The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-12
Court OF General Sessions.

Before Judge Becbc and Aldermen Kelly AMI Morgans.
APRu l11iii to Seduction, under Promise Of Marriage
"A young OF fashionable appearance named Ro-
bert Wright alias Eeazer Outright, was placed on trial
on an indictment charging him with seducing young
woman named q, orgiana Hodgkns The indictment
framed under the law Of March ls4S which ia fol-
lows Amy man who shall under the promise OF mar
rage, soluce and have any Illicit connection with any
unmarried female Of previous chase character shall be
guilty Of msdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be
punished by imprison men in State prison not exceeding
i've years. or by Imprisonment in county jail not ex
ceeding year provided that conviction shall be
bad under the provisions Of this act the nlony Of
the female sduced unsupported by other evidence nor
unless Indictment shall be found within two years after
the commission of the offence and provided further that
the subsequent marriage Of the parties may be pleaded in
bar Of a conviction"
Georgiana d. IIodgkns the complainant, being called
young woman. seventeen years Of age, Of fair com
plexion and regular features rather below the middle
statue She was richly dressed. Her testimony was
given in rather confident tone for the most part 1t
follows am single LADY, know the defendan Mt,
Robert Wright he was introduced to me- under that
nard street; 1 reside there still have known
Mr Wright by any other name than Robert Wright. lie
has visited me in the capacity Of sutton he ceased
to visit last Novembcr-he visited me at my house
he came there three four times a week-somctimes
oftener lie usually called me by the name Of Geora-
and usually called him Robert. lie usually visited M
In the evening lie has asked me to become his we-he
frequently spoke Of marrying mehe said that he loved
me and that / was the only lady he ever did love He
told me that his intention to marry me told him
never any liked better and would have him,
lie trrsted his wife, by having intercourse with
This treatment commenced either in June or July
Of last year lie promised TO marry after he
commenced visiting the hcae he WISHED steadily
about year The promise was, at any rate, before
the intercoure have spoken Of
By the Court-Iie commenced visiting the house
after he introduced to about three years ago. he
was under promise to me when the connection took
place. be had frequently repeated his promises AT the
time Of his frst communication with me. he said he
would marry me- ard it would make difference he
never proposed Illicit intercourse with until the time
at which it took place finally consented my
based the belief in his promise that he would
marry me: / said to him if l did not any person
liked better. would marry him never gave him any
stronger assurance never had intercourse with any
other man.
oss-examned-I do not know how long have
sided in Lispenard street have resided in Columbia
street, Grand 1 moved from there to Fourth
street, between avenues and moved from there.
think to Grand street cannot say whether moved
Mr. Wright at my fathers house, in Lspenard street. 10y
Mr Iiillsburg cannot recooct the month year in
which that introduction took place; Mr.. lilsburg
visited my sister, in Columbia street that four
years ago, perhaps more The cross-examnation was
continued At length but did not bring out any
timony The witness affirmed that she had never al
lowed improper liberties to b. taken with her person,
had she had connexion with any male previous
to the connexion with Mr.. Wright.
Frances q. IIodgkins sworn-I sister To the last
Witness reside at 70 Lpenard street with my parents;
! am unmarried know the defendant Mr.. wright;
Lave known him for about three years; he intro
duccd TO under the name II Robert Wright, he
in the habit Il visiting house off aud for three
years; he a week aud sometimes oftener; he
has been at the house sometimes four times week AMI
sometimes more; these frequent visits took place about
paid more attention to her than to Others his attentions
TO her were of sfectionato character he said he
thought more Of her than Of any other lady; that he
would rather be in her company than any rhcre else
that he thought il would displeasc parents he
would come to the house every night; he said this six
perhaps eight months ago; he in the
habit 81 accompanying my sister out and Of remaining
at the house Till late hour-tl after the family had
tired his attention to my sister marked; heard
him Use terms Of endearment towards her; he used
address her by the name Of Georgia and she in turn
used to call him Bobby
Cross-cxamincd-Mr Hilsburg introduced Mr. Wright
to me- he used to call him Bobby. The examina
ton continued AZ considerable length.
Joseph Hodgkins, swornT am the father of the two
ast witnesses; am In the collecting business know
Dir. Wright, the defendant think he was introduced
TO house three years ago, his visits fire.
quent do not think that than six days elapsed
without his coming TO the house at any time within the
year previous lat November; he paid particular
tenton 20 Georgiana he told me he get great store by
her he told repeatedly his attentions sutton
and lover took him to be- and a. he represented
himself 70 be. commenced probably about last July
called Mr. Nelson in Bedford street to inquire what
Kind q young gentleman he wa, before willing
he should b. alone with my daughter: went to Mr.
Nelson because he was the def ndauts employer the
attentions have have spoken II shown my par
Tor in Lpenard street my wife aud daughter used to
1T up with them till niue ten o'clock after that they
LEFT alone; met Mr.. Wright in Nassau street,
occasion when he told he set great store by Georgi
told him he ought to- for she had said that he had
offered her marriage; he said II he had done
and he should not deceive ~ that his intentions
honorable. this about the middle Il last October
Crosse xamincd-I have resided in LLspenard street
about -four years; the house is two stories high;
collecting accounts was In the gold business before
that, and previously belonged to the police.
pr William Ward ply 'ican d twenty years prac-
cc testified that hc made prof ional examination Of
the person II Miss Gcoriana Iiolxkius siz or eight
weeks since he found her 20 BE- pregnant she now
about eight months gone with child
The prosecution offered testimony TO prove the
Intimacy which formerly existed between the defendant
and complainant The Court thought there was testi-
mony enough In relation Co that point. The District
Attorney then offered 10 prove the previous chastity u
Mis- Todgkns The Court said that could b.
sry unless the defence should attack her character in
wnch instance IL could b. introduced rcbutting evil
denee this suggestion from the Court the prOsecu-
ton rested and the defence opened by the Junior
counsel engaged that side The evidence for the de-
fence will BE- put In TO- morrow Saturday when the case
will probably b. concluded.