The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-07 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT—LINCOLN, Aug. 5.
CLIFTON, CLERK, V. NEVILLE.
Mr. DENMAN opened the plaintiff's case. Mr.
Neville, a gentleman of large property and ancient
and respectable family in this county, had imputed
to the plaintiff, a member of a family as ancient as
his own, and moreover a clergyman of the Church of
England, the commission of an infamous felony.
That imputation he this day, by his plea, repeated.
He first denied that he had made it, and then said,
even if he had made it, it was true, and would
prove it' The Jury were therefore now empanelled
to try this gentleman, the plaintiff, for felony. The
plaintiff was the grandson of the late Sir E. Clifton,
who had resided in the vicinity of Nottingham,
where he held a living ; and at the time in question
was living near Market Raisin, in this country, dis-
charging the sacred duties of his profession. The
defendant resided at Thorney, in his neighbourhood.
After a short acquaintance, the plaintiff received
an invitation from Mr. Neville to pay him a
visit at his house at Thorney, which invitation
was couched in the most familiar language. The
note was dated from the White Hart Inn, in this
town, and was to the following effect :—Dear
Clifton—l have just heard that two bailiffs are in
quest of me. I have lately lost my housekeeper,
my cook, my butler, and my dairy-maid; but have
supplied their place with better cattle. If you and
Mrs. Clifton will pass a few days at Thorney, Mrs.
M'Candlish, the young widow of an officer late of
the 70th regiment, will be ready to give you wel-
come. Yours, &c." Now Mr. Clifton certainly
felt honoured by an invitation from a gentleman of
Mr. Neville's fortune to spend some time at his
house, and he accordingly went. He took care,
however, to go unaccompanied by Mrs. Clifton. He
was net aware of the mode of living which pre-
vailed at Thorny, until he visited Mr. Neville's
house, where he remained, however, a few days.
During his stay there the plaintiff had occasion for
some money, and sold a pair of ponies for 30/. to
the defendant, or rather gave them to him by way
of security for a loan, because the sum advanced was
certainly considerably below the value of the ponies.
Having terminated his visit, the plaintiff proceeded
to Spittle Inn from Gainsborough, and there found
a servant waiting for him with a letter from Mr.
Neville. That was the letter which was the subject
of the present inquiry. The jury would judge of
Mr. Clifton's astonishment on opening that letter,
and reading as follows :LL(The Learned Counsel
then read the letter.) The writer began by ex-
pressing; his great regret at having suffered a person
of Will Clifton's character to enter his house; and
went On to charge him, that not satisfied with the
loan of 30/., which he had received from him in
charity, he had abstracted his purse containing 9/.
'Ss. from his bed-room table. The plaintiff in-
stantly replied to this insulting letter with the ut-
most indignation, and no sooner had be arrived at
Lincoln than he was arrested at the suit of the de-
fendant for this alleged debt of 30/.
Lord TENTERDEN here inquired if this case could
not be settled in some other manner ?
Mr. CLARK, for the defendant, said his client was
not in Court, but he would take upon himself to ac-
cede to his Lordship's suggestion.
Lord TENTERDEN—Let some gentleman at the
bar say what apology, if any, ought to be made' ;
and, in short, what ought to be done between the
parties.
Mr. DENMAN must, of course, always feel most
anxious to comply with his Lordship's suggestion.
The case was then referred to the decision of Mr.
Serjeant Adams.