The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-07 00:00:00

SOUTHIV ARK.

THREATENED ASSAULT ON LORD HUNTINGTOWER.—
Yesterday an application was made by Lord Hunting-
tower for a warrant against an individual named Duckett,
for using threats of personal violence against him.
Lord Huntingtower stated that on Saturdvy evening
last, as he was proceeding along the lobby of the Queen's
Bench Prison, he was accosted by a Mr. Duckett, who
asked him if he knew Captaia White's address, as he
wanted to find him out. The reply was that he did
know, upon which Mr. Duckett inquired if he (appli-
cant) knew anything about an acceptance of his which
he said had been improperly obtained from him by
Captain White, and that it was relative to that transac-
tion he wanted to meet with the captain. He (Lord
Huntingtower) answered that he himself was in pos-
session of the bill, and that he should not part with it,
knowing the acceptor had received 'value for it. Upon
this Mr. Duckett called him and Captain White '• pair
of scoundrels, that the bill had been stolen from
him, and ho declared that if it was not given
up, he would give him 41-4ord Huntingtower) into
custody for stealing it. F inding that ho was not
disposed to comply, Mr. Duckett became very much

excited, and threatened that if the bill was not delivered
to him, and that very speedily, he should break every
bone in the skin of the party who held it. Ho also
expressed his determination to kick both him and Cap-
tain White on meeting them, even in the most public
place, unless the bill was restored. Lord Huntingtower
added that, under the apprehension Mr. Duckett would
have carried his threats of personal violence into effect
on the spot, he resigned the possession of the bill, at the
same time informing him that he should adopt proceed-
ings against him for the violent nature of the threats,
and for the purpose of making him deliver up the bill.
Lord Huntingtower added that several persons were
within hearing during the time he was so improperly
treated by Mr. Duckett, against whom he wished a war-
rant to be granted, for putting him in bodily fear, and
thereby obtaining the possession of the bill alluded to.
Mr. TRAILL said that, as the applicant was ready to
swear he went in personal fear of the party against whom
he made the application, a peace warrant should be
granted for his apprehension.
Shortly after Lord Huntingtower retired Captain
White entered the Court, and made a similar application
fur a warrant against Mr. Duckett.
Mr. num. said that there would be no necessity for
issuing two warrants, that Captain White could be in
attendance on the day Mr. Duckett was brought up, and
that he would then have an opportunity of having his case
investigated, as well as that of Lord Huntingtower.
LAMBE TH.

GROSS CRUELTY AND NEGLIGENCE OF A CHILD BY
ITS PARENTS.—Yesterday, Jonathan Storey, a middle-
aged man, and formerly a publican in Newport-market,
was charged before Mr. Henry with gro,4ly neglecting
his child and keeping her without the necessary supply
of food, so that her life is at present in great, jeop:irdy.
From tho evidence it appeared that some days past
the attention of the neighbours had been directt,d vo the
gross negligence of the prisoner towards his child
Martha, between five and six years of age, and informa-
tion of the circumstance was given to Mr. James, one of
the overseers of the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth. On
Saturday afternoon that gentleman applied for the assis-
tance of Dunn, one of the beadles of the parish, and with
that officer proceeded to a house in Doughty-place, Lam-
beth, and on forcing open the door of a room on the first
floor, they found the poor child, who presented a fright-
ful spectacle, sitting in a chair nearly benumbed with
cold, and without a tire, or a morsel of anything to eat
in the place. The poor child was nearly naked, and her
person and head were a moving mass of vermin. Mr.
James had the poor child at once removed to the work-
house, where she at present remains in a very dangerous
state.

