The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-03-30 00:00:00

on the couch. Her
Mr. Middleton
gad h;

..Aes were half way up to her knees.
was sitting at the foot of the couch,
was under her petticoats. Mr. Afidc,
was so high up that witness could not see
Middleton was leaning towards Mrs. Hardlag's face.
Witness stooped down under the table, and she could see
distinctly how they were placed..
coals on

ss had gone
Ir. Middleton did

..a-GENERAL. the room to put Sou,.
i—Lived at plaintiff's house as upper housekeeper, from withdraw his hand when witness went into the roc.— , -.crying on his Nov. 13, 1850, for about five weeks. Spoke to the circum- same evening witness remembered Mr. and Mrs. Harding,
ord, and having a country residence called stances of young Harding's illness, and the defendant his son, and Mr. Middleton, going out for a walk on the )
of Didsbury, about five I visiting the family. Whilst witness lived in the house, sea shore. The plaintiff (Mr. Harding) and his son came
,arried his present wife defendant was often there during plaintiff's absence. back before Mrs. Harding and Mr. Middleton.
She was the daughter Defendant was in the habit of remaining in the house, in Mrs. Harding returned, witness opened the door
tuddersfield. The plaintiff, the breakfast-room, along with Mrs. Harding. He had Middleton was with her. Mrs. Harding
r, given witness orders to remove a tea-tray in a very fami. dared in her dress and hair, and she seemed agitateu d liar manner. On one occasion, whilst witness was there, Mr. Harding had gone up stairs, but before he came down
e she went into the breakfast-room for some wine for young Mrs. Harding went to the glass and put her hair and cap
ye,lect Harding. Defendant was sitting with Mrs. Harding, straight. She also looked behind, and pulled her dress.
aed together at Didsbury, where with one arm round her neck, and the other round her On the following day, about ten o'clock in the morning,.
- extensive establishment He waist. Saw defendant give Mra. Harding a kiss. On witness went into the same room, and found Mrs-.
-ler another occasion, saw defendant in the dining-rooterwith Harding and Mr. Middleton together. They were each.
eecessarily his arm resting on the chair on which Mrs. Harding was sat on a chair.. Mr. Middleton's left arm was laid on her
every day by the sitting. When witness went into the room, defendant neck, and his right arm on her knee. Witness named to-
all his leisure hours he threw his arm off the chair. Dering the five weeks Miss Roberta what she had seen when she saw Mr. Mid-
..uout two years ago the Rev. Mr. i witness was there, defendant visited the house every day. dleton and Mrs. Harding on the couch.
defendant in the present action, was In.. He generally came before Mr. Harding left home. Mr. Cross.ezemined by Mr. Serg. WlLlElNS.—Mememimed
family. Mr. Middleton was a gentleman Harding was in the habit of going to town by the the day whenSfr. Harding and his son took no dinner. Mr.
'e was a omnibus. Defendant frequently accompanied him to. the Middleton and Mrs.- Harding took fish. That was the
yman of omnibus, and then returned to the house. On another day Mrs. Brownbill had been there. The learned Set--
A time, occasion defendant came to the house between eleven and geant proceeded to cross-examine this witness with a view
a-the- twelve in the forenoon. Mr, Harding was in town. of shaking her testimony with reference to the relative
Didsbury, Defendant said to Mrs. Harding, "Its very cold, mama.'' position of the couch, table,.and fire-place, in the room in
..,,euaintance was Cross-examined by Mr.SergeantWierters.—There was which she saw Mr. Middleton and Mrs. Harding. Wit-
