The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-21 00:00:00

EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1850.

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A SERVANT.

The following is a fuller report of this nisguating and

cruel case than we were enabled to give in our paper of

yesterday:—
-
Yesterday Mr. George Sloane, a special pleader, of 6,
Pump-court, Temple, and one of the directors of the
Church of England Assurance Institution, Lothbury,
app aired kt she Guildhall police-court in discharge ut
his bail, to answer the charge of cruelty practised upon
his servant, Jane Wilbred, during a course of two years
that she bad b( en in his service.
It was generally believed that this case was only re-
manded for the purpose of completing some of the depo•
sitions previous to sending it for trial; nevertheless, at
an early hour the doors of the justice-room %ere closed,
in order to prevent the court from being inconveniently
crowded during the proceedings. This proved a very
necessary measure, as, by the time the Alderman had
taken his seat en the bench, a vast concourse of people,
apparently for the most part composed of citizens and
proteselcnal gentlemen, bad collected in Guildhall-yard,
each anxious to gain admittance, and to catch a glimpse
of the parties who bad made themselves so horribly no-
torious.

On Saturday last a war; ant was issued for the appre-
hension of Mrs. Sloane, in order to insure her appear-
ancil at the examination yesterday, but on the officers
visiting her residence for the purpose of executing the
warrant they found the furniture strewn ►,bout the room
in great disorder, as if the occupants anticipated a sud-
den departure. The chambers underwent a strict search

then, and again two hours;lft;,lMi-hirs:;;;ewas
❑owhere to be found, although Mr. Philips (defendant's
solicitor) assured the Court and Alderman, on the last
examination, that 1-he was unable to leave her bed

through severe indisposition, caused by an injury she
had sustained to her 1g by slipping it accidentally
through an area railing. Such was the great interest
excited in the minds of the people in consequence of the
(-xptcted app( aranee of Mrs. Sloane, who appears to
have acted with greater cruelty to the unfortunate girl
than the defendant Mr. Sloane, that there was such a
crowd inside the justice-room, and in every outlet of the
court, as has not been known for many years. So gene-
ral, indeed, was the excitement, that gentlemen were
seen applying at every door of the building, and anx-
iously chimirg acqu&ntance with the officials of the
office, in order to obtain admission to this " chamber of
horrors."

Alderman Humphery presided, and on the bench, we
noticed Dr. Marsden, Mr. Philimore, Mr. Fenn, the
secretary to the Hopi' Free Hospital, Dr. Heals, and
several of the guardians cf the West London Union.
Mr. Huddlestone (instructed by Mr. Pontifex), on
behalf of the West London Union, attended for the pro-
fecution, and Mr. Philips (of the firm of Philips and
Voss sol'citors) conducted the defence (in the absence of
Mr. Claarson, who appeared on the two former exa-
minr.tions). en behalf of Mr. Sloane.

Alderman HUMPHERY asked if Mrs. Sloane was pre-
sent? Roe (the summoning officer of the court)—Sho
is not, sir.

Alderman HUMPHERY—Did you serve the summons?
Roe—l did, air.

Alderman HUMPHERY—Was a warrant issued against
her? Roe—There was, sir.

Alderman lIIIMPHERT —Did you serve it upon her?
Roe—l served it at the house in Pump-court.
Alderman HUMPHERY—Whom did you see there?
Roe—l saw Mr. Slcane; he opened the door to me, and
said I was quite welcome to search the place, but he
could assure me that Mrs. Sloane was not there. lie
said that Mrs. Sloane's friends had advised her not to
atter.d here, but to surrender to take her trial at the Old
Bailey, so as to avoid having a public exposure at
every examination by attending the preliminary pro-
ceedings.

Alderman ITUMPHERY—Did you search the chambers?
Roe—Yes, Sir; I it arched every room twice, but neither
tia e did I see anything of Mrs. Sloane.
Alderman LIUMPHERY—Have you made any inqui-
ries to ascertain where she has gone to? Roe—l have
lodged the warrant in the hands of the police at Fleet-
street station, and told all the porters and messengers at
the Temple to give information immediately they die-
diseovtr any trace of her, or see anything that might
lend to her apprehension.
Alderman HIIMPHERY—IIave you any reason to be-
lieve that you will be able to find her? Roo—Not at
present, Sir.

Alderman liumPuEnY—Then we must proceed with
the case in her absence, and deal with it as though she
was press n:.

During these proceedings Mr. Sloane, having received
an intimation that his presence was required in the
court, came from an adjoining room, and quietly took his
se-ti, in the body of the court. His back was turned to
the audience, and he allowed his head to fall on his
breast in such a manner as to screen him from the gaze
of the multitude within and without, as if he wished to
shrink from general observation.
Mr. lluddlestone said, he understood that the guar-
dians of the West London Union, had, since the last
examination, called a meeting, at which it had been re-
solved that an application should be made to the Poor
Law Commissioners with reference to the present case,
the result of which was that the Puor-law Board had
issued an order for the guardians to carry on the prose-
cution against Mr. Sloane; and he (Mr. Huddlestouc)
was instructed for that purpose.
Alderman HUNPHERY—I was quite sure that the
Poor-law Commissioners would never have prevented
the guardians from prosecuting had an application been
made to them to that effect; but the fact appeared that
the guardians had not stirred is the matter, and Mr.
Pontifex was afraid to do so without previously receiv-
ing his instructions from them.
Mr. Pontifex said he was not afraid, but he was
not competent to act in such a matter without their
sanction.

