The Sun.
London, England, 1828-02-26 00:00:00

IRISH ,L.21k..y

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY 22.
GRADr V. RICHARDS 'AHD OTHERS.
This was' an -indictment for a conspiracy to take
away, on the 9th: May last, 'John Hely.Htitchinsou
Grady, being, an infant under the age of 21, from
the school of the Rev. Prince CrawfOro, at Donny-
brook, gear Dublin,ulidei whose, care and govern-
Meiii ye was pla-ced for the purpose of his edaca-
tion, With intent that he should contract matri-
mony with one Ellen Richards, -against the consent
of the said Prince Crawford, and his father, Henry
Deane Grady.

The Court was unusually crowded, the interest
here being as great as that excited by the case of
Miss Turner in England. The parties rank high in
life here.. Mr. Grady was an eminent practitioner
at the Bar, and Counsel to the Revenue Board,
which was _valued at. 4;0004 a-year. The family of
Mrs. Richards are also highly respectable.

Mr. Sergeant,. Goomi opened the case for the
prosecution. It would be his duty to detail to them
the facts which led to this novel and extMordinary
event. The mother of the lady, who was the prin-
cipal agent in this transaction was Mrs. Richards,
who was married to a gentleman of that name, pos-
sessing a fortune of 2,0001. a year. The offspring of
this marriage were two daughters and .a son. The
son was. a mere boy. The second daughter was
Ellen Richards, one of the defendants. Mr. Ri-
chards, about six or seven years ago, felt himself
under the necessity of separating from his wife,, and
this was effected by contract. If he were rightly
instructed, the circumstances of Mrs. Richards's
conduct were such as made it impossible for a man
of his habits and rank in life to live with her. The
peace and happiness of Mr. Richards rendered sepa-
ration necessary. He, however, alloWed her an in-
come of 4001. a year. Though rather advanced in
years, she continued to preserve her personal charms,
even in spite of her still indulging in those habits
• which led to the separation. He ventured to state
before this public auditory that no connection of
that lady's could he produced who would deny this
statement. Thus did he describe the mother. Miss
Richards resided with, and was left under 'the care
and tutelage of, that mother. She was a creature
of beauteous form and,loyely countenance, but, unfor-
tunately, too soon became the victim of her own farina.
tions. It would be proved, beyond the possibility of
doubt, that at the porter's lodge were nightly scenes,
where she was in the habit of meeting young men.
It would be proved by witnesses who saw the fact,
that she used to give and.receive letters from young
men at her window at eleven and twelve at night,
whieh was of easy access, it being only five
or six feet from the ground. The easy access
of • this window was made available for more
purposes than one. At the timeof this transaction,
it will,be further established in evidence, that. Miss
Richards was pregnant;and had recoursetotnedicine.
Almost incredible', all this took place under `her
mother's roof! He would here observe there was a
witness of the name of Redmond, who appeared
before the Grand Jury, and whose attendance they
used every means to compel, but without effect.—
That gentleman used expressions of Miss Richards's
conduct, which, as females might be in Court, he
would not offend female delicacy by repeating.. Such
was the character of Miss Richards. Through the
instrumentality of Mr. Redmond, however, they had
a document in their possession—a letter in Miss
Richards's hand-writing:, which threw further light
on her conduct. .The .letter was this (we suppose
addressed to Mr-Redmond)—
My dearest William—Do not go into town to-morrow--
come to Kingston, if possible; my
.brother and I are going
to fish there. Ifyou come on the avenue at 12, you will
find me on the line as a bait.—(A laugh.)--For Meaven's
sake do bring that horrid monster, Francis Lee, with
you. I hope you got home safe, and are not worse than
am. You may bring your brother with you.

ANGEL.
P.S. I hope Francis does not open your letters, as he
told me he did.

