The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-21 00:00:00

CRIM. CON.--FLIGHT V. WILLATTS.

Mr. Sergeant Vauau&s stated that this was an action
to recover compensation in damages (laid at WM.) for
criminal conversation with the plaintiff's wife. The
plaintiff was the keeper of a Wine Vaults and Livery
Stables in Tottenham-court-road ; the defendant, a clerk
in the Excise °dice. "lhe plaintiff married his present
wife when she was but eighteen. Three children were
the fruits of their union; one eon, and two daughters,
who were now approaching womantiool. The de:entlant
was now an invalid, and had a pension from tiovernment
He was the confidential friend of the plaintiff, and this
intimacy afforde•l him an opportunity of perpetrating the
deepest possible iitjary winch a mina of K. sibility could
receive.
The marriale hav:ng been proved, several witnesses
were calk 1 who tit p used to the harmonious manner in
which the plaintiff awl his wif • lived together.
Mrs. Astor, a niece of the plaintiff was next examined.
Saw, one evening, in the street, the defendant with the
plaintitrs wife, arm in aria •, curiosity induced her to fol-
low them, and trace then' down Carlisle Street; witness
stood up by a door ; the parties looked to see if any per-
son watched them ; witness stew them rater a house, and
the dour shut ; and waited some time, but did nut see
them come out.
[The plaintiff, it appeared, subAequently saw his wife
and the defendant meet, and traced them to the house
mentioned above, and observed theta enter; amid walked
up an•l down until he saw the parties cow; out, when he
• !
accosted dem]

40116140Waseernam the seeteiteithirriernemb
the plaintiff welkin • up and clown Carlisle-street on the
night. of Dee. i'l,-421; he told him to move off, bat in
conscquence of something thigh passed between Virtu.
suffered him to remain ; knew a house in Carlisle-sent!,
(No, 11) which had one enter door open and an inner dopr
abut ; Nos. 11 an I 12 forma one house ; witness had
been inside; Ann HlOl,Oll had the care of she house;
had seen ladies and gentlemen go into the house ; on the
night of Dec. 11th, some time after the pl tintiff and watch-
man had leen been talking together, there was a riot in
'the street, and witness came up, when • gentleman
charged the witness with the plaiuttif; plaintiff retorted
the charge, and wit:Jets took them h;1 to the watchhou c
together.
Hobert Quailing reihemb Ted hearing the rattle of the
last witness about ten o'clock on the night of the 14th
December, 1821; whin witness ea ne up, a gentleman
eras on the ground, and the lady nes doing up her hair,
standing on the steps of the house at the same time; the
house was a btd house: witness assisted in taking them
to the watch-house; the gentleman first charged the
plaintiff, but they were afl taken to the watch-lionse ;
when there the gentleman gave his name as Willates,and
the plaintiff ebarge.l him with having found him and
plaintiff's wife in a had house together; they were lett
in the watch-bowie, and were subsequently 1) tiled ;
witness did not attend the Magistrate on the next
morning.
Ann Hanson lived at No. 12, Carlisle-street, Soho
she had the care of Nos. II and 12, they communicated
with each other ; the street door of No. 12 was shut, but
that of No.ll was a little open with a small passage and
an inner door which was abut when persons some into
this short passage, they could close the outer door,
which was contrived for the purpose of hiding them ;
remembered a gentleman and a lady coming on the even-
ing of the 14th December, 1821 ; they went up into •
room, where witness left them together; the room was
furnished, and communicated with a bed room; they
bad two glasses of negus; witness never disturbs persons
when is the motes until they ring the bell; the lady was
d r d:in a black bombazeen gown, black satin spencer,
with a Leghorn bonnet with a wreath of flowers on it,
she had a light sable muff; remembered the muff and
bonnet being brought by game gentleman; did not kuow
either the lady or gentleman ; ha l never seen either of
Ithem since. _ _ _ _ _

Mr. Sergeant Oats Low addressed the Jury in behalf of
the defendant, and se% erol witnesses were then called to
wore the ill-treatment of the plaintiff to his wife. It was
sa►tel that he had frequently beaten her ; that he had as
frequently confessed his error ; that he himself hail been
seen coming out of an improper house; and that when
his wife rewonstra'ed with him on that account in vio-
kntly boat her.
Lord Chief Justice DaLf.as charged the Jury, who
consulted for a few minutes, and then returned a verdict
fur the plaintiff—Daw►ges, £5OO.