The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-10 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Mai 9.

'Nisi Prius Sittings at Westminster, before Baron PLATT and a
Common Jury.) -
MEREDITH V. MEREDITH —SEDUCTION.

Mr. ALEXANDER, with Mr. Keating, appeared for the plaintiff,
who, it was stated, was a farmer and dairyman residing at
Twerton, near Bath, and complained in this action of the seduction
of his daughter by the defendant, who was also the son of a farmer
at Brislington, near Bristol, under circumstances of great aggra-
vation. The plaintiff and the defendant's father were first
cousins, and this connexion occasioned a close intimacy between
the two families. So far back as the year 1842, the defendant
made overtures of marriage to Elizabeth Meredith, the elder
daughter of the plaintiff; but no time was agreed upon, and the
intimacy between the parties continued up to the month of
January, 1844. In that month the mother of the defendant died,
and the plaintiff's wife went to the defendant's father's house, and
stayedthcre until after the last offices were performed to the de.
fendant's mother. The defendant then brought home the plain-
tiff's wife in a carriage, and at the same time proposed that the
plaintiff's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, st.ould return with him, to
take charge of his father's house, and that in about six weeks, or
as soon as decency permitted, he should marry her. Under those
circumstances, the plaintiffand his wife consented to their daughter
going to the defendant's father's house. For a while the iefen.
dant treated the young woman with respect, but shortly after com-
menced taking personal liberties with her, and then wholly refused
to perform his promise of marrying her. She left the defendant's
house, and returned to her father's in April, and in October last
was delivered of a female child, of which defendant was the father.
The defendant had not contributed in any respect to the expenses
consequent upon the young woman's pregnancy, and, under those
circumstances, the father asked compensation from the jury
for the dishonour of his family, and the loss of his daughter's
services.

Elizabeth ltferedi‘th was then examined, and gave her testimony
in so low a tone, with so Touch reluctance and apparent embarrass.
ment, that very little she said was heard. She stated that she
was tw•enty.tfve years of age, and the defendant thirty-five years
of age, and that he effected his object above a fortnight after she
went to live at his father's, in the kitchen, on a Sunday night, after
supper, and when the rest of the family had gone to bed.

On cross-examination the witness admitted that she had brought
an action for breach of promise of marriage against the defendant.
She positistsy denied that she had any uttter sweetheart but ,the
defendant, fir knew any other man.

The person at whose house the plaintiff's daughter was confined,
and a sister and brother of the young woman, were also examined..

Mr. Ii UM Flan' (with whom was Mr. (;ray) then addressed thejury
for the defendant, in mitigation of damages. He admitted, after
the evidence the jury had heard, that there must be a verdict for
the plaintiff; but the defendant lived with and was wholly depen-
dent upon his father ; and if the jury gave a severe verdict, whilst
it would ruin the defendant, it would do no service to the plaintiff,
as the defendant must go to gaol.

Baron PLarr, in summing up, observed that, though the
defendant asked for mercy at the hands of the jury, he ought to

have thought a little of the mercy due to a father's feelings who
had entrusted his daughter to his charge. The defendant seduced
the plaintiff's daughter in a house where he ought to have felt
himself bound to protect any Werratl, and still more a relation
residing there tinder such circumstances. The jury, however,
shou'd endeavour, in estimating the damages, net to allow their
feelings to influence them in giving what might be called rind's,.
tire damages. lie was hound, also, to tell them that they were
not entitled to give any damages in respect of the breach of pre.
mist of marriage.

After a short consultation, the foreman said that eleven of the
jury agreed, but one could not be got to agree to a verdict.

Baron PLATT—WeII, Gentlemen, retire, and discuss the matter.
That is owe of the advantages.of trial by jury.

A juror said he thought the plaintiff and his wife had both per.
mit ted the young woman to go to the defendant's house.

Baron PLATT—Yes; hut they did not consent to his debauching
their daughter.

Juror—:No; but they put her very much in the way of it.
The jury then retired, and in ten minutes returned with a verdict
far the plaintiff—Damages, 911. 6s. 9d.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

A JACK IN ASP A JACK OITT OF OFFICE.—A tall, gaunt,
grizzle-haired man, who was immediately recognised as John
Daniels, otherwise Long Jack, one of the Haymarket watermen,
ascended the rostrum assigned to applicants who have grievances
to redress, and throwing a proper quantity of " the dismals" into
his face, waited until he could catch the eye of justice.

