The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-09-24 00:00:00

THAMES POLICE.

On Wednesday, Mr. James Sergeant, the assistant overseer
of St. Paul's, Shadwell, applied to Mr. Broderip for a warrant
of bastardy to apprehend a man named Michael Sullivan, in
order that he might be compelled to show cause why he should
not enter into sureties to indemnify the parish in the event of
the birth of a child, of which a very decent and pretty young
Irish woman, named Ellen Cavanagh, was then pregnant.
Mr. Sergeant said, the circumstances of the case were rather
peculiar. The young woman who stood by his side was mar-
ried to Sullivan, according to the rites of the Roman Catholic
Church, at Virginia-street Chapel, on the 18th of February last,
but on the wedding night the fellow beat her severely, and after
living with her for three months, during which time she expe-
rienced very bad treatment from him, he basely deserted her,
and had since married another woman in the forms of the
Protestant religion, at Stepney Church. He understood that
Sullivan was about to leave this country for New York, and, to
prevent the infant becoming chargeable to the parish, he wish-
ed to obtain a warrant of bastardy.
The young woman, who appeared overwhelmed with grief,
became greatly affected on the overseer using the offensive term.
Mr. Sergeant said he knew it was a painful thing for the
young woman, whose character was irreproachable, but the
parish had no other resource.
Mr. Broderip assured the girl that she had committed no
moral offence. Though the law declared the marriage to be
null and void, it was, in the eye of God, a just and binding
contract, and her character was not at all affected. He was
sorry to see such an excellent young woman in this situation.
He did really hope that the Legislature would do something
to put the law on a different footing. The injury it frequently
caused was dreadful. In this case, the prospects of an innocent
girl had been ruined, and her child must be declared a bastard.
Ellen Cavanagh said, if she had not believed the marriage
was binding, she would not have married Sullivan, and handed
in a certificate from the Catholic priest, to show that it was not
solemnized clandestinely, but in the presence of witnesses.
The document was read as follows :—" It appears by the regis-
ter of marriages kept at Virginia-street chapel, that Michael
Sullivan and Ellen Cavanagh were married on the 18th day of
February, 1833, by the Rev. R. Horrabin, M.A., P. This
marriage was celebrated in the presence of John Dane, M.
White, and Ann Cavanagh. Extracted from the matrimonial
register, this 19th day of September, 1833, Catholic chapel,
Virginia-street, Wellelose-square, by me R. Horrabin."
Mr. Broderip said that it was impossible to charge Sullivan
with bigamy. Was not that the case ?
Mr. Symons, the chief clerk.—That is certainly the case ;
she can only swear the child to Sullivan.
The young woman burst into tears, and said she bad left a
good place for the purpose of marrying Sullivan.
Mr. Broderip said he pitied her most sincerely, and he was
sorry he could not make Sullivan support her. He hoped the
law would soon be altered; he was only surprised it had been
allowed to remain on the statute-book so long.
A gentleman present took the liberty of suggesting to the
magistrate that it would be advisable fur the Catholic priest
who married any of his flock to direct them to have the mar-
riage again solemnized in a Protestant church, while the law
was in its present state. He had recently been present at a
marriage of two Catholics whole that had been done.
Mr. Broderip said it would be as well if the Catholic priests
would always do so, and they would prevent those scenes of
distress which often_ followed a Catholic marriage in England.
The warrant was then made out.