Star.
London, England, 1819-08-12 00:00:00

DINONSI:IIIE.-EXETER, AUGUSTS.

The business at the Crown Mr was closed abnnt
two o'clock yes:cr.! iy. and the Civil Side at twelve
o'clock at night. Ti:e Pain Court was occu•
pied yesterday from ni:le in tile morning tin twelve
at night with the cause of " Francis t'. Drake;' re-
lating to a water-course, which had already been
the subject. of two trials betweeilthe same parties. At
twelve Mr. Baron GAAKAN concluded his summing 1,
up ; the Jury then retired, and about nine this morn-
ing made their appearance at the Juege's lodging, •
dinnerless, supperless, and breakfast:ess; bnt with
less chance of agreement in their verdict than when
they first retired. The parties and their Counsel
tried, with the assistance of the Judge, to effect
• a compromise, but without success, and the Jury
were again consigned to the charge of the. Bailifr.—,
There were nine :Special Jurors and thteetalesmen ;
the latter having more stomach for substantial food
-than for nine legal points were observed leaning out

Of the window; While their More sagacious brethren
were in warm discussion, and one was heard every
now and then tb exclaim, 4i De ye, Gentlemen, plilase
to settle, we be•so hungry." The chance Of agreeing,
however, was Still distant, and negotiations were re-
comntenced ; and after two hottii had been consumed
in effectuating a treaty, it was at length brought to
bear, and a Juror agreed to be *ld:drawn; thut
saving the Jury the pain of following., in a state of
starvation, the Learued Judge to the bounds of the
county, which in all probability would have been the
case had no arrangement been catered into'.

SEDOCTION.-cIrFORD V. BRAGG'.

This was an action for damages, for sethiction of
plaintiff's daughter. ire defendant is the son cif a
farmer of very considerable opulence, residing near
Axminster. Plaintiff is a merchant in the Isle of
Gael nsas. His daughter was about 24. years of age
when this circumstance happened t the defendant was
three cr four years younger. The unfortunate event
took place at his father's house. Miss Gifford tame
to England about two years since, on a visit to a very
respectable Lady named Shore, living near the de-
fendant. An acquaintance commenced between Miss
Gifford and the defendant's sisters. The la.tcr were
very much pleased with the manners of the former;
and invited her to their house. She soon afterwards
returned to Guernsey. but the defendant had pre-
viously succeeded in engaging her affections.—
He accompanied her home, to become acquainted
'with her friends. He was received by them in the
light of her intended husband. This was in the au-
tumn of the year. After he had stayed there a short
time, being desired by his father to return, he did so,
leaving his sister with the family. Miss Gifford soon
afterwards accompanied this young lady back to
England, where she spent the month of October un-
der the roof of the defendant's father. On a Sun-
day, when all the grown up members of the family
were from home, excepting the defendant, Miss Gif-
ford was left alone in Ler chamber by Mrs. Bragge,
in consequence of an illness which had in fact con•
fined her to the house ever since her return to Eng-
land. The defendant seized the opportunity to force
himself into her presence, to avail himself of her con-
fidence, her illness, and her love, to accomplish a
purpose as disgraceful to himself as it has been un-
fortunate for her. Although she remained till the 401-
lowing January under Mr. Biagge's roof, that time
was spent in various visits ; and it was due to the
character of this most injured lady to state, that once,
and once only, after this unhappy day, was she ever
overcome by the importunities of the defendant.--
During the whole of this period too, it should be re-
membered, that he continued to be treated as her in--t
'tended husband. The effect of this intimacy was The -
birth of a child in the July following. When it was
discorce.ed in her family, Miss Gifford returned to
England. On that occasion, he came to her room,
(for she returned to his father's,) and told her that if
she had written to him he would have married her.
He said she had come to England and exposed hl' n
and herself too s that it was harvest time—that he was
busy—and that it was, in shot t, inconvenient for him
to marry her.
Miss Mary Gifford, the young Lady in question,
proved the material facts of the case as it has been
given above ; she appeared very collected, and gave
her evidence with as much composure as modesty
and gentleness. The Jury readily returned a verdict
for the plaintiff—Damages, 1:400.