Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-16
THE. ABDUCTION OF MISS TURNER.

dinary abduction of Miss Turner, boarding.
school Miss aged about fifteen, by EDWARD
GIBBoS WAKEFIELD, Esq. an Engshman Of
fashion, we think we shall oblige our readers
by presenting to them, detail Of the trial,
which has recently taken place in England, by
which the whole affair has been adjudicated,
and Mr. Wakefield and his associates, found
guilty of the charges preferred against him and
them. The great length Of the trial, forbids
our copying it entire in this paper, but it will
be completed in our next number 1t is wor-
thy of the attentive perusal Of all, and will be
found exceedingly interesting.
The King Us. Edward Gibbon Wakefield,
William Wakefield, Edward Thevenot, Edward
Wakefield, and Frances Wakefield, for a con-
spiracy.
s'Ir. Baron Hullock took his seat at 8 o o'cIock.
and after disposing Of short cause, the de-
PENDANTS were called upon their recognizances re
and severally appeared. Mr.. E. G. Wakefield
and W. Wakefield, for themselves; but Mrs.
F. Wakefield, by her husband, Mr.. Z. Wake
field.
Counsel for the prosecution, Mr.. Sergeant
Cross, Mr.. Brougham, Mr.. Williams, and Mr..
Starkie.
For the defendants, Mr. Scarlett, Mr.. Parke,
Mr.. Coltiman, and Mr. Patteson.
There were two indictments: one under the
statute of Philip and Mary; the other for
conspiracy unlawfully to carry offMiss Turner,
and to marry her TO Edward Gibbon Wake
field, and on which the prose cutors proceeded.
Mr.. Starkie opened the case
Mr.. Sergeant Cross then rose.--May it
please your lordship, gentlemen of the jury.
Gentlemen, by the statute law Of England, the
carrying away young female, under the age
of sixteen years, whether with her own con-
SEM or not, from the custody Of her parents or
instructors, and afterwards marrying her, with
her own consent or not, is high offence,
which subjects the offender to five years impris-
onment and to fine at the discretion of the
court; and subjects the female herself, if she
consent, TO the forfeiture Of her inheritance.
by another statute the stealing of an heiress,
against her own consent, and afterwards mar
ryng her, whether with her own consent or
not, is a capital felony: and, if the offence,
which is the subject Of the present inquiry, had
been committed on English ground, two of
the defendants would, in the due course of JUS
ticc, have been condemned to an ignominious
castle six months ago. Gentlemen, the de-
PENDANTS stand charged before you, first with
conspiring together to carry off a young female
under the age Of l6, and afterwards to marry
her TO one of the offenders. This is the crime
for whic2these defendants are now on their
trial before you. Gentlemen, having stated
the law it applies to this case, shall now
proceed to describe who are the parties con-
ceoned in this proceeding The prosecutor is
a gentleman Of the name Of Turner, who has
been long and successfully engaged in the pur-
suits Of commerce in this county, who has ac-
quired an ample fortune and who has purchas-
ed an estate in the county of Chester where he
has resdcd, and in which, in the course ofthe
last year, he served in the important Office Of
high sheriff. He is the parent of an only
child; and his daughter, that only child, is the
subject of this proceeding. She, at the time
the offence was committed, had just passed the
age Of I5--in the month of February, last
year. She was then delicate child, having
much grown, as you will sec, since that peri
cd. The sixteenth year is always an age in
which young persons, of both sexes, grow very
fast to maturity. The first of these defendants
is lady Of the name Of Wakefield; and this
lady was the contriver Of all-the principal
contriver. She had, about 16 months ago, the
chance-I will not say it was the misfortune
she had the chance to go to Paris with lady
who resided at Macclesfch. These two la
dies went together to Paris: they staid some
time there and then returned home. Mrs.
Wakefield was then Miss Davies: at least,
when she went, but she returned Mrs. Wake
field, although that circumstance was not even
to her father, until this conspiracy
had become known. Some time previous 10
q Thr.ef ftnn 1ac az huf Ilau
cd at Macclesfeld with her father, a respect
able old gentleman, clergyman and school
master. She persuaded him TO take a Journey
with her to Paris. They went thither, and at
Paris they met with the two other defendants,
Edward and William Wakefield. She was, in
fact, at that time, their step-mother, although
she was known only by the name of Davies
William Wakefield is, / understand, by birth an
Englishman: but they are both inhabitants of
Paris, in which they have their domicile and
and reside there. Edward G.. Wakefield the
elder Of the two, is widower, with a family
of his own. William Wakefield was bache-
lor, but has since married They formed a
sort Of society there, and they were pleased TO
call themselves the first society in Europe"
Among them was a lady Of the name of Bath
urst who calls herself the daughter Of the ven-
erable Bishop of Norwich; and this lady,
though not an actual conspirator in this affair,
made herself too busy in the conspiracy, both
before and after it was completed. This lady
said to one Of the defendants, William Wake
field, "Little did think, that when advised
Miss Davies TO get Miss Turner for one Of you,
Mr.. Wakefield would so soon carry her away
and marry her." In the course of little
while DR.. Davies and his daughter (still Miss
d. returned home to Macclcsfield; and then
Miss Davies began her operations at Shrigley
where Mr.. Turner resides. He had resided
there for eight years. The first thing she did
was to call on a lady in the neghbourhood
who was the acquaintance of both: she was
particularly urgent to have an introduction TO
the family at Shriglcy. She proposed to this
lady, that the first time she went thither she