He asked any father what-consideration would he
an indemnity to him for such a letter, proceeding
from his daughter, couched in language demon-
`strafing the influence which daily example had upon
her mind and morals ? Such language and practice
which 'produced it she had learned from her mother.
He was told it was part of the defendant's case, that
this young lady had agreed and was to be married to
a half-pay. Lieutenant. If so, if she consented to
marry such a person, her object was to gratify her
passion ; but when the choice was between avarice
and passion, she flung away the latter, 'and, grasp-
ing at 'the other, determined to sacrifice honour by
entrapping a child into matrimony. He would tell
them now who John Hely Hutchinson Grady was.
He was a mere boy, having been born in February
1811. He was now sixteen years old •aud some
Months, and was even weak and delicate iu person
for his age. He was much addicted to boyish play
and amusement.—(A laugh.)—He had one parti-
cular attachment, and that was tK a favourite donkey.;
(Laughter.) Such a boy was easily practised upon
and duped.' Finding the boy not disposed to serious
study, his father destined him for the army, in which
the boy concurred. To receive the necessary educa-
tion he sent him to the school of the Rev. Prince Craw-
foid, in his own neighbourhood, and where there were
already two of his brothers. In the course of the
vacation :lie met young Richards, by accident, with
whom he became acquainted. From meeting young
Richards at the porter's lodge, Lynch, the porter,
also became acquainted with him, and told him that
lie would always lend him a horse, if he could get a
saddle. Thus this Lynch ingratiated himself with
the child, by lending him a horse, and was the au-
thor of all the mischief that followed. The boy had
never before seen Mrs. 'or Miss Richards. Lynch
told him that he was too grown for a school-boyt'—
that he Was a fool to'remain so longer—that- Miss
Richards' had 8001. a-year, and 10,0001., and that
he ought to make love to her.. Thus, through
..the
instrumentality of this, character, did the introduc-
tion take••place. He took him from the lodge to the
house; and what would the Jnry say when they
were told that this beautiful young woman, of be-'
tween twenty-three and twenty-four, fell at once in
love with a child, and so desperately, that she would:
desttoy herself if he did not consent to marry.
her ? 'Only ten or eleven days elapsed from their
first acquaintance to the elopement. Were these the
circumstances under which so solemn and important
a contract as that of marriage was to be perform-
ed ? On theBth or 9th. of August, Lynch carried
two letters to the bey at Mr. Crawford's, and re-
presented himself as the gardener, of his father. On
Thursday, the 9th, Catherine Lynch hired a covered
jaunting-car, which drove •to the porter's lodge be-
tween three and four e'eloek: • Mrs.. Richards was
there, reading a newspaper, and so was Miss
Richards, with a trunk, ready for the journey.
After .a• little delay, Miss Richards John Lynch;'•
and his wife and Elizabeth Cavanagh, got into the
car, and they drove off, Mrs. Richards kissing hands
and wishing them a good voyage. When they ar-
rived
at the quay to embark on boatd the steam-
packet for Glasgow, they met a man named Patrick
Jahn.on, and this duped child, all of whom embarked
together. Mrs. Richards declared, the same day,
that her daughter had gone off to Scotland to be
married to young Mr.. Grady, and that she had given
40/. to pay the expences, and promised to give 50/.
more when the job was effected—(a laugh)—and
they were safe and sound. The servants, the money,
and all the arrangements, were under the eye and
provided for by Mrs. Richards. The boy had not a
• farthing. It was from Mr. Crawford he borrowed a
,
penny the
before to put into tne poor hex.
In the annals of gallantry who ever heard of the
'here of the piece being so destitute ? It was the he-
roine, who made him a present of a necklace and dia-
mond rings—baubles to keep the child in good hit-
mour•—(A 'laugh.) The certificate of the marriage,
which, strange to say, was headed by the King's
arms, and was signed by" Robert Elliot," the parson
of Gretna Green, was partly printed and partly writ=
ten ; but all the writing was in her hand-writing,
and there she made it appear that John -Hely Hut-
chinson-Grady Was eighteen, and she was only se-

