The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-12 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Maw 9.

Nisi Prius Sittings at Westminster, before Baron PLATT and a
Common Jury.)
)(CREDIT!! V. MEREDITH —REDUCTION.

Mr. ALEXANDRR. 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, wader circumstances •f 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 1841, the defendant
polafintTffar;jibaugtenototime was agreed upon, and the
madedaught
daughter
overtures utrhese Elisabeth Meredith, the elder
intimacy between the parties continued up to the month of
January, 1844. In that month the mother of the defendant died,
and the plaintiffs wife went to the defendant's father's house, and
stayed there until after the last offices were performed to the de..
fendant's mother. The defendant then brought horns the plain.
tiffs 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 dean.
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.

Elisabeth Meredith was then examined, and gave her testimony
in so low a tone, with so much reluctance and apparent embarrass.
ment, that very little she said was heard. She stated that she
was twenty-Ave 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 positively denied that she had any other sweetheart but the
defendant, or 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. iII3IFREY (with whom was Mr. Gray) 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 Pcarr, 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 is a house where he ought to have felt
himself bound to protect any woman, and still more a relation
residing there under such circumstances. The jury, however,
shou'd endeavour, in estimating the damages, net to allow their
feeling 4 to influence them in giving what might be called vindic.
live damages. He was bound, also, to tell them that they were
not entitled to give any damages In respect of the breach of pro.
mise 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 PLarr—Well, Gentlemen, retire, and discuss the matter.
That is one of the advantages of trial by jury.
A juror said he thought the plaintiff and his wife had both per.
milted the young woman to go to the defendant's house.
Baron Ptirr—Yes; but they did not consent to hie 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
for the plaintiff—Damages, Oil. 6s. Ad.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, May 10.
THE ROMFORD BANK.
IN THE MATTER OF 30115505, JOHNSON, AND MANN.
This was a bitting before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn,
for the bankrupt, the late Alderman Thomas Johnson,
the rid( r, to pass his last examination.
After a number of proofs of debts, the bankrupt
passed his last examination.
A dividend of ss. has been paid, and a further one of
2s. is expected.
Mr. Mann has obtained his certificate, and his few cre-
ditors on the separate estate were paid in full.

LONDON ADJOURNED SESSIONS.
(Before the Leas MATOR, REcoanas, and ALDEILMEN.)
These sessions were held on Saturday. There was a great deficiency
of jurymen, both grand and petty. Of the former, four were tined
101. each ; of the latter, several were fined a similar sum, and as
there were not a sufficient number to form a second jury, all above
the first twelve were discharged from further attendance.
Henry England was indicted for an assault on John Walton. It
appeared by the evidence, that the prosecutor went to some pre-
mises belonging to him, and let to a person named Enfield, who
sold hie business to the defendant. Prosecutor went to the house
to get his rent, and found the place nearly stripped ; he was going
to make a distraint, when defendant seized him by the collar, and
threatened to throttle him. The goods were got away, and the
key was kept for eight weeks afterwards. He had offered to settle
on an apology, and the rent due at the time being paid.
The Recoenea suggested to Mr. Wilde, defendant's counsel,
that the plea of Not Guilty should be withdrawn, and defendant
enter into a recognizance to appear for judgment next sessions.
He considered, that under the circumstances, It would be much
"cheaper" for the defendant. -
Mr. WILDE said, that after what had fallen from the Court, he
had no hesitation in advising that course.
Defendant was then found Guilty.
Mr. PAYNE addressed the Recorder, and said, that as the Court
of Queen's Bench had decided that appeals could not be heard at
intermediate sessions, it Was to be regretted some arrangement
could not be made that the jury should not be called en, as they
were now liable to be called eight times a year.
The Recoaera said that when the Magistrates of the City of
London thought intermediate sessions unnecessary, he should feel
happy to relieve them ; but he did not see why there should not
be intermediate sessions. It was so in other courts, and grave mat-
ters were tried. He thought, however, that It would be advisable
to appoint appeals to be heard on the adjournment day of the Quar-
ter Sessions, when .the list of cases for the jury was light, or a
special day appointed, which would prevent the unnecessary and
prolonged attendance of parish officers.
The Grand Jury brought in several bills for assaults and mis-
demeanours, but the parties put In bail and traversed, and the
court broke up.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(SATURDAY.)
BO IV-STREET.

A FORCIBLE ENTRY.—John Quincey Harris, late
M.P. for Newcastle-under-Lyne, was placed at the bar
before Mr. Twyford, charged with unlawfully making a
forcible entry into the house of Mr. George Roberts,
solic.tor, of Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn, his brother-in-
law, and assaulting his servants.
The complainant stated that he was the husband of
tahe Friday
house, evening, about five o'clock,
he went to ascertain the
the defendant's sister, and resided in Montague-street,
Russellhearing
square. un ao
see in
. O
cause, when he found the defendant struggling with his
servants, and to prevent a further breach of the peace
being committed, he sent for a constable, and had the
defendant conveyed to the station.house.
The defendant said be had received a letter from his
mother, in which she expressed a wish to have a conver-
sation with him on business, and on presenting himself
at the complainant's house, where she at present resided,
he was resisted, and taken to a place of confinement,
where he remained the whole of the night, and for which
he was determined to institute legal proceedings against
the whole party.
The complainant assured the Gaul that several at-
tacks had been made upon him by the defendant, in con-
sequence of which he went in bodily fear, and from his
general conduct he had every reason to conclude he was
not accountable for his actions, being of unsound mind.
The defendant, in a very excited manner, declared
that every word tittered by the complainant was false,
and having taken a prayer-book from his pocket, he read
in a very solemn manner the entire of a psalm, while
the complaisant was endeavouring to impress on the
magistrate that he had been for a considerable time la-
bouring under very strong delusions.
Mr. Twyford said he was induced, from what had
just taken place, to have the opinwn of medical gentle-
men before he could allow the defendant to be dis-
charged. He then ordered the defendant to find bail,
himself in 150/., and two sureties in 1001. each, to keep
the peace till the sessions.
The defendant was then removed from the bar ; and
the persons who offered themselves as bail in the course
of the day were informed that the complainant must be
furnished with twenty-four hours' notice.
IVOR SH/P- STREET.
An elderly German, named Frederick William Zahell,
a master sugar-baker. was placed at the bar before Mr.
Broughton, charged with the manslaughter of a French-
man, named Jean Frederick Cobet, a sack manufacturer.
Both prisoner and deceased were known as men of pro-
perty, and had been friends. They were drinking to-
gether in a public house, and a quarrel ensued about a
sovereign. This lid to a pugilistic contest, in the course
of which the prisoner gave deceased an unlucky blow,
from the effect of which he died.
The magistrate consented to admit the prisoner to
bail, two good sureties in 2501. each, in addition to the
prisoner's own recognizance in 500/., f,-,r his appearance
at the Central Criminal Court to take his trial.—The
required bail was immediately given,
and the prisoner
was liberated until the sessions.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Sir James Sutherland Mackenzie was summoned before
Mr. Hardwick, for having committed an assault upon
Captain Robert Campbell.
Mr. Heaton attended for the defendant, and a gentle-
man from the firm of Barnes and Co. appeared for the
complainant.
Captain Campbell said, on Saturday evening last he
was dressing in his bed-room, at No. 4, King-street, St.
James's, when he heard a knock, and he called out
" Come in." The defendant opened the door, and, seeing
him, hastily entered the room with t,v Person having the

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