The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-16 00:00:00

nn REV. MR. BONWELL.

recollect my sister being with Miss Aimes in September.
I wrote to her to come home, but I received a letter telling
me she was going to remain in London. I recollect in De-
cember, Mr. Bonwell told me he had taken my sister to the
school at which his little boy was, and had asked him how
he should like her for a mother, and the child said, " Very
well." Ido not know at the present where my sister is.
She left my mother's house about a month ago, without
leaving any trace of her whereabouts.
Cross-examined-1 have sat up joking with Mr. Bon-
well rather date. We have had whiskey together. I
call late between twelve and ono o'clock, but my
sister has remained up until between two and three.
My sister was generally later going to bed when Mr. Bon-
well was there. Mr. Bonwell fixed the time of marriage
himself. Miss Evans has heard him also state the same
thing. I know he mentioned the Bishop of Oxford as the
person who would celebrate the marriage. In May he fixed
the wedding. He came purposely to tell me, . and gave
ditections for the'ceremonv. He was constantly talking how
soon he would marry my sister. On one occasion he offered to
bet me £lO that ho would marry my sister the next day. This
was before the wedding was fixed for June or July. I said
nothing'to induce him to make the statement, but he came
in from a long walk, and said he had that moment left the
Chancellor, and that the wedding was to be fixed the next
morning. That was before we had the whisky. He told
me in the evening that my sister would not marry so hastily,
as she was not prepared to marry next morning. I am
positive my sister got some of her things ready for the
wedding. I never asked Mr. Bonwell his position, but he
told me voluntarily. I am positive ho told me he'svas a
widower. My mother was present when ho said he would
be married the next morning.
By Mr. Coleridge—There is not the slightest truth in
the imputation that I was in the habit of getting drunk,'
My sister, when she left us about a month ago, had but £3
in her possession.
By Dr, Twiss—Mr. Bonwell wrote to my sister inform-
ing her that he intended to visit Newport, and we waited
dinner till six o'clock for him, when he arrived.
The Rev. Hugh Williams—l am a clergyman of the
Church of England, and chancellor of the diocese of Lien-
daff. I knew the late Mr. Yorath as a neighbouring
clergyman. I recollect on the 15th of February this year
Mrs. Yorath and her daughter coming to tea with me. Mr.
Bonwell did not come that evening. Mrs. Yorath came to
tell Mrs. Williams of her daughter's marriage to Mr. Bon-
well, a clergyman in London. On the 21st I called at Mrs.
Yorath's to see Mr. Bonwell, but he was out. He caste,
however, on the 29th of March with Mrs. and Miss Yorath,
and there I was formally introduced to him. He spent
that evening with us. He behaved as a gentleman and
clergyman should do. I understood they were about
to be married. On the • 15th of May he also
visited my house. He did not tell me privately
that he was a widower, but Mrs. Williams, in his
presence, told me that he was coming to me to got hts mar-
riage license. She also told me in his presence that ho
said his first wife's name was Bird, and a connection of the
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Cross-examined—Whatever was said by Mrs. Williams
he must have heard, as he smiled assent. I think Mrs.
Williams said the marriage was to be in June, and he said,
"Yes, soon," and the 26th of June was fixed as the day.
I was asked if I would marry them, I said " Yes."
By Mr. Coleridge—l am sure it was fixed that I was to
marry them, but the subject was not discussed further.
A copy of marriage certificate of Mr. Bonwell with
Albertina Sophia Bird at Bradford was then put in.
Sarah Jones, servant at the Angel Inn, Newport, said—
I was engaged as servant to Mrs. Yorath. I have
frequently seen Mr. Bonwell there. I have seen Miss
Yorath sitting on Mr. Bonwell's knee. They used to sit
up very late. I have also seen them sitting on the sofa as
lovers usually do. I told Mrs. Williams about two months
ago what I knew of the matter. I did not think it necessary,
when I saw Miss Yorath sitting on Mr. Bonwell' a knee with
her arm round his neck, to tell her mother, as I knew they
were to be married. Mr. Yorath and Mr. Bonwell used to
joke and drink of an evening. It was on one of these ea-
casions‘that I went into the room that I heard of the mar-
riage. I know that she was making some linen clothing,
which she said was for her wedding. I never saw her
making a weddine. dress.
Re-examided—Miss Yorath was making night dresses,
which she said was for her marriage. Drinking never was
a habit carried on to excess in Mr. Yorath's house.
Mrs. Mary Ann Yorath—l am mother to Elizabeth
Yorath—l recollect meeting Mr. Bonwell in London, and I
reproached him with his conduct to my daughter. He said
he had fallen in love with her, and he could not help
if he was hung the next moment. I do not know where
my daughter is at present. Sha left our house about a
month ago. She had but £3 with her when she went away.
Cross-examined—My daughter was in want of the ar-
ticles she was making, irrespective of marriage.
By Dr. Twiss—l recollect going to town, and in going
to Mrs. Glennie's house. I asked for Mrs. Harvey. My
daughter was not at home. She returned next day. I
never saw Mr. Bonwell at the house.
Miss RachelEvan.s—lreside at Newport, Monmouthshire.
In January last I saw Mr. Bonwell there. I was at a party
at which he was present. He acted towards Miss Yorath
as an accepted suitor. I recollect Mrs. Newman—who has
children—being at the party. She left 0)011 11 o'clock.
Previous to doing so she said " I must now say good night,
