The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-28 00:00:00

BROMLEY.

Mr. A. Simons, of the Sheridan Knowles Tavern,
Brydges-street, attended before the Rev. Mr. Scott
and Mr. Boyd, to show cause why he should not have
an order made upon him for the maintenance of an
illegitimate child, of which Sarah Croombridge, the
complainant, alleged he was the father.
A solicitor appeared on behalf of the defendant.
The complainant, a very pretty girl, apparently
about 18, deposed that she was delivered of an illegi-
timate child on the 7th of July last, and that the de-
fendant was the father of the child.

In answer to questions by the Chairman, the com-
plainant said that her father lived at Wickham, and
farmed a little land in that parish. The defendant
came to lodge at h.'r father's house, and he used to
take her out with him for a ride in his chaise, and it
was upon one of these occasions, as they were re-
turning home in the evening, that the first intercourse
took place. In the course of the evening Mr. Simons
took her to a public .house and gave her some brandy
and water, and the liquor took a great effect upon her.
The complainant then proceeded to state that after
this period the intimacy continued between them
until at length she went to Camberwell, where she
passed as Mrs. Johnson, and the defendant as Mr.
Johnson, and she was there delivered or the child in
question. While she was at Camberwell she received
a letter from the defendant, which she produced. It
addressed the complainant as " My dear Sarah--my
dear love," and went on to say that he was not angry
she had put the child to the breast, and that she
might depend that it would all turn out for the best,
and that so long as he lived nothing earthly should
separate them, and that she might rely he would pro-
vide for her, and that she would not find him like the
rest of his sex. The letter was signed "J. Johnson."
The complainant swore positively it was his hand-
writing, and that this was the name he assumed
during their intimacy.
The CHAIRMAN asked the complainant if Mr.
Simons had ever given her any money since the birth
of her child, and she replied that he once gave her a
half-sovereign.
In answer to a question from the Bench, it was
here stated that the defendant was a married man,
and that he had four children.

The complainant was then cross-examined by the
solicitor of the defendant, when she declared posi-
tively that she had never been intimate with any
other man than Mr. Simons. She said that she had
been keeping company with a young man named
Watkins, and they were going to be married, but he
broke off the match and married another woman.
She had been acquainted with a young man named
Montague, and was also going to be married to him,
but that engagement was like wiie broken off. She
went to Croydon fair with Montague, and met her
father and Mr. Simons. She swore positively that
there had never been any improper intimacy between
her and Montague.
The defendant's solicitor—You have said that Mr.
Simons passed by the name of Johnson • did you not
know what his real name was ? Complainant—Yes.
Solicitor—And were you not aware that he was a
married man with a family? Complainant—l was.
Solicitor—And have you not, knowing these facts,
and the nature of the intimacy that existed between
you, been to his house, and dined with him and his
wife ?

The complainant admitted this had been the case.
The Rev. Mr. SCOTT expressed his opinion that this
fact was as much to the discredit of the defendant
as to that of the witness.

The solicitor said that might be, but when the
whole question turned upon the credibility of the
witness, it was necessary that the magistrates should
be put in possession of all the circumstances of the
connexion between the parties.
John Croombridge, the father, was then examined.
He deposed that complainant was his daughter, but
he was not aware of there being any intimacy be-
tween her and Mr. Simons until she brought the
child home, and told him he was its father. He went
to the house of the defendant in Brydges-street, and
asked him what he intended to do for his daughter,
and he admitted that he had been intimate with her,
and expressed his willingness to give 2s. or 2s. 6d. a
week for the support of the child. The defendant also
gave him a sovereign, and when he saw him the se-
cond time, and gave him the summons, he again ex-
pressed his willingness to pay half-a-crown a week.
Cross-examined—The defendant admitted that he
had been intimate with his daughter, but denied that
he was the father of the child, and said that he ought
to go to John Montague.
The solicitor then asked the witness whether he did
not tell Mr. Simons that if he would put his name to
the back of the summons, and agree to pay 2s. 6d. a
week, he would hear no more about it ?
The Rev. Mr. SCOTT said it was no harm if he did;
and he thought it would have been a very wise course
for a person in the position of the defendant, and a
married man, to have avoided this public exposure.
The solicitor said he was sorry to hear this obser-
vation, as it tended to show that the Bench had made
up their minds against the defendant.
The Rev. Mr. SCOTT expressed his opinion that as
the case stood, there was ample corroboration of the
complainant's statement, and he should feel no diffi-
culty in signing an order. He would add, that he
thought the conduct of the defendant, as a married
man, was most base in going to take a lodging in the
country, and embracing the opportunity thus afforded
him of seducing this poor girl.
After some further conversation the Court was
cleared, but in a short time the defendant and his
solicitor were sent for, and the Bench inquired of the
latter whether he had concluded his cross-examina-
tion, or whether he intended to call any witnesses ?
The solicitor said, that after the observation which
fell from one of the magistrates, he did not think he
ought to proceed any further, but he should certainly
appeal if the Bench made an order.
The MAGISTRATES then expressed their unanimous
opinion to be, that the complainant had made out the
case, and that her evidence was fully corroborated.
Under all the circumstances, they should make an
order to the full extent allowed by the Act of Parlia-
ment, which was five shillings per week for the first
six weeks after the birth, and half-a-crown per week
afterwards.
Notice of appeal was immediately given.

HOUNDS ON A RAILWAY.—On Wednesday last
the hounds of Lord Gifford, in Gloucestershire, which
had met in the morning, at Minety Pond, were placed
in the utmost jeopardy between Cirencester and Swin-
don. The fox had crossed the railway, and the hounds
had come to a cheek upon the very rails, when the cry of
" a train ! a train !" that made every one shudder, was
heard, and a passenger train seen to be, as it were, bear-
ing down upon the pack with its usual velocity. The
alarm whistle gave its wild scream to show that the en-
gine driver was awaro of what was inevitable, but it was
evident that, if the hounds could not be extricated by
removal, the pace of the train could not be slacked to
preserve them In an instant one of the whips was upon
the line, and by the greatest effort the hounds were pre-
served, though the last of the pack that quitted the rail
was so near one of the wheels of the engine, that for a
time it was supposed to have been destroyed.—North-
amton Herald.
INSTITUTE OF THE FINE ARTS.—On Saturday
evening a general meeting of the members of the Insti-
tute of the Fine Arts took place in the theatre of the
Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, G. R. Ward,
Esq., in the chair. Mr. Bass proposed a resolution,
" That a vote of thanks be given by the Institute to the
trustees of the Harcourt bequest, in having, in the com-
petition which bad recently taken place with respect to
the design for an altar-piece for St. James's church,
Bermondsey, selected artists as judges of works of art."
No less than sixty-seven large sketches as designs had
been sent in by different artists, the aggregate cost of
which could not have been less than 2,0001. After some
opposition by Mr. Foggo, who objected to the selection
being made by artists, as liable to intrigue, the motion
was carried. The Secretary announced that the Council
had decided on holding conversational meetings on every
alternate Saturday, at which members were requested to
attend with their books, prints, &c., of interest.
The Marquis of Bristol had an interview with the
Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the;
Board of Trade.