Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-12


young Lady, a boarding school Miss, aged
about sixteen, and 10 which the article which
follows, applies. Tie abduction Of Miss Turn
er is one Of the most extraordinary cases we
have read, and at the same time, is full Of in
terest; and it is not probable, that any cir
cumstancc, that has occurred in England, has
afforded such fruitful theme for scandal and
gossip. The most extraordinary part of the
affair, is, that the young lady, consented to
elope. and to be welded to a man, whom she
had never seen, until the very moment he took
her by stratagem from her boarding school,
and of whom, she had never heard any thing |;
a man who was at least thirty years older than
herself, and whose name sho had ncvor heard
mentioned until the day Of her elopement. A
brief summary OF che facts is contained in the
article which we now copy, and which is ex-
tracted from Bells Life in London:
The only case Of moment on the Northern
Circuit, was that of the Wakefelds, for the
abduction of Miss Turner, and it was one
which has some hold of our feelings, because it
concerns the interest et every parent and child
in England. The facts were simply these
MIR. Turner is a man, who like many others in
this happy country. has acquired fortune ex-
ceeding E200,000 by his own enterprise and
industry in the management of extensive cotton
factories in Blackburn. He has for some time
retired from business in Lancashire, and prin-
cipally resided in Cheshire, where he has pur-
chased large estates, and filed the Office Of
,ohG bar ha la Of Jp has
only daughter, now turned Of sixteen years of
age, and who is the presumptive heiress of his
wealth. This young lady was, year ago, Il
resident for her education at Miss Daulby's
Seminary in Liverpool and her circumstances
attracted the notice of Miss Davis, (sincc
married TO Mr. Edward Wakefield, the father
Of the defendants at the late trial, who resided
at Macclesfield, not far from Mr. Turner'S resi-
dence. Miss Davis appears to have spocuat-
ed to get Miss Turner by a coup de main for
one Of the younger Wakefclds--both the
Wakeiields and Miss Davis were entire stran-
gers to Miss Turner, and an abduction was the
only way to effect their purpose. Stratagem
was used--the Young lady was puroned from
her school by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and
induced to submit to one of those dsgraceful
Grctna-Green marriages, under the notion, art
fully imposed upon her by Wakefield, that her
father had been suddenly ruined by the ilii,ro
Of the country Banks, but that his wake
feld's) uncle, a rich banker, was 10 recstlb-
lish him upon this marriage Dcudod by this
story, and by the manners of Wakefield, which
are said to be msinuatng, she fell ir.o his
snare, unit, a week after she awokc to her stI,-
alton by the arrival Of her unclc Of Calais, who
opened her eyes to the scheme which had
been laid for the possession Of her property.
The plan of the Wakefields appears to have
been well laid for the accomplishment Of their
object. The law is, or rather was, complica-
ted and severe on this subject and the culpris
in this case seem to have sounded their way
step by step in their career Of crime. They
did not attempt 10 effect the marriage in Eng
land, because there, according TO the old law,
(the heavy penalty of which they were ignor-
ant had been repeatedly they would have
been guilty Of capital oficnce-thcy did
not attempt a cOnsummation of the marriage
any where, and by that abstinence they laid
claim for a mcrcitiIl consideration ofthelr case,
in the event Of their having shouldcrcd the
gallows inadvertently in the accomplishment of
their base purpose. Fine and imprisonment
can alone be inflicted upon them now for what
they have done-and as money Is perhaps out
Of the question, as they were prevented from
picking Mr.. Turner'S pockets, the Court of
wholesome discipline of the tread mill for pc
cuniary mulct. Three years Imprisonment is
the utmost extent allowed by tho Statute OH
the occasion.
The defendants were found guilty, and
though the treadmill awaits the culp,it, the
young lady is still his welded WIFE
II is said 10 be the intcnion of Mr.. T. G..
Wakefield TO claim Miss Turner as his wife,
and to move that she be given up 10 him by
virtue Of Habeas Corpus. This motion will
be resisted by the lady's father, who will con-
tend against the validity of the marriage, and
thus the principal and most important part of
the entire traDsaction will be thoroughly in
vestigatcd.
If Miss Turner, is the wife OF Mr.. Wakefield,
and he is to perform quarantine on the tread
mill; and if she cannot be divorced from him,
we should think, that the father, Mr.. Turner,
would make the best Of bad matter, by
screening Wakefield from the punishment that
awaits him, and thus save the daughter
from the disgrace that must result from the un-
happy affair. If Four readers should be curl
Gus to obtain succinct, and an impartial
history Of the whole Of the transactions, VIC
again refer them TO our files for the months of
June and July, 1925.
1t appears from an investigation Of this most
singular case, that the only object Wakefield
had in view, was TO obtain Miss Turner at
some rate or other, for the purpose of ultimate
ly acquiring the princely fortune, TO which she
is prespnptiye heir; nDd that beyond this.
he had not any particular or immediate ,le"s.
has many objections to his dlughtcr's remain
Il 4 4 -. ,,..a,rl, i1,