as I must get to see my little ones." Mr. Bonwell said,
" They are dear little trusts ; I wish I could see mine." He
then turned round and said, " Ah, Lizzie dear, my little boy
is very dear to me, but your little boy will be ten times
more so." She laughed it off, and said " Don't talk non-
sense.',
Cross-examined—He said this quite loud enough for me
to hear. I did not make any observation, us I believed they
were engaged persons. I never took particular notice of
the conversation. I never thought at all about it until I
was applied to by the Chancellor to tell him all I knew
about it.
Mr. Richard Arnett said—l am assistant to a bookseller
in the Strand. Twelve years ago I was in the service of
Messrs. Rivington's, where I became acquainted with Mr.
Bonwell. At one time I met Mr. Bonwell near my resi-
dence in Canterbury-road, Ball's-pond. Mrs. Glennie
came to me a day or two after and told me she had let her
lodgings to aperson ofthename of Mr.Bonwell, she thought.
I told her I knew the gentleman—his name was the Rev.
Mr. Bonwell, of St. Philip's, Stepney. I was once in an
omnibus when Mr. Bonwell entered, but after sitting for a
moment or so he got up and went out. I don't know
whether he recognised me, but I knew him.
Mrs. Alice Glennie—l live at Ball's-pond-road. In June
last a lady calling herself Mrs. Harvey looked at some
apartments I had to let. She engaged the rooms, and I
asked her fora reference. and she gave me one—" The Rev.
James Bonwell, Teignmouth-terrace, Stepney." rn the
evening of the day a cab containing a lady and gentleman
arrived. It was on a Saturday. He remained but a short
time. Before he went he said to the lady, " You will
bo at church to-morrow, and thou you will dine
with us." I sent the linen belonging to the lady
to wash. Some of it was marked "E. Yorath."
The lady lodged with me seven weeks, but the last twe
weeks of that time she came in but once. She used to re-
main out frequently. She always told me not to expect her
home after 10 o'clock in the evening.
Cross-examined—The gentleman who came to the lady
never called at my house but once. When the lady left my
house she told mo she was going home with her mamma.
By Dr. Twins—The gentleman called the lady " Lizzie."
I noticed directly she came into my house she was in the
family-way. I once asked if the gentleman's name was
Bonwell, and she said " No, his name is We tmeath. He
has frequently, however, been taken for that gentleman."
I recognised him to be Mr. Bonwell from a miniature she
wore of a man in clerical robes.
Mr. Beilby, a chemist, residing in Whitechapel—l once
went to 51, Canterbury-road, Kingsland, and asked for
letters addressed to Mrs. Harvey or her daughter, and
was informed there were none. I went to No. 33,
Thornhill-crescent, and told Mr. Bonwell so. Mr. Bonwell
then introduced a lady as Mrs: Harvey. Mrs. Yorath, son.,
was also there. have no doubt Mrs. Harvey was in the
family-way, although she wore a large quantity of crino-
line. I have no doubt of her being in the position I have
mentioned. I say so as a family man, although from the
crinoline and petticoats it is rather difficult to say how a
lady is now.
Mrs. Hudson—l am pew opener of St. Philip's, Stepney.
In December I recollect on one occasion a lady coming to
the church, and after doing so, at the end of the sermon
Mr. Bonwell said, " Will you ask that lady to come into
the vestry to me." I did do. Last August the same lady
came and asked for the rector's pew. I showed it to her,
and after that she used to walk in herself. On the
20th of August I noticed a little girl ringing at the
school-house door. I went out and told her it was
no good knocking, as there was nobody there. She
said her mother was there, nursing the minister's wife.
After the inquest Mr. Bonwell accused me of creating the
reports against him. He said the nurse was attending upon
a poor woman who had fallen down and broken her leg.
Mrs. Conder said—ln August last I was sent for to at-
tend a lady in labour. Mr. Bonwell was down stairs, and
Dr. Godfrey and myself were with the lady. A male child
was born, and the mother and infant remained at the school
house for 12 days. The lady, myself, and baby went in a
cab to a hotel. Mr. Bonwell told the lady where to go. I
remained in attendance until the baby died. I never heard
Mr. Bonwell talk about the father of the child.
Cross-examined—The mother told me it was an eight
months' child, and that it was born prematurely. The lady
was in great danger. It would have been highly dangerous
to have removed her.
By Dr. Twiss—l never heard the gentleman's name men-
tioned until I heard it at theinquest.
Emma Mitchell, a servant at the Sussex Hotel, paid
in August a gentleman took an apartment for a lady her
nurse, and baby. The Rev. Mr. Bonwell paid P.m hotel
account. The child died on tho Saturday morning, an
undertaker came to take away the corpse, and the lady and
gentleman left the following day.
Mr. Ayres, undertaker, of Red Cross-street, said—Mr.
Bonwell called upon me, and asked me tc bury a little child
atmy own convenience. There was to be no followers, and I
charged him 18s. for it. I buried it themext day. I told
him the 18s. would include everything. Mr. Bonwell
handed me the registrar's certificate of the death of the
child.
Cross-examined—The chi' d's mother and the t ll gen-
tleman (Mr. Bonwell) were present when I fastened down
the coffin. He had no knowledge the child would be re-
moved from the coffin it was first placed in. He nor no one
else had any knowledge that such would be done. Mr. Bon-
well knew no more about the removal of the body from. the
first coffin than the table in court.
Dr. Godfrey repeated the evidence respecting the danger-
ous situation he found Miss Yorath in when he was called