Caroline James, a nurse in the parish workhouse, de-
scribed the appearance of the poor child when brought
there. She said that the few rags by which her person
was scantily covered so swarmed with vermin that they
were obliged to be destroyed, and her head was obliged
to be shared to get rid of the vermin. Witness put
some questions to the child as to the manner in which
she had been treated, when she said that her father had
been in the habit of leaving her locked up all day during
the late cold weather, without any fire ; that her only
food was a little bread and water ; and that her father
was in the habit of ill-using her. The parish doctor
considered her case of so serious a character, that he
had been to see her as late as ten o'clock on the night
before, and his impression was that her recovery from
the state of exhaustion to which she had been reduced
was very doubtful.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge. said he was a
married man, and had two children and a wife living.
About three years ago he kept the Jolly Butchers pub-
lic-house, Newport-market, but had been burned out
from there. Ile subsequently received 160/ from the
insurance company, and with this he paid several debts
he owed, and placed 401. in the hands of his wife for
security. Shortly afterwards his wife left him, taking
away one of the children, and leaving him the other.
The prisoner here became very much affected, and wept
bitterly, saying the conduct of his wife in leaving him
had nearly broken his heart. He said it was. true that,
through poverty, he was reduced to the greatest want,
but still he loved his child too well to allow it to want
food, for while he himself had but a pennyworth of dry
bread, he took care that she did not want. He had ap-
plied, he said, for relief to the parish of St. Ann., Soho,
where he had a settlement, but they refused to give him
any, and knowing the way in which poor people who ap-
plied for relief were generally treated, he did not wish to
maks a second application, nor had he gone to the parish
officers of Lambeth at all.
Mr. HENRY remarked that it was much to be lamented
that he had not applied for relief to Lambeth parish to
have something done for his unfortunate child, and not
allow her to be reduced to such a state of wretchedness
and suffering as that described by the witnesses who had
been examined. As the child was described to be in a
dangerous state from his negligence and improper treat-
ment, he (Mr. Henry) should feel it to be his duty to re-
mand him to a future day.
The prisoner was accordingly remanded until
Wednesday.
ANOTHER CASE OF CRUELTY.—Robert Pratt, who had
been remanded since Wednesday last, on a charge of
grossly abusing his son, a boy of five years of ago, was
again put to the bar for further examination.
At the last examination Mr. Henry expressed a wish
that the parish officers of Lambeth should prosecute in
a case of so serious a character as the present, and de-
sired Dunn, the beadle, to communicate his opinion to
the vestry-clerk. Yesterday Mr. Logan, who holds a
situation under the Poor-law Guardians, attended, and
said they had no fund in the pari,h applicable to such a
prosecution, else they should with ple,sure act upon the
magistrate's suggestion, and aid the ends of justice in
such a case as far as they could.
. _ _

Mr. HENRY said he should certainly send the case for
trial as it was, and thought it was one in which the pa-
rish ought to prosecute.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

In the case of Peter Watkins, committed upon an in-
quisition held by Mr. Wakhry, the coroner, to take his
trial for manslaughter, the RECORDER complained that
the depositions had only just been returned, it being
then nearly four o'clock. He observed that justices
and coroners were bound by the Act of Parliament to
return the depositions taken by them, at the sitting of
the Court, and they subjected themselves to a fine for
neglecting to do so. He then directed Mr. Clark, the
Clerk of Arraigns, to write to the coroner to know why
the depositions had not been returned at a mere early
period.

PRESTON COUNTY COURT.
(From the Preston Guardian.)
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
MARY HOOTON V. HENRY RIMMER.

Mr. CATTERALL, who appearead forthe
opened the case. The action was brought by Mary
Hooton, of Churchtown, for a breach of promise of
marriage by the defendant, Henry Rimmer, of the
same place. Damages were laid at 1001.—the de-
fendant being understood to be in good circumstances.
The defendant, he said, was the author of the ruin of
the plaintiff in every respect. He called the follow-
ing evidence :
Ann Twist—l live at Churchtown, and am aunt
of the plaintiff. I know defendant; his father is a
farmer. Cannot say what quantity of land he has.
Defendant has been in the habit of seeing my niece
about ten years. She is about 28 years of age, and
he is the same. About two years ago my niece came
to live at my house. When living at my house, defendant
came two or three times a week to see her. He talked
to her about marriage and she talked about purchasing
a rocking chair, when he said he would send to
Preston and get a pair of them against their marriage.
He said to her he was not thinking of being married
before spring, as he could have a cottage from his
father then. About half a year after she was at my
house she gave birth to a child. This was in last
August but one, in 1843. The child is now above a
year old. I remember she charged him with being
with Ellen Baker. He denied, and said he never
intended having any one but Mary. My daughter,
who is now dead, was present. I heard him saying
he would like a mahogany chest like Mary's. He
said, on another occasion, he hated young men de-
luding young women, and he would never do so.
He said he had visited her for seven weeks at South-
port, and found she never had any other sweetheart.
Plaintiff went to a little cottage of her father's to be
confined. Heard him often speaking about his
wedding. He said he bought a marriage ring, and
he thought it was gold, but it turned out not to be so.
—(Laughter.) He had a horse and cow, and the cow
was to be Mary's cow.—(Laughter.) He was in the
habit of buying presents. He once bought her half a
sack of potatoes, and said when these were done he
would buy her more. I have also seen him going after
her at other places.
Cross-examined—My name is Ann Twist, and I
have been about ten years a widow. I had seven
children by my husband, and one since. I have
brought an action against James Gregson for a breach
of promise of marriage. It is not yet tried. It is to be
tried at Liverpool. It was not to the defendant I had
the child. The plaintiff has three sisters. The eldest
is named Betty, and is about thirty years of age, and
has had a bastard child. The second sister is named
Ellen, and has had two bastard children by different
fathers. The third sister is named Hannah, and has
not yet been in the family way. I have frequently
been at plaintiff's father's house in my widowhood. I
was in the habit of going about once a week. I did not
go on a particular day ; sometimes I went in the morn-
ing, and sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes at
night. When at night I did not remain so late as
twelve ; it might be abcut ten. I cannot exactly
say how many persons I have seen there. Never
saw a .lozen young men there, nor eight, nor ten, nor
six ; but four, I think. Will not swear I saw more
than four there. I had no connection with the young
men. I cannot say whether I always met the same
four, or a variety of fours, at this place. Only occa-
sionally met young men there. Can't tell what the
young men were doing. Never took any notice of
what the young gentlemen were doing. Never saw
them upon the young ladies' knees, or near them ;
nor WAS there a " squab" there uponwhich they
sat. Never saw them " tickling the young
ladies—(Laughter )—nor with their arms round
their necks. Never got a kiss from any of them, nor
did any of the young ladies. I will tell you another
day where the unfortunate circumstance that occurred
to me took place.—(Laughter.) It has given me
much sorrow. My niece went to live with me in
February, 1843, or beginning of January. The child
was born about six or seven months after. Since