The girl, Jane Wilbred, was then brought in and
placed in a seat by the side of the Alderman. She ap-
peared much stronger than on the last examination, but
evidently much distressed, from the excessive weakness
under which she laboured in endeavouring to support
herself, without aid, to her seat. Her breathing was
still very quick and difficult, and„although she has
gained about seven pound in weight since last week, she
still presents a moat emaciated appearance both in her
face and limbs. She was dressed in a servant's plain
dress, and, from the great improvement in her general
appearance since she has been under Dr. Marsden's care,
we are inclined to believe that she will, when perfectly
convalescent, turn out to be a pretty and interesting young
girl.
Mr. Huddlestone having intimated his intention of
putting her under a re-examination, the usual oath was
administered to her, and she continued her statement,
and the following appalling and disgusting details were
elicited It will here be necessary to adhere to her
evidence as she gave it, as her own words will better ex-
press the atrocity of the defendants' conduct than any
words we could substitute.

Jane Wilbred, re-examined by Alderman lIUSIPUERY
and Mr. Huddlestone—Mr. Sloane often beat me; some-
times in the morning early and sometimes in the day.
time. Mrs. Sloane used to beat me because I wore my
shift-sleeves over my arms and shoulders in the morn-
ing; and when I cried Mr. Sloane used to beat me for
crying. Mr. Sloane called me round to to the bedside
one morning and brat me on the hands with a
shoe. My mistress would not let me wear
my shift on my shoulders and neck in the morn-
ing, and, because I wore it to keep me warn:, she
used to beat me on my back with a shoe. She would
not let me wear any thing on my neck, or
any part of my body above the waist ; so
that, from the waist upwards, I was obliged to go about
the house exposed, in the presence of Mr. Sloane and the
yc ung lady.—(Sensation.) Her name is Louisa Devaux.
My mistress wanted me to do the work of a morning in
that naked state—(Sensation)—but I could not bear the
c)10, as it was in the winter time. I never went to church
on Sundays, nor any place of worship. I never asked
to Le allowed to go, as I did not know any place to go
to. My master and mistress and Miss Devaux never
went to church. My master sometimes went out on
Sundays, but never remained out long. My mistress
ver left the house. There was always meat cooked on
Sunday's for Mr. and Mrs. Sloare, but I had none of it.
Alderman HUBIPIIERY here said—l have been looking
at the girl's hands, from the practice adopted here by
the prisoners, to ascertain if they Iwo been doing L.ny
_ _

laborious work; and I should say-that the poor crt'a' ture
has been worked very hard indeed; at all events her
hands bear strong testimony to that effect.

Witness continued—lt was several months alter I
first went in July that I was treated badly. At first I
was allowed to wear all my clothes; but as the winter
came on my mistress compelled me to go about the house
with only my shift and gown tied round my waist by a
petticoat, as she could not wait for mo to put them on
properly or anything else to keep me warm. She told
me very often that I must not wear anything on my neck
and shoulders, but I do not recollect w hether Mr. Sloane
heard her or not. Mr. Sloane often beat me on the
hands, arms, and back with a shoe, sometimes while I
was having my breakfast and sometimes after. At that
time I had not as much as I could eat. I had meat
sometimes three times a week. When my mistress
could not make me eat my own dirt my master beat me
until he made me do it. (Great sensation, and long-
continued hisses were levelled at the defendant, who
sat immovable in his chair, as if he was not at all
concerned.) There was no wetercloset of any kind
in the chambers belonging to Mr. Sloane. There
was only one chamber utensil for the use of Mrs.
Sloane, Miss Devaux, and myself, which was kept in a
pan under the kitchen-table. I was only allowed to
use it once a day. I sometimes used it at night,
and when she found it out in the morning she told me
she would make me eat ►he contents.—(Great sensa-
tion.) I was generally locked in my bed-room all night,
so that I should not use the chamber utensil. When she
told me she would make me eat the contents she used to
try and do so.—(Prolonged hissing.) She has made me
eat it more than once, and when I struggled to prevent
her, and it dropped on the floor, she picked it up and
put it in my mouth.—(Sensation) ih hen I have not
been able to get at the chamber utensil at all during the
day I have dirtied the floor, but I could not help it. My
mistress on one occasion got a piece of turnip and cut a
hole in it and filled it with some of the dirt, and forced
it down my threat by means of a large iron tablespoon.
—(Great sensation.) Mr. Sloane was not present when
she at first attempted it, but he was when she succeeded
in pushing it down my throat. He stood behind me, so
as to keep me close in front of ray mistress while she
put it into my mouth.—(Sensation.) He beat me on that
Occasion with a shoe because I refused to do as my mis-
tress wanted, and he beat me again after it. This►
only beppened once in Mr. Sloane's presence, and that
es as about a fortnight before I was taken from
his house. Sometimes if I forgot to scour
' , the fender with ashes, or clean the footman on which the
dinner is placed before the fire, Mr. Sloane would beat
me on the arms, shoulders, and back with a shoe, in the
presence of Mrs. Sloane and Miss Devaux. The latter
was present when they made use eat my own dirt,—