... of eighteen months the a good deal of misery in the house when witness was living ness was in the room about three minutes. All this time
..,e plaintiff, was attacked with a there. Never saw plaintiff and his wife quarrelling. Mr. Middleton'i hand was in the position in-which wit-
iness, during which his life was despaired Sergeant Wilkins : What was the misery you speak of? ness had described it.
eon then became an almost daily visitor 'Witness It was misery to us all to see what was going Sergeant WILIErNs-.—Are
.nt constantly to the bedside of the lad, on. Was not aware that plaintiff had ever sent for the this family
nd administered to him religious comfort. defendant on account of the conduct of his son. The Witness--Yes-
fondness of the father's heart was evinced breakfast-room looked out upon a lawn, Did not know Sergeant WrexrNe.--Now, mam, T. am about to ask
'ughts for the happiness of his only whether the sun shone into the room in a forenoon. you, perhaps, a very painful question. Are you shortly
therefore, was calculated to make a Had never heard Mr. Harding order the blinds to be about to become a mother
al able impression upon him than the pulled down in the breakfast-room to prevent the sun Witness.—That is my business.. pct ul n that child by the defendant, Mr. from taking the colour out of the carpet. Had first been Sergeant Wreerres.—Are you-in the family way ?
intimacy, therefore, sprung up be- asked to come as a-witness by Mr. Makinson about a week Witness.—l' shall not answer that question... [To tho
as cemented by all the strength of a long or fortnight ago. Witness told the cook at the time what Judge.J Am I' bound to answer that question ?:
The defendant after this was a fre- she had seen between defendant and Mrs. Harding. Sergeant WILKINS.—WiII you deny it ?
the house. He accompanied them Did not say anything to Mrs. Harding. Continued to The Jones.—Do you wish not to apse-
lame almost part of the family. Witness.—l would rather not answer it.
wait upon Mrs. Harding after what she had seen.
wise and prudent were often apt to blame By the JUDGE.--It was between eleven and twelve Sergeant WiewiNs.—Are-you a married woman ?
g and open-hearted, and possibly they o'clock when witness saw defendant kiss Mrs. Harding. Witness.—No.
that the plaintiff was imprudent in ad- Did not know what time defendant came that morning.
ndant to so close an intimacy in his Maria Evans, examined by Mr. ATFIERTON.—in De.
: but what possible reason had cember, 1850, witness went to live at Rarosdale House as
ns that the defendant upper housemaid, after Martha Norton loft. Witness
im ? The defendant was I resided in the family from December, 1850, until April,
intiff himself. He was 11851. Defendant visited the house almost every day.
9.11 these circumstances He sometimes called when Mr. Harding was at Salford.
'ts were more frequent whilst Mr. Harding was at
Defendant was often there in the absence of
plaintiff, and on these occasions defendant was frequently
a long time in company with Mrs. Harding. Had known
them together for several hours. This was in the break-
fast room. Whilst they were there the blinds of the
windows were often drawn down. There was a window
to the north, and another to the east. The blind of the
north window, through which no sun was admitted, was
often drawn down. Defendant frequently left the house
some time before Mr. Harding cams home, and then re-
turned again in the evening. He would on these occa-
sions address Mr. and Mrs. Harding. Had heard him
'cessions say to Mrs- Harding, in Mr. Hard-
" Good tannin i--v. von been