plaintiff left my house I have never seen her and de-
fendant together. I know a person named Margaret
Cadwell, and about three months ago met her in the
house of Ann Cadwell. I did not say in this house
that Rimmer never promised marriage to plaintiff. I
sometimes met Gregson at Ann Cadwell's house. Did
not know the plaintiff was in the family way when
she came to my house. The child has never been
fathered.
Re-examined—l had the bastard child about eight
years ago, and since then Gregson has promised to
marry me.
Mary Hooton, mother of plaintiff—l live at Church-
town. Have known defendant for ten years. Hi'
father was a neighbour of mine. He has been in the
habit of coming to my husband's mother's house. My
daughter had slept with her grandmother a long time
before she went to her Aunt Twist's. Have seen marl
a time Rimmer and my daughter together. In
January, 1842, heard Rimmer say to my daughter,
" It is time we were married," and he also said the
" askings" should he put up on Sunday. She took ill
with the ague afterwards. The Sunday after Rimmer
gave her a present of 2s. 6d., and a little pork for
her to eat when ill. She went to live at one of our
cottages after leaving aunt Twist's, and was confined
there in August. Rimmer came to see her after, and
held the child and said, "It is a fine child." lie
frequently came after the child was born.
Cross-examined Have had thirteen children.
Nine are living, five of whom are girls. The youngot
is named Ruth, and is twelve years of age. Mrs'
Twist has come occasionally to my house. Young
men came to my honse ; and if they had not, mf
daughters would never have been injured. Some'
times Henry has come in, and others. Have had
young men in my house to the number of six of
eight at once, at a Christmas or at other times. John
Blundell has been there, but many years since'
Thomas Rimmer, too, who was a neighbour, and
others. I and my husband have retired to bed when
they were there, hut this was many years since.
was about the time Rimmer kept company with
Mary. My daughters lived at my house when their
children were born. . _

Elizabeth Hooton, of Churchtown—l remember
being at the weaving shop end about three years ago,
when Rimmer said he would be " asked" the Sundsi
after.

Cross-examined—lt was outside the shop where
this was said, on the 18th Jan., 1842. Plaintiff
caught coil that night in consequence of staying out
with defendant. I am not come to tell you whether
1 have an action also for breach of promise. I will
tell you another time. My father and mother were
in the habit of going to bed and leaving us np
the young men. I won't tell you who kept company
with me. I shan't tell you low many stayed uP
with me.—(Laughter.) I did not come here to tel
you these things. People have come here with lies
in their mouths. I will tell you nothing but el
truth. It is true I have had a child. It does n°'
matter whether my sisters have had or not.
James Halsell, of North Meols, labourer—l kn°W
Rimmer, and have seen him walking with plaintiff
lie said on one occasion he had 2001. in ready money',
and did not think it worth his while to talk to poor
people. I was just behind him when he said this t°
me. On another occasion he told me he had a grey'
mare of his own. He has been in the habit of gra.'
ing potatoes for sale, the land of which was given hi°
by his father.
Cross-examined—The land on which he grew tb:
potatoes was more than twenty times as large as the
table in Court. I was at Kirkiale a few hours one
day about stealing a duck, and I have once in
time been in prison for poaching. This was about
twenty years ago. I never was in prison for Or
thing else.
Mr. NOBLE then addressed the jury, and contend
that the character of the family was of such a flagrlin
description as to free the defendant from the char(
There was no direct evidence that a promise
marriage had been made ; but in the event of the
jury deciding that there was, it would be for there t°
say how much damages would be required as ccll'o
pensation; and certainly one farthing, he thonicbt'
would be a sufficient compensation for all the rn
jury such characters could sustain by a breach of
promise. he
The ASSESSOR, in addressing the jury, said t•-•
first question to be disposed of was, whether then
had been any promise of marriage. It appeared
him, from the evidence, that there was somethins
like an understanding that the parties were to be
married. In deciding upon the question of darnageAf
they must take into consideration the character it
the family, who appeared to be most immoral. ~e
would he their duty, also, to consider whether tuPe
defendant was actually worth 2001., as stated in 0,,
evidence, or whether it was not likely he had oni.7
made a boast of having that sum.
The jury, after about an hour's consultation, II::
called into Court to try two other cases. Allio
doing so, the Court adjourned, leaving the jury I
decide upon the case. The jury remained in conoll.A.
tation until ten o'clock, the result of their prolong"
deliberations being a verdict for plaintiff—damsge*
303.