venteen—making,herseg years younger than
she WaS, and Giady older by a year. The date was
13th of Augyst 1827: The, pihy being discovered
at• Gretna by'the police-offieec sent in pursuit of them
from Dublin, and brought back to Carlisle, Miss
Richards was taken so violently ill that a doctor was
sent for, and afterwards a woman who acted as an
accoucheur, attended her. This woman, as he was
instructed,-eould swear that Miss Richards was then
pregnant. - When the police-officer reached Gretna,
he found Miss Richards sitting in the back parlour,
writing a letter. He asked her what she was
Writing, and she answered that it was an answer to a
letter received from her mother that morning. The
letter was •in the hand7Writing of, a friend, though
coming from her mcrther. The officer took posses-
sion of them, and he begged the attention of the Jury
to theii contents :
My dear ,Daughter,—You have informed me that you
are married, and I thank God for it. Be on your guard
against Lynch; he is a villain, and Grady will arrest him
if he comes back. , Do not give him a halfpenny to bring
him .home. lam turning them all out of the Lodge here.
I send you, 251., and will send you more when Everard re:-
turns, if wanted.. Comerhome with your husband as soon
as possible. You may ase my house as your owa. I
will never desert you. Guard against Lynch as against
the devil. What began badly may end well.—Your af-
fectionate mother, ELIZA RICHARDS.
August 16.
The person who wrote this letter added, " I have
read this letter to yonr mother, and she approves
of it."

My dearest Mother,—l must pay the expenoes of that
Lynch, as I woUld.be imprisoned 'here for bringing a
person to a foreign conotry, and not sending him home
again., He hasmade Grady ill treat me, and endeavoured
to make him leave me. I have been violently ill, and was
attacked with- the spasms in my stomach. I thought I
should have died. lam certain they 'have given me some-
thing. Words cannot express my aufferingi. I cannot
look at Lynch's proceedings without alarm. The 251. will
do no more than pay the week here, and, give Lynch his
expenses home. When I see yeti-my dear, dear mother,
I will open to you a few scenes of horror. If I had mo-
ney to go home all would be right. I have no doubt
Grady will forgive his sett-, Whey are respectable, and it
is a wonderful good match 'for rtie. • lam so ill that I can
scarcely write. The symptoms are 'dreadful: I have had
a doctor, that if they gave me poison I may know it. My
expenses here are two guineas a.day, though it is .the
cheapest. inn here, Send me 50/. if you can. Mr. Grady
must allow my husband 600/. a-year, and he told me be
had an allowance of 400/. before ; and those married here
are entitled to a child's portion. You would not know me
if.you saw me. I am as thin as a whipping-post. Give
my love,to Charley. If I die here, for God's sake send for
my ashes. Dear, dear mother, I dreamt we were in
Heaven together last night.-:-(A laugh.) ' [The conclu-
ding sentence is too indelicate- for insertion.)
(Signed) ELLEN GRADY.
'Gretna Hall, Aug. 19, 182'7.-
How insensible to every honourable, virtuous, and
delicate emotion must such a woman be ! How
fallen, degraded, and picistrate must her character
be ! On the return of the party to Dublin, a letter
was found in the Post-office, directed to Mrs. Grady,
Gretna, but re• directed:to " Mrs. Grady, Dublin."
This letter was sent to Mrs. Grady, of Merrion-,
square, the mother of the boy, who, after opening
it, and taking a copy, sent it hack to Mrs. Richards,
with the half notes for 251. which it contained. lie
would 'put Mr. Grady, the father, in the hox, that
his evidence might be sifted to the bottom. Six
mouths had now passed, away, during which Mr.
Grady was assailed by calumny and vituperation. A
system of espionage, was established in his domestic
recesses—the peace of his family was invaded—and
yet he did not descend to recrimination. He ob-
served his silence, and, in doing so, best consulted
his own dignity. He would now leave' the-case in
the hands of the Jury, where he knew it would be
treated with all the solemnity and deliberation whir!'
its importance deserved.

Henry Deane Grady, Esq. examined by Mr.
BENNETT-4 live at No. 2, Merrion-square, and
have also a house in the country. Have a son
named John Hely Hutchinson Grady. He is 17
this month. Is boyish in appearance. ' Was never
acquainted with Mrs. Richards or her daughter.
His intercourse, with Miss Richards was certainly
not with my consent: Made every possible exertion
to recover my son. I employed-the police-officers,
MI6 went to Scotland. Saw a person of the name
of Redmond. His age is about twenty-five.
Cross-examined by Mr. O'CortNELL—My son was
also at Eton. I thought you meant at school. He
was taken to Kilkenny by Lord Musketry, to be
kept out of the way of certain persons. Johnson
was one. Lynch was another. I don't know how
long my son had known Johnson.' On my oath, I
can't say whether he had known him three months.
My son ran away home from Eton: against my con-
sent, and then I sent him to Winchester. This
young gentleman waft not the only one of my family
married at Gretna Green. My daughter was mar-
ried there also: I knew nothing of it.

