Star.
London, England, 1825-03-31 00:00:00

MONMOUTH, MARCH 28.

SIDUCTION—ZDWARDS V. THOMAS,
Mr. C. PHILLIPS stated, that this action was brought
to recover a compensation for the seduction of
plaintiff's daughter. The plaintiff was a man in humble
life, but was a freeholder in ths county of Monmouth.
The defendant was what is called stock-taker to Messrs.
Paley, who are eminent iron-masters. About three
years ago, the defendant became acquainted with this
family, and made honourable proposals to their'
daughter, which were only objected to on the ground
of the extreme youth of their child, she being only
seventeen years of age. He, however, was still inti-
mate with the family, and often visited their house,
they not suspecting any ill, as the defendant had been
already married. Under these circumstances, he ac-
complished the seduction of the unfortunate girl. She
very soon communicated her situation to her seducer,
who, bad as his conduct had been, instead of pear)t m•
ing his promises, immediately abandoned her. Her
parents acted very properly ; they did not turn her into
the wide world, but they took proper care of her. The
defendant, though he had no regard for any one else,
had a special regard to himself, for he had heard from
some self-styled lawyer, that if he compelled her to
swear the child to him, that would be a bar to the
action. 'But this trick did not succeed ; for, though she did
swear the child to the defendant, it was Tr) buruen to the
parish;but was maintained at the expense of the plaintiff.
Tire defendant was a man in a station of great trust ;
his master would not appear in pursuance of their sum-
mons, and the inference from that circumstance was
clear; but even if the defendant was not worth a far-
thing he would ask them to give such damages as they
thought right, for if the defendant could not pay them,
they of course could not receive them, but if the Jury
would give them the damages, they would take the
chance of recovering them.
Mary Edwards, a rather petty 'Welch girl, appa-
rently about 20 years of age, was examined through) an
interpreter; she was dressed in a brown great coat, and
round beaver h it (the usual dress of the Welch females) ;:
she said, I am the daughter of the plaintiff, and am noo.,
neatly twenty years of age. I have six brothers and,
two sitters. The defendant is about 30 ; he is a widower.]
Between two and three y ears ago he used to come toi
the house of my father, who is a farmer ;he came to;
keep company with me; he did so with the knowledge)
of my father and mother. Tire defendant was living I
at the blantyglo iron-works, which belonged to Messrs.!
Paley. The defendant was employed in %Tieing the
iron. After be bad kept my company about a year, I
was seduced by the defendant. I told the defendant he
must fulfil his promises, but he has never spok .n to me
since. I had a child about Chrismas last—my father is,
at the expense of the child.
Some other matter of course evidence was heard, and the. Jury
gave the plaintiff £lOO damages.
WESTMINSTER SESSIONS, AIARCII 30.

Edward Maimaring was put to the bar, on an
indictment, charging ium with stealing, on the 28th
of the pre:ent month, one bound book (a volume of the
Statutes), of and belonging to the Honourable the
House at Commons; the name and inscription of which
Honourable House was printed on the same.
The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty to the charge, the particulars
of which were given in our last.
The prisoner made no defence, and no person appearing to speak
to his character, the Jury instantly found him Guilty.
The CTIAIRMAN, in passing sentence, said it was ab-
solutely necessary to ;ma nt stop to the system of plun-
der so extensively carried on in the above Establish-
ment ; and, though he was not inclined, in this instance,
to visit the prisoner with the utmost severity, yet, as
an example, lie gsust undergo some punishment ; and,
inorder to deter others from a similar offence, the sen-
tence upon him was, that he be impris rned in the House
of Cortection for the term of six months.