Star.
London, England, 1809-07-01 00:00:00

Davis *as taken beim the Magistrate, she was taken
back by Mrs. Neale, and she then found Miss Davis's
apartment as she had left it. She said Miss Davis
was much addicted to drinking, and that she would
have torn her to pieces if she had not procured her
liquor, for which purpose she would make the witness
take her clothes to pawn when she had no money ;
but her master used to forbid her. When brought
before the Magistrate he would scarcely hear a word
Mr. Neale said. Miss Davis was asked if she had
any complaint to mak, against Mr. Neale when she
replied, " No."

On her cross-examination, she said she had lived a
year and a half with Mr. Neale, and that Miss Davis
lived in John-street about nine months. Did not know
how Neale became acquainted with Miss Davis r she
was very handsome, and was allowed to walk out
when she pleased ; that she used to be so intoxicated
that it was a hard matter to keep her in the room. At
those times she used to rave about Mr. Neale coining
to murder her with his pistols.
Mr. Hunt lived opposite Neale's house in Lower
John street ; he' frequently heard dreadful screams
from that house, but could see nothing till that night
when the constables broke into the house, and he saw
Miss Davis, as he' afterwards understood, quite naked
at the window ; and when the men got to her, he
could see as if they were covering her. He went to
the Police Office, and heard Mr. Neale speak rather
short to the Magistrate.
On his cross-examination, he said the cries were like
labour pains, interrupted by violent shrieking. Such
a spectacle as Miss Davis was, when brought to the
Office, he said, GOD forbid he should ever see ; and he
had not the smallest doubt that she was the gay young
creature he had seen some months before coming
there in her chariot.
Kennett, clerk to Neale, said he had been
sent by Neale into Wales to subpoena Miss Davis, but
could not find her, and her uncle bade him quit his
house, for if he staid there for ever he should not see
her.

Mr. Gannow made a very impressive and feeling
address to the Jury, and said that his client had not
only not misconducted himself, but had so acted, that
if he had done otherwise in such a case he would have
,1e served doe severest punishment. Who and what
Miss Davis was no one could now tell, or how she
had become acquainted with Neale. A young lady,
exquisitely beautiful, driving about in her chariot, be-
came his inmate, and what was the consequence ? The
humane protector, who had supplied her with every
necessary, but who, when she was in the most dis-
tressing state of mental distraction, left her locked up
alone, without food and without clothing. She was
taken away to St. James's Workhouse, where for some
time it was thought that her life was, as well as her
senses, irrecoverable . She was restored to bodily
health by great care, but her mind was gone. She
could not be called as a witness; she could therefore
make no charge against Neale. The Magistrate had
properly bound her over to appear, thinking and
hoping she might recover, and tell the .tale of her
misfortunes. She was now not only out of her mind,
but she had lost her sight. As to the cries that she
uttered against Neale, it was true that the servant
Osborne had not seen the pistols ; but they were not
the air-drawn dagger of Macbeth, the imaginary
creation of a tortured and distracted mind. He had
pistols, fo- when the constable went to take him, he
drew a pistol, and swore he would shoot him.

Mr. GARRCW was observing very strongly upon the
strange conduct of tl-e gross inhumanity of Neale,
when I-crd ELLENBOROUGH requested to know whether
he could shew that a proper warrant was granted ?
Mr. Gannow apologized for permitting his feelings
to lead him into a wider field of observation, than the
defence of his client required. He said, however, he
should provide him with a strictly legal defence, and
if he did not, he should insult an English Jury, to say
any thing of the amount of damage!, which could be
only nominal. For it was of the first importance to
the police of the Metropolis, which Mr. Conant so ho-
nourably and so ably directed in the District of Marl-
borough-street, that when a person having a frantic
female in his house, permitted the neighbourhood to
be disturbed, he should be called upon to give some
account of his conduct.

Gregory, a constable, proved the breaking into
the house in John-street. On hearing Miss Davis's
cries, and finding her naked, he searched for her
clothes, hut found none. exc-or an old flannel bed-
gown. lie proved that Petterick, ailther constable,
had got a warrant from Mr. Conant, to .apprehend Neale.
Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Biackmore, corrubOrated the
statement of Mr. Hun: ; and Mrs. Lion, Matron of
St. James's Work.house, proved the debilitated state
is which Miss Davis was brought there ; that she be-
came blind , there ; and that while not delirious, but
apparently under the conviction that her end was ap-
proaching, she cried, " Oh ! that villain, Neale ; it
is through him that lam reduced to this." She did
not think Miss Davis at all addicted to drinking.
Petterick, a constable, proved that he had a war-
rant to apprehend Neale, who threatened to shoot
him. and he had a pistol in his hand.
_ _

The Looks of Marlhiorough-street Office were then
produced ; and Gregory's infumation, whereon the
warrant was issued, was read. The warrant was then
put in evidence mi.( read. The examination of Gre-
gory, sworn in the presence of Neale, was then read,
and also the minute of Neale's answer, in Mr. Co-
nant's hand-writing.
_ _ _

Neale stated in this examination that Miss Davis
came willingly to his house. He said " what is the
end of all this ? I will answer no quqstions." He
further stated, that he did not deny she was found in
that state. He left her so at ten o'clock. She came
to his house with her own consent.
Mr. PARK here interposed, and said he could now
justly yield to the feelings of his. friends around him,
because the Defendant had made cut a strict legal de-
fence. He should, therefore, be nonsuited; but if there
had been no warrant, or no examination, he should
iia.ve addressed the Jury, although he knew he could
not demand heavy damages where a Magistrate acteA
bona file, although he might act erroneously.
Lord ELLENBOROUGII said, it could never have been
I case for more than nominal damages. If, however,
!trough motives of feeling, the Magistrate had acted
xithout a warrant, he should have directed a verdict
lainst him to carry costs. He WAS happy to find
vlr. Conant had acted with so much caution. The
agreeing to be nonsuited, he should not make
• obset vations upon the cast. -- The Plaiutiff was
zierefore nuniuited.