Well, my man, said Mr. HARDWICK, what do you want ?—•
Vants to know how I'm to get my third of the pump vat ye rater-
men put up and paid for in the Haymarket; cos, yer Vership,
Mister Mansell's taken avay my Haymarket badge and license,
for giving hevieence agin Ratcliffe, wot's one of his own relations.
As a preliminary step to afford a clear insight into the character
of the application, it will be necessary to state that, a few weeks
ago, a constable connected with the Metropolitan Hackney Car.
riage Office, named Ratcliffe, was brought to this Court for drunken-
ness and misbehaviour. The charge of intoxication was mainly
established by the applicant, who had treated the constable to a
propitiatory glass of gin.
I got a letter from Mr. Mansell, wot belongs to the Hackney
Carriage Office, t'other day, yer Vership, said the applicant, sum.
moning me afore him, and telling me to bring my badge and
license. Ven I goes, says he, " Daniel, we put another man in your
place as vorterman in the Haymarket." " Hope," says I, "there
aiat nuffin agin my character.' " No,'' says be, "nut nuffin vot.
somhever ; but," says he, " I sha'nt take away your license alto-
gether. I shall move you to the London.bridge rank " " It's
werry hard lines," says I, " to have my bread taken from my
mouth cos I only spoke the truth agin your relation. There's my
badge and license, andl'll resign ; but vot about my third of the
pump, vot I paid seven pound odd for." " Settle that there vith
the man vot superscribes yer," says he; but yen I axes this
here man wot is appointed to be my predecessor, he says he vont
pay a farden.

Mr. HattnwicK—Well, and how can I assist you ?—Vy, you
see there's a third of the pump and buckets, my natteral sights,
cos I can show my receipt for the money. No spose this here,
that 1 ketches the new man a using my third of the pump, and my
third of the buckets, and my third of the eater, and I stands up to
petted my own property, and one of the meterloUoping police
constables brings me afore you for sumrnut, vot'll your Vership
do to me ?
Mr. HAROWICK—I canna give any opinion on a hypothetical
case. If you have any complaint, why not see Mr. Wedgewood,
the Commissioner ? Applicant—Mr. Vedgwood's too grand to see
sich as us. Mr. Mansell does all the hoffice vork, and it an't no
use axing
him. But, yer Vership, it's a bard case to be turned
out of my place,
vot I've bad so long, for speaking
the truth
I've got a few clothes and a few little sticks—them's wot I must
live on, and yen they're gone, and they won't last werry long, I've
nuffin afore me but the union.

Mr. IlAnowicK—l should recommend you to lay your case i>a a
memorial bcfore the Commissioner.. From what I know of Mr.
Wedgewood's high sense of honour and justice, 1 am certain he
never would sanction, on the part of a subordinate, any act of
petty tyranny or oppression.
The countenance of " Lorg Jack " brightened up, he thanked
the magistrate, and left the Court.

_....__ -
THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS; OR, ROMANCE
AND REALITIES ,F EASTERN TRAVEL. By --LIOT
1:V ARP.URTON, ESQ.—A second edition of this work
has just appeared. The Oundterly Reniew, in notic-
ing it, observes, ‘• This book is vastly superior to the
common run of narratives, and is indeed remarkable for
the colouring pnwer and the play of fancy with which
its descriptions are enlivened. The writing is of a kind
that. indicates abilities likely to command success in the
higher- departments of literature-. Almost every page
teems with good feeling; and although that ' catholic
heartednnss' for which the author takes credit permits
him to view Mahometan doctrines and usages with a
little too much of indifferentism, yet arriving in Pales-
tine, he willingly becomes the good pilgrim, and at once
gives in his adherence to the ' religion of the place'
with all the zeal of a pious Christian. The book, inde-
pendently of its value as an original narrative, comprises
.much iu,eful and interesting inforniation."

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO CAPTAIN CLEVERTCII4I-
- between twelve and one o'eack, as Captain Cleverton,
in company with several gentlemen, was proceeding on horseback
to the steeple chase at Kingston.bottom, his horse became restive
in the Fulham-road, and shked from one side of the road:to-4We
other. Suddenly the animal dashed against the hind... wheel's)! •
waggon, and struck the cap of Captain Cleverton's left knee-telth
tremendous violence, and fractured it. He was removed borne in
a cab, enduring great pain.
•

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