The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-19 00:00:00

THE STATF,S;',I%N

my associate for life? Exculpate. if it can be done, your
self; but do it clearly—the circumstances must be stated
clearly that led to the letter. 1 saw. Farewell, Han-
nah. It."
This, though signed" R." was in the handwriting of
Mr. Meadowcroft.
Sarah Harrison was then examined by Mr. Seaat.err.
—She said, I went to do needle-work at Miss Hale s, in
Coak's-row, Pancras, in August, 1820. She removed to
Camden-street, Somers-town, where Mr. Meadowcroft
visited and wrote to her. In September, she went to the
Vale of Health, in Hampstead, as she refused to live in
town. Mr. Meadowcroft took the cottage for her. He
used to visit her three times a day; if he was absent, he
wrote. I afterwards was her servant, and used to take in
the letters. She lived by • herself: he had a sister at
Hampstead. After the first week or two, he did nor
come so often. One day 1 was taking some coals into
the parlour; she was pree.ing him to perform his pro-
mise : he called her " His dear little wife," and 1 looked
at hint, because I thonght lie was a villain, and would
not do it ; he added, " At least, it shall be so soon," and
looked at me. I thought him a rogue for seducing her.
He once mentioned that his sister was walking on
the heath: she said, " 0 dear, why don't you introduce
Mary' Anne to me?" He replied, " I must first take my
dear little' Hannah to Hampstead-church." In March,
1821, she removed to Clarendon.square : there he said,
" You shall be my wife." On other occasions, he said,
"You must have patience, my dear Hannah, I can do
nothing at present on account of my uncle." He cause
to Hampstead a little before christmas, 1820, when we
were out. On our return home, we found the letterbox
broken open and standing empty on the table. and a can-
dle not lighted, and a tinder-box. There was a parcel of
burnt paper in the grate. While I was lighting the fire,
he came in, and she said " 0 William, what have you
done with the letters ?" He gave her one or two, and
sail, " he had burned those foolish letters, and would
write her some others." In one of those letters about the
10th of August, 1820, he expressed himself satisfied
that he was her seducer, and promised to marry her be
tween the 15th and 20th of that month. Another letter,
dated in September, stated that he was obliged to go into
the country for a few days, but lie would marry her in
the course of a fortnight. When she went to town, I
always went with her, and sometimes she caged on him,
At last she consented to go to her sister's at Blackheath,
where she kept a school. She afterwards came to town
to be near him, and tool,. lodgings in Staple-inn-buildings,
and used to-write letters to him. He sent answers, and
came to her four or five times. At lengtkaltogether dis-
continued his visits. TLe last time he called she was cot
at home; he sat down and cried, and accused himself of
ruining her. When she came in, he gave her some mo-
ney, and never came after.
Cross-examined by Mr. Cooren.-1 first knew the
plaintiff in July, 1820. 1 lived in the house where she
took lodgings, being out of place. At that loose Mr.
,Meadowcroft never came to her, I have beard her say that
she came from her sister's; she never mentioned any thing
about Itotherbithe. I have parted with her about three
months. I have not been out of place all that time ; six
weeks I was with a lady and her daughter, named Coles.
I was formerly. wrt-nurse in their family. Before that
time I lived with Mrs. Evans, at Walworth. I recollect
the date 10:h August, betauee I soon after left Cook's-
row. He called her hie little wife after the letters were
burnt. This was in the evening. after dinner. Mies
Hale never told me where she first met the defendant.
Ite,egamined.-1 at,first thought be was paying bit
addresses to her in an lionourab'e way. She has toll
sae that she knew him seven or eight months before she
saw me.
This was the case on behalf of the plaintiff.
• Mr. COOPIR addressed the Jury for the defendant.
He argued that there was no credible evidence of any
promise to sustain the action. If, however, the jury
thought that a promise was prove I. they would probably
deem the justice of the case satisfied by very moderate
damages.
The Lotto enter JWITICS recapitulated the evidence
to the Jury, leaving them to form their own judgment of
the question, whether a promise was established, and
admonishing them, if they were of opinion that it was,
to observe moderation and temperance in their estimate
of the damages.
The Jury retired for a quarter of an hour, and when
they returned into Court found a verdict for the plaintiff.
Damages 5001.

Mr. Arabin, for the defence. ealiel witnesses to prove
that his clients were not parties W the severity prdctivd
sv;ainst the prosecutor.
The Jury hull easately found the defendants ;
and each of thou wai senteni eJ to imp istnauent fur s:s
•
months.