honesty. He denied most emphatically the charges
made against him, and assured him (Mr. Solomon)
that they were trumped up with the view of pre-
venting him making his levy on her father's goods.
He called the landlord of the house to speak to his
moral character, and the man in possession, but
the latter knew nothing of what occurred at the
top of the house.
Mr. Burcham said that as he denied the charge

he must send him to the sessions for tiisl, as there
was nothing to contradict the girl's evidence. It
was a bailable offence, therefore he would accept
two sureties for his appearance at the sessions.