Star.
London, England, 1820-07-24 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

•
Saturday, an old decrepid man, who is so deformel
that he has been from his birth unable either to drei.t
or undress himself, having neither handi nor fe:.•!,
stood indicted for'unlawfully intermarrying with
Mary Staggs, in March last, his forn:er wife being
then alive.
Hercules Manning, the parish clerk of Plumstead,
in Kent, proved the marriage of the prisoner witit
Mary Johnstone, at Plum stead Church, in June, 'Ws.
The ceremony was performed by the Curate, 'the
Rev. S. Watson. •
Mary Johrstone, the prisoner's first wife, came
into the witness-box, and Mr. Manning swore that
she was the woman the prisoner married in 1808.
Mary Johnstone's appearance excited a good deal
of men iment : she was attired in the costume of the
last century, and appeared at lest 80 years of agc.
She called to the prisoner, " Oh, you naughty vil-
lain I" Order being restored,
Mary Staggs, a dece ntl y-d ressed woman, was called.
She said she was 70 years of age. She was the law-
ful wife of the prisoner. She was married to Lill
last March; aka Church in the Borough. She did
know the name of it.
Prisoner.—" I only married her to dress and undress me."
Witness.--,, You know better; you left me."
CIIIAIRMAINo—" Were you married by banns or license?"
Witness.—" fly banns."
Prisoner:—" My Lord, have mercy. I am a poor helphcs
old Man • quite a cripple ; I can do nothing; I was born A
Brecknock ; the women know I am au innocent man, and rcver
does anything to any body." •
CHAIILICAN.—" You will be allowed to speak in your defence
hereafter." - _ _ _

Mary Savage being sworn, stated, that she was at
the marriage of the prisoner with Mary Staggs, on
the 2d day of March last.
CHAIRMAN.—" Now, piisoner, what have you :,t
say in defence of your conduct ?"
The prisoner then put in a written defence, com-
posed by himself, bet written by a fellow-prisoner, n
form of an affidavit, as follows:
“ I, W. Thomas, do declare that I am unable to nut aty oem
victuals, I having no ltat:ds or feet; nor am I able to dress ..r
undress myself without help. I married Mary Staggs, but Qie
did not long bide with me before she robbed me of ever y:hirz,
Only what I stand upright in ; and she, Mary Johnstone, aiot..l
and assisted in it, she living :.s housekeeper with me; the tes
skirt: threatened to hang me because I would not give her atozay.
. I gets my living by selling tuts about the country. Now, I pr.l
you, Gentlemen, to do what you can for me, for Joktattcne tens
me she has hung one and transported two, and will hang int.—
. I hope Goo will forgive all my wrorge and you tuo, for I
daily, and must soon die of old age.
(Signed)
"4 norsessumger.lane, July, 1520."
The CHAIRMAN recapitulated the evidence, and
said a more extraordinary charge had not been :c-
-cently before the Court. The prisoner; interrupted
the Chairman :••••••48 My Lord, I was pressed to marry;
I did not want to marry. What could I do? She
knew I only wanted her to undress me at night and
dress me in the mot ning !"
CHAIRMAN.—" The case is completely proved; it
is. an unaccountable transaction: you will consider
your verdict."
The Jury immediately returned a verdict off.-u;h7,
i ►ut strongly recommended the prisoner-to mercy.
CHAIRMAN.—" Upon what grounds?"
Juryman.—" His great age and infirmities."
Another Juryman.—" The prisoner was not able
to dress himself: it was necessary that be should
have some person to attend upon him, as he has no
handi or feet. We hope the Court will deal merci-
fully with him."
CHAIRMAN.—" Your
tended to."

" WM. THOMAS.

tion shall be at

The Courtr sentenced the prisoner to three moaths
imprisonment in the House of Correction. The I ri-
soner is possessed,of property in the funds an.ounttig
to nearly two thousand pounds.