The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-18
Singular abduction OF an English YOun 3
Lady by French NObleman.

Great sensation has been caused at Tours and
its vicinity especially among the resident English,
by the trial, last week, before the Court of As
sizes Of the department, Of the Count Forester
de Coubort, on the charge of enticing from her
home, young girl named Isabella Hamilton,
daughter of an English clergyman, resident at
Tours.
Some months ago, M. de Forester went to live
in that city, for the benefit Of his wife's health,
and in his walks he fell in with Miss Isabella H.,
who, with her bonnie, accompanied her young Sis
tiers and brothers in their promenades. He COM
menced an acquaintance by aging the children
cakes, and afterwards made a psint of being every
day on the promenade when Miss Isabella arrived.
After a while, it appeared, according 10 the in
dictment, he began 10 make love 10 the young
lady, and she received his advances with good
grace. She used also to indicate to him, by pla-
cling fower-pot in peculiar position in her
window, in what promenade he might meet her.
He at last, said the indictment, persuaded her to
leave her fathers roof, and in company with the
bonnie, young girl named Adele Gendron, aged
seventeen, to go TO Paris, where he said he would
secure her an apartment, and would provide for
both. Isabella, it seemed, was very glad to get
away from home, her parents were about
send her to school in England measure to
which she had the strongest possible repugnance;
she even, it appeared, had gone the length of tel
ling Forester that she would commit sui
eide by poison than be sent away.
Forester it was alleged, arranged with her that
she and her servant Adele should leave the house
Of the Rev. Mr.. Hamilton in the evening Of the
god May last, and that they should go to Paris.
He had previously written a letter to a friend of
his, the Baron de Vver, telling him to meet the
girls and provide lodgings for them. This letter
he began by saying:-"l send to you, my dear
friend, young English girl, aged fifteen, with
pretty little face, light hair, clear blue eyes, deli
cate nose, sensual mouth, and slightly promi-
nent chin. She is the daughter Of an Irish minis
ter, who has host Of children. She will be ac-
companied by little bonnie Of seventeen, with
auburn hair, &C., named Adele. | laugh at the
thought Of your meeting these poor creatures.
Take an apartment for them-let it be simple, but
becoming" He then recommends the friend to
be cautious, and says: "The father will no doubt
take some measures, which it is important to rem
der vain. | shall therefore continue to show my
self in the public promenades, that may not be
suspected; and then | will relieve you in your
guard. My wife is better. Bretonneau is tend
ing her as if she were his own child. She is sur
rounded with devoted attendants, has a good
house, and her physician in ordinary is one Of the
princes of the science. What can | do moreI
may venture to give myself this little gratifca-,
ton. Don I scold me. tell you that the father
is an Englishman and cIergyman-two animals
detest, and who are, as it were, grated one to
the other, expressly TO take from me all sort Of
remorse'" The Baron Eugene de Vivier replied
in the same strain, saying, among other amable
things, I" | had some thought Of moralizng with
and you must drink t!''
At Paris the two girls were received by the Baron
de Vivier, and he took them to lodging house in
the Rue de l'Universite. Meanwhile Forester re-
manned quietly at Tours. But it so happened that
the family at once suspected him, and the Rev. Mr..
Hamilton Immediately laid complaint against
him before the Procureur de la Republique. The
Procureur accordingly caused the counts house to
be surrounded by police agents during the night,
to prevent his escape. On this, Forester wrote
OF to Paris to Vivier to send back the girls imme
diately, and he constituted himself a prisoner
The next day Miss Isabella and her attendant ar
rived at Tours, and the former was restored to her
parents. The public prosecutor, however, deemed
il his duty to detain Forester, and to prosecute
him. The Rev. Mr.. Hamilton, on the contrary,
was anxious that the matter should be dropped,
and he wrote an affecting letter to the public pros
ecutor, formally Withdrawing his complaint, and
entreating him TO drop the prosecution. But the
procureur represented that the law must take it's
course.
In the preliminary examination, the Rev. Mr.
Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton, and Miss Isabella,
were called on to give evidence. Isabella, varied
in her statements. In her first examination, she
declared that she had resolved on the flight her
self, and that Forester had scolded her on her
folly, and had dssuaded her from il; he only, she
said, consented to aid her when he saw that she
was determined to go. She solemnly took God TO
witness to the truth OF all this. But when For
esters letters were read TO her she expressed the
greatest Indignation; she nevertheless did not re-
tract her statement. In her second examination,
on the contrary, she declared that it was Forester
who had first proposed to her to Nv; and that he
had of cred to abandon his wife, notwithstanding
her illness, 10 60 with her. She had at first, she
said, considered this as a joke, and had laughed
at it; but he had pressed her, and had got the
want, Adele, TO do so likewise. II was only by
heir L. ~