The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-28 00:00:00

A MATRIMONIAL HOAX.

The following advertisement appeared in a Man-
chester paper a few days ago :
" A striving young widower, of good character, with
children, wishes to correspond with a suitable lady, about
30, of small means, with a view to matrimony and domestic
happiness.—Address M 87, at the printer's.
The above was answered by one of a party of young
men in Macclesfield, who despatched the following
letter, written in a lady's hand :

" Shakspere Inn, Duke-street, Macclesfield, Aug. 17.
" Dear Sir,—l reply to your advertisement. I shall have
no objection to correspond with you with a view to matri-
mony. lam about the age you mention, have property in
Buxton realising £2 ss. per week. I possess £3OO in the
bank, and have large expectations from a relative aged 70.
I shall be glad to hear from you. Send your photograph,
or arrange for an interview as soon as possible, as 1 shall
leave town shortly. I could have my choice of any young
man here, but should prefer a stranger, for reasons that I
can satisfactorily explain on our first interview.—Truly
yours, " MARY GOULD."

- This elicited the following reply, which came to
hand on Sunday morning :

" Dear Mary, —I" Hhulavnle e,onMlyanrceheeeisyteedr, Ayougux. 214, letter this
th
morning ; it must have been overlooked at the office. In
reply, I think the best course to take in this matter is to
have an interview at once. I will be over at Macclesfield
to-morrow (Sunday) morning, by the train that arrives at
11,30, and if you do not wish to see me where you are stay-
ing I will remain about the station until all the passengers
are gone, and if I see you will introduce myself, or, if I do
not see you, I will go to where you are staying. I have
stated confidence can be kept in either case, as none but
ourselves will know the object of my visit.—l remain, your
very obedient, " •
This letter having come unexpectedly, the con-
spirators were hardly prepared with a suitable
young lady. The 11 30 train brought the young
widower, a middle-aged, pensive-looking, respect-
ably-attired man, dressed in black. Not finding the
object of his visit at the station, he forthwith made
his way to her apartments at the Shakspere, where
he was invited to take a seat and await the young
lady's return from Buxton, whence she was expected
every moment. He had not waited long before a
fashionably-dressed good-looking young woman
drove up to the door in a cab,.and on entering the
house the visitor at once introduced himself. Tea
was ordered, and whilst the two were discussing
and arranging preliminaries, revealing to each other
their family connexions, social position, and worldly
possessions, a conclave of young men were prepar-
ing the oven in which the young widower was to
be cooked. Presently two of them entered the
room where the couple was at tea, apologising for
the intrusion by remarking that the house was quite
full, and that that was the only room in which there
was accommodation. One of them sat down to the
piano, and whilst playing a piece or two other
interlopers made their appearance. The young lady
endeavoured to comfort her would-be spouse, who
seemed to get agitated by the furtive glances of the
young men. But when 10 or 12 of them entered
the room he expressed his desire to be off. He was,
however, politely informed that he was under the
law of Sir Sohn Barleycorn, and that he could not
pass the warders at the door. Perspiration trickled
down his face as in a state of feverish excitement
he threatened to make his exit by violence. He
was indicted for attempting to carry off in a sur-
reptitious manner the betrothed of one of his tor-
mentors, who, ig the character of an injured lover,
preferred the charge. The accused was found
guilty, without any hope of mercy, and sentenced
to pay a fine which would enable all on the pre-
mises to drink to his health. Amid convulsive
laughter he dashed out of the house, chased by a
crowd of persons. He sought refuge in the police
station, and subsequently made his way to the rail-
way station where a large crowd awaited his arrival.
Here he was subjected to a series of torments, which
were only terminated by the train carrying him off
to Manchester.—Manchester Guardian,

MURDER OF A SERGEANT OF POLICE.

•

On Saturday evening week a terrible affray took
' place upon an estate, near the Speech House, Little
Dean, between Sergeant Samuel Beard and four
sheep-stealers. It appears that four suspicious cha-
racters had been drinking in a neighbouring public-
house, and a farmer and Beard suspected something
wrong. Beard secreted himself in one position and
the farmer in another. It appears that the fellows
had set their gins and laid their nets. When these
preliminary operations were completed they drove
some sheep into an angle of the ground, for the
evident purpose of killing some of the flock. Beard,
it appears, at this crisis rushed upon the scoun-
drels, when they commenced a savage and brutal
attack upon him. They beat him with bludgeons,
and kicked him most furiously when on the ground.
It seemed to be their intention to murder him, and
they did not cease to ill-treat him until they thought
they had completed their diabolical purpose. The
ruffians then fled, leaving him, as they thought, for
a dead man who could tell no tales. The poor fel-
low was found next morning about four o'clock in
a state of insensibility. He presented a most de-
plorable spectacle. The farmer states that when
he was in his hiding-place he heard some blows, but
he thought it was some one beating a " donkey."
He says that when some considerable time had
elapsed he left his hiding-place and went to look
for Beard, hut could not see him. He, however,
found his great coat hung up in a tree, and thought
he was gone home. The affray must have been a
very sanguinary one, for four of Beard's teeth were
knocked out, and the ground was covered with
clots of coagulated blood. On Tuesday he became
conscious, and immediately mentioned the names
of the four ruffians. The fellows were shortly after-
wards apprehended. Their names are Williams,
Roberts, and two brothers named Coopey, most de-
termined-looking characters. On Wednesday they
were taken before the magistrates, and afterwards
to the bedside of Beard, who at once recognised:the
whole of them. They were then remanded, and the
deposition of the officer taken. Poor Beard lin-
gered in great agony until Saturday evening, when
death put an end to his sufferings,—Birmingham
Post.