in.
Dr. Twiss—Are you acquainted with Mr. Bonwell
Dr. Godfrey—l have attended his wife for 15 years.
Dr. Twiss—l ask you whether you are acquainted with
Mr. Bonwell ?
Dr. Godfrey—lf it is not irrelevant to say so, I don't
wish to acknowledge the acquaintance of any clergyman in
the present state of the Church of England. (Laughter.)
Mr. Buller—ln the course of conversation, did Mr. Bon-
well tell you who was the father of the child?
Dr. Godfrey—l decline to answer the question. I claim
the privilege of a professional nian.
Mr. Buller—There is no privilege in the medical profes-

sion.
Dr. Godcrey—Am I bound to answer the question ? The
whole of my conversations with Mr. Bonwoll I promised to
keep secret. Am Ito break my promise and tell an untruth?
Mr. Buller—You are sworn to tell the whole truth. You
must answer the question.
Dr. Twins—Have you p;•omised to Mr. Bonwell not to
divulge what he told you.
Witness—l have.

Mr. Buller—That answers my question.
Mr. Sorrell—l think this cross4ixamination had better be
adjourned until to-morrow,
Mr. Street, of the Times newspaper, then produced the
manuscript and letters 'relating to the advertisement in-
serted in that journal., when
The inquiry 1".:a adjourned until to-day at 11 o'clock.