The Sun.
London, England, 1818-11-24 00:00:00

INFAMOUS TRANSACTION.

Utyuntg-HALL.—Ann Sarah Webb, a young
woman of extremely respectable appearance, yes-
terday preferred the following 'charge against Inn.
Beale altas Briant, a man between 30 and 40 years
of age, and of . genteel address. About three
weeks ago the prisoner comasenced an acqoaint's
ante with the complainant, by accosting her dar-
ing an'evening's walk at Walworth, near the Ele-
phant and Castle ; a few days subsequent to the
first, meeting, she again saw him at Kennington ;
he then made a declaration of attachment to her
person, professed to entertain intentions of the
most honourable nature towards her, express-
ed a wish for . an immediate introduction to
her family, and represented himself as the
nephew of Mr. Beale, of Kennington ; and en-
.t titled, upon the death of that gentleman, to the
sum of 8,0001. He also stated that he then acted
Ps clerk to Mr. Beak, and resided at his country-
house at Clapham. The complainant felt highly
gratified with the attentions of a person of so much
apparent, respectability, introduced him to her
father and mother, at their residence, Golding's-
place, Vauxhall, by whom he was received and
considered.as a man of honour, and the future
husband of their daugliter; his addresses were sanc-
tioned and encouraged, his .frequent visits re-
ceived with pleastrre, and an unrestrained inter-
coarse allowed with the object of his choice.—
Qn Saturday evening he prevailed upon her
t
to •accompany him in a walk towards Ken-
nington ; he there took a coach, and or-
dered the driver to proceed to the Elephant and
Castle at Newington. He had not been seated
in the coach more than a few minutes, before
he .treated her in a most indecent manner, and
forcibly attempted to violate her person. She
screamed as loud as she was able, when he threaten-
ed to murder her if she did not discorrinue her voci-
feratinns, and struck her several blows on the
head, and endeavoured, by placing his hand
upon her mouth, to prevent her spreading an
alarm. The coachman heard her screams,
'stopped the coach, and opened the door, when she I
ran. in a state of distraction,- to the house of her
parents, about a mile front the spot where the
transaction happened. She fell upon the floor 1
breathless and exhausted, and for a considerable
time remained insensible. Upon her recovery she
acquainted her father with the particulars ot the
circumstances, and he adopted measures which
led to the prisoner's being taken into custody. Mr. 1
Webb stated to the Magistrate, Sir J. PINHORNB,
that since the confinement of the prisoner be had
niscovered that his daughter Kati been deceived -
by a series of infamous misrepresentations. The r
prisoner's real name was Brian/ ; he was a mar-I
ried man, and resided at Wilson's-buildings, Ken-
ningtoti ; his circumstances were indigent, al-
though his appearance was genteel ; and his
statement, as to the expectancy of 8,0001. upon
the death of Mr. Beale, -.% is as destitute of truth
as the other parts of his tale, which had been '.:
framed to effect the ruin of his (laughter.
The prisoner denied at first that any assault 4
had taken place in the coach, bat afterwards ad-
mitted that something tinplevant had happened,
and imputed it to intoxication. The censures
which the Magistrate passc;cl upon his conduct,
he appeared In regard with great indifference) ~
and proposed to. Mrs. Webb, the mother of the
complainant, to compromise the affair for a sum
of money. Mrs. Webb rejected the offer with ~
scorn, observing, that the wealth of the %swift
could not Wire away the disgrace of her child,
nor restore the happiness of the tarndy, which had
been destroyed by his infamous machinations. He
was committed for want ot bait. ..