Mr. O'CONNELL-I know there is not a more re-
spectable lady living than Mrs. Grady • but, Mr.
Grady, can you now form a belief whether Mrs.
Grady did not know that her daughter was going
off to Gretna Green with Lord Ed. Chichester, the
second son of the Marquis of Donegal ?—I can form
no belief whether she did or not. I know the wit-

messes for the prosecution. They got money for
their expenses.
The Rev. Prince Crawford examiner by Air.
PERRIN—I keep a school at Donnybrooli.. John
Hely Hutchinson Grady was with me. He came
on the 4th of August, and went off the following
Thursday, about six in the evening. apprised Mr.
Grady of it the following day. I should not have
taken Grady to be 16 from his appearance, He
was not as manly in his Manner as most boys of
that age.

Cross-examined by Mr. RousToN—He ran away
in five days after he came tomy school. Never saw
him on horseback, or-smoking cigars. >I never sus
pected him of being fond of the ladies., -The prin-:
ciple course of his reading was English and arithmetic.
Mr. O'CONNELL—Then he came from Winches-
ter to Donnybrook fair to learn English.—(Loud
laughing.)
Pulhooley—l am. a police-officer of. the
Head Office. Was employed, about the 14th of
August last, to pursue Mr. Grady and Miss
Richards. Went. to a constable at Springfield, and
discovered them at the Gretna Hall Hotel. Saw
Miss Richards in the back parlour writing a letter,
With another before her. 'I told her I was come to
take her back, and must take her into custody. One
of the letters she said was from her mamma, enclosing
her 25/., which she receved that morning, and the
one she was writing was the answer. I took them
into my possession. (Here are the letters.) Miss
Richards handed me the certificate of the morriage
herself. Next day I saw P. Johnson; John Lynch,
and his,wife, within a few miles of Carliile, I
took them into custody, and . brought them to
Carlisle first. I also took Elizabeth Cavanagh.—
Lynch and Johnson I put into prison in Car-
lisle. In bringing .Miss Richards from Gretna to
Carlisle she got ill, and became insensible. I brought
her into the hotel myself, and sent for Mr. Anderson,
, a medical man. The wife of the .chief
of Carlisle also attended her. I found a silver watch
with lynch, which" I took. He told me that he
Often carried letters between Mr. Grady and Miss
Richards, and that it was he who introduced them
to each other. It was first caused by young Mr.
Richards borrowing a saddle from Mr. Grady. He
also told me that Miss Richards and Mr. Grady had
not met more than three times before they went off.
He said he did not know what Mr. Grady's fortune
then was, but he told Mr. Grady that Miss Richards
would have 1,100/. a year, and 12,0001. in cash). I
know George Bowen. He has been employed by

me as a spy.
Goss-examined by Mr. O'CoNNELL—I was told
to recollect what Lynch told:me. Mr. Grady, the
father, desired me to hold this conversation with

with him for evidence. I received from Mr. Grady;
about 1301. or 140/. I expect more, and would
take twice as much more. I served some

subpoenas, and 'was .paid for them. Mr. Grady sent
me a dozen of wine.besides. I will not wear there

Vtll4 not pothttn with it,—(4 1410) I gtry44

our subpoenas. I saw a gold chain and ritigs with
young Mr. Grady. I believe his father now hst
.them.
The letters alluded to in the evidence were put iu
and read.
Catherine Macgavenny—l am a native of Carlisle,
—(Being handed a certificate of the marriage)-'
She admitted she subscribed it as one of the wit'
nesses. Miss Richards wrote the written part,
Robert Elliott was in Ilipior when he wrote his name.
Cross-examined----Was at the marriage,and Elliott
performed it as well' as any clergyman could de. I
have been present at many marriagei by others, but
not by Elliott. I was stopping at the ientthis,time•
I Theredid n ot
was paya
ladymy expense from Gretnii. Greenhere•
with me who paid all. I 'cat
tell how much I expect forgoing back.
The Court adjourned at half-past four, and
the
case will be resumed to-moirow.
•