THE RIVER ELLEN.—In consequence of the SriibB
number of fish which have lately been found dead iniol
river Ellen, it was generally supposed that the river 'of
been extensively poisoned 134, poachers for the peeposo
procuring their prey. This conjecture, however, °tile
been proved to be entirely groundless, as far so r,
vachers are concerned, through the exertions of ,1.0
Senhouse, Esq., of Netherhall, who was led to incl,l/4
into the cause of the destruction of so many of the "Poe
race as was daily observed by him in that portion Of
river which runs through his grounds. Mr. Senbollos
suspecting the river to contain some strong poison)
ingredient, had two bottles filled with the water,
he transmitted to Mr. J. B. Wilson, surgeon, of Wilt •c,
haven, for the purpose of being analysed. on sublit,
ting the water thus sent to him to an analytical test, oa
Wilson discovered that it contained peroxide of iron hi',ll
sulphate of lime to the extent of three grains and e "de
to a pint of water. This at once accounted for the pot
struction of the fish, as it was wholly impossible lie
the tenants of the stream could exist in their native eher
ment when in such a state of adulterati,m. On fur •
inquiry respecting the cause of the river being in elle 'eo
state, it was discovered that the owners of the collierlio
in the neighbourhood of Durham had been pumping.„tof
water out of some of their pits, which had found its "co
into the river Ellen, and had produced the consequee eci
which we have just described. Some idea may be ibrllhe
of the poisonous nature of the water pumped ND, bf
pits, when we state that the fish were destroye'doi•
wholesale, and that they were found dead in great ill'ots
hers at least three miles below the junction of the streof,
from the pit with the Ellen. We feel assured, hove se
that as soon as the owners of these mines are insde„ipg
quainted with the disastrous consequences of sine ti
this poisonous water to flow into rivers, they will
deavour to direct it into some other channel.— Car
Patriot.
COI!
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BIRTHS.

On the sth inst., at Waresley-park, Huntingdonshife,V
Caroline Duncombe, of a daughter.
no' fl
On the Ist inst., the lady of J. de Prati, M.D., of a elle',
On the 2d inst., at Brighton, the lady of the Bor.
Green, of a daughter. wits
On the 2d inst., at Catherine-place, Limerick, the
Captain 11. Lugard, Royal Engineers, of a son. r, birg'
'On the 3d inst. at eoleshill House, Berks, the ri°'
Edward Pleydell Bouverie, of a daughter.
„4,
On the 4th inst., at Clapham-rise, the wife of R.
ea
Evans, Esq., of a daughter. lArg
On the 4th inst., at Stanmore Villa, Weybridge'
Webster Flockton, of a daughter.
On the 4th inst., at the Parsonage, Leaven-heath, pied(
by -Nayland, Suffolk, the wife of the Rev. H. T. Curl'''. °lOll °
On the 4th inst., at Wadsley, near Sheffield, the
the Rev. Walter Scott Dumergue, of a son. frA iletvd
On the 4th inst., at Bromley, Middlesex,
Berger, of a daughter. bter. r
On the sth inst., Mrs. Frederick Heisch, of a daU;A
On the sth inst., at Reading, the lady of Captain 'r•
ray, R.N., of a son. e,
On the sth inst., in Wimpole-street, Cavendish-ser, hi
lady of the Rev. George Bethune Norman, of a daugu'ie
'
On the 6th inst., at Shaftesbury House, Bays',"
lady of Thomas Davidson, M.D., of a daughter,

MARRIED. '
On the 12th of November, 1844, at Benary, A. 0. outi 1•
Esq., Madras Civil Service, to Isabella Fanny, Yve
daughter of Major-General Leslie,K.ll., commanding