The Brookhaven leader., 1883-11-08
A Celebrated Case.


sided in Paris a number of impecunious
gentlemen, who styled themselves the
first society in Europe. Among these
Englishmen was one Edward Gibbon
Wakefield, nephew of the celebrated
Priscilla Wakefield, whose nursery tales
and school-books wero the delight of
children of that day. Edward was
widower with several children, and
in somewhat needy circumstances
to support the life of elegant leisure
that he wished So it occurred to him
to elope with an English heiress. The
lady selected was pupil at Miss
Doulby's famous seminary in Liverpool,
whose father, William Turner, was
wealthy Lancashire manufacturer.
Wakefield, accompanied by his shrewd
French valet, Mons. Thevenot, crossed
the channel, and the following scheme
was selected; Mr.. Turner had gone to
London on business, and Gibbon sent
his valet, who was instructed to repre-
sent himself as the servant of a physi-
clan named Armstrong, with a note to
Miss Doulby, purporting to have been
written by physician who was attend
ing Mrs Turner, of Shrigley Park, and
it represented that Mrs. Turner,
being in urgent danger from a para
lytic stroke, wished to see her only
child as soon as possible. The
patients condition required the
Immediate return of her daughter, and
the note requested Miss Doulby to in
trust Miss Ellen Turner, aged fifteen, to
the physician 5 servant, who would con-
vey her to her mother at the greatest
posting speed. The letter enioincd
Miss Doulby not to alarm the young
lady by telling her of Mrs. Turner'S IL
ness. The scheme worked to perfection.
The deferent;al French valet drove at
once to Manchester, where the elegant
Wakefield was met. The young and
unsophisticated schoolgirl was most
agreeably impressed by his musical
voice and politeness. 1t was his sad
duty to tell the young lady that her
father was in great financial distress
caused by the failure of two large
banks, and could only be relieved by
his little daughter compliance with a
certain agreement, which was nothing
else than her marriage with the hand
some stranger. There seemed nothing
strange to the child about this. Her
own experience had taught her that
Lancashire manufacturers often fall
suddenly from wealth. The last half
year one of her favorites was removed
from school by her fathers failure.
Like good girl, she replied: "Dear
Mr.. Wakefield, you are very kind to
me