The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-10-08
SELECT YAEB.
THE TRIAL OF ELIzABETH CANNING.

In the year Of 1853, London was so deeply
convulsed with great question at issue in the
criminal courts, that the peace of the city was
seriously threatened, From the highest to the
lowest grades, society was divided into two
parties on this question; and it was impossible
to speak Of it at dinner. table or in a street
assemblage without exciting dangerous quar-
rel. This dispute was an extravagant Illus
tration of English zeal for Justice and fair play
The real question lay between an old gypsy
woman aud a young servant girl. The ques-
ton at issue was-Had the gypsy robbed and
forcibly confined Elizabeth Canning or had
Elizabeth Canning falsely accused the gypsy
Of these outragesG BY the force Of incidental
circumstances, the question came to be- a really
important one, in which the statesmen and the
jurists of the age took lively interest. Iu
TACT it connected itself with the efficacy Of the
great judicial institutions of the land, and
their capacity to do Justice and protect inno-
cence. Hence the several trials and inquiries
occupy as much space in the State Trials as
three or four modern novels. In giving our
readers an outline Of the events so recorded,
only the more prominent aud marked features
of them can OF course find room. 7 W
Elizabeth Canning, a young woman between
eighteen and nineteen years Of age;shad borne
an unexCeptionable character, and was a do
living in Aldermanbury, named Edward
Lyon. On the 1st Of January, 1853, she OBJ
tanned liberty to pay a visit to her uncle, who
lived at Saltpetre Bank. AS she did not re-
turn at the specified time, Mr.. Lyon S family
made inquiry Of her mother about her, and
learned that she had not made her appearance
among ner other relations after the visit to
her uncle. Days and weeks passed, in which
every inquiry was unavailingly made after
her, and her mother suffered intense anxiety
Public notice had been taken Of the mystery;::it
was commented on in the newspapers and
much talked Of.
At length, at the end of January, Elizabeth
entered her mothers house in wretched con.
dition-emaciated and exhausted, and with
scarcely sufficiency Of clothes on her person
for mere decOrum. She was, of course, asked
eagerly TO give an account of her misfortunes
Her narrative BY degrees resolved itself into
this shape: She set ont on her visit at eleven
o'clock in the day, aud stayed with her uncle
till nine o'clock in the evening. Her uncle auC
aunt accompanied her as far as Aldgate. Thet
setting off alone, as she crossed MoOrfieds, ant
passed the back Of Bethlehem Hospital, two
stout men seized her. "They said nothing t
me;' she said, Eat first, but took half guinea
in little box, out Of my pocket, and three
shillings that were loose. They took my gown
apron, ana udt, uuu lOlucu L1eIu up anu Vu
them into o great coat pocket. lscreamed out
then the man who took my gown put a hand
kerchief or some such thing in my mouth. =
They then tied her hands behind her, swor
saVagely at her, and dragged her along will
them. She now, according 10 her own &C
count swooned, and on recovering from her fl
she felt herself still in their hands; they weF
swearing and dcalling on her to move on. Part
ly insensible, she was conveyed for consid
cradle distance, but could not say whether sh
was dragged or carried.
When she found herself at rest, it was day
light in themorning. She remembered beinI
in disreputable- looking house, in the pres
enee Of q woman, who said if she would &C
company her she should have fine clothes
Elizabeth refused, and the woman, taking
knife from dresser, cut open her stays and re
moved them. The woman and the other peo
pie present then hustled her up stairs into
wretched garret and locked the door. Sh
found here a miserable straw bed, larg
black pitcher nearly full Of watsrs and twsn