a wealthy mercha'

he village
!ster. He
;eat, 1841.

When
Mr.

5 marriage

was much diwor

His wife

ter marriag

o lived on terms of the most

he wishes of his_ wife,_ and was ate

husband.
ertain time

her a c

me age

a, and was

a clan

England, officiating at the pres,

res id ec

ff. For some time the a
but

you the

servant living in

ta, and b,

T the question

Sergeant WILICII4S.—Have you not been examined by
Mr. Brownbill, the surgeon;. to ascertain whether you are
not in the family way ? _

suspic:

The JIIIME thought this was-an improper question, and
the learned Sergeant therefore did not press it.
Sergeant WILKINS.-11ovr do you know that it was the
17th of February, last year, that you saw what you have
described between Mrs. Harding and Mr. Middleton ?
Witness (hesitating).—lt was about the full moon.
(Loud laughter.)

rgyman

tucaauga vat rim ptainu
and what a reflection

lis vis,

.e to suspect people who
milies under circumstances
a distance, and to be constantly
he possiblity of their intended
'..bed honour ! It appeared,
'vantage of the oppor-

fint Wdxtws.—lrtill moon ;-what do you.tnean by
Hltve you been looking, into the almanack

NF'itnesa.—Yes,

defendant took ai

ou read ?

Sergeant WILKINS.—Chn
Witness.—Yes.
Sergeant WILICINB.—Very well
Witness.—No.
Sergeant Wlmaws (handing• a Testamen
ness).—Now read the first verse in that page
Wittess.—No. I can't.
Sergeant Wilkins (turning over
Then read me the first page

s visits to the ion of
ne of the plaintiff's
a time almost of his admission to the
fly, 1851; when the plaintiff thought it
let he had seen, to prevent his further
Up to this time he was a daily visitor
the plaintiff was from horn
om the house when he

cl him b

ermine the at]

to the wit-

o the title-page).—

takinz

ing's presence
out to-day ?"

g, mam

rpeete
'roved

—I can't read it

hem by

By the Judge.—Waa t

lat in Mr. I

the fair

,rding's presence

defendant was in
he absence of the

The JUDGE.—What did you say you could' read for ?
Witness (much confused).—lt was looked, for in tE

ness.--It was

•emai n

dingy; ordered witness
half an

Harding

Ey Arr. A THE

-4,endant called, Mrs. Her-
, Knock at the door if he remained
iur, and say to her, "Mrs. Harding, you are
Had often received these orders. Remem.
receiving an order from Mr.
wing to take some coals to the fire. Mr. Harding had
When witness went in with the coals

almanack for me.
Sergeant Wzmuris.—Who looked into the almanack

its even the servants
and familiar wq.,

for you
Witness

1., in February, 1851,

—Mr. Harding.
Sergeant WILXINS.—When
Witness.—Last February.
Sergeant WILICINS.-011, this year ?
Witness.—Yes. last February.
The JUDGE.—What do you mean ; wl

g that

break-

/larding

he won

as no reason fo

f excludi

he sun

der were

into the room, when Mr.
the bell rang, and not to

meideration in the c

r knocking—

Another fact he

;ain come 0
L fiardi-

the hou
. as if he had

iiddleton
,uld leave

by the fi

.en her

bject n this

His
rrned him that his
idestine man-

house in this ci
laintiff

nt the
learned.

ing aware of his
counsel then narrated and

mass of evidence which fol-

g minutely gone through it, said he
faithfully and accurately stated the

er which the - charge iv.
t. He had no doubt th

end woul
ly his rc

to ti

eat force and ingenuity
mrious circumstance
'o them

ney-General) bad name
that would be a very 1.1

unable

ary for t

sh• di,

I not knock at the door. The door was a little
ajar. As witness entered the room, the defendant and
Mrs. Harding were standing at the fireplace. Defendant
had his eras round Mrs. Harding's waist- Mrs. Harding
I a smelling bottle in her hand, which she threw down
, and defendant walked towards the
er occasion in February witness recol.

Is entering

ldant being at the house in the me
walking with Mr. Harding to the omnibus.

pndant ri

ng, •nl
a short

Harding

did Mr. Hard- I

ing say to you ?
Witness.—He said it was in February.
The JUDGE.—What was in February ?;
Witness.—The full moon. (Loud laughter.)
The JUDGIC.—What did he say about the full moon ?
Witness (again hesitating).—He said it was that a
The JUDGE.—What affair?
Witness.—Mrs. Harding's aff
The JUDGE.—Did he say th
about the 17th of February last
Witness.—Yes.
Re-examined by the ArmyE

_
been asked if you are married
party to be married

GENERAL.—You have

Are you engaged to an

The RrlME.—Which
tinder Mrs. Harding'g

of Mr.. Middleton's hands was
..lothes when you saw them in the

parlour ?

Witness.—His right hand.
Emma Roberts was the next witness examined : by Mr.,
ATHZILwoN.--Was daughter of Mrs. Roberts, who keeps a
boarding-house at Southport. Recollected Mr. and Mrs..
Harding and Mr. Middleton being at her mother's house,
when young Mr. Harding was staying with them. Ellen ,
Eccieston (the last witness) told her of what she had seen
between Mr. Middleton and Mrs. Harding at her mother's
house.

Ann Irlam, the gate-keoper at Alderley Edge, in
Cheshire, deposed to the defendant and Mrs. Harding
forcing themselves past the gate, and going into grounds
on a Monday, in July last, and get 144"

Hat,
Attorney
Edwin Dunn, coachman to the plaintiff, examine.
Had been in plaintiff's employ since 1850. Remember,.
young Harding's illness, in October, 1851. On one
occasion, during young Harding'. -- Mr. Mid-
dleton in his bedroom. In July las
membered driving his master- ""

tting away from
ng, as stated in-bis opening address by the he

tad disr

illness,

and' Mr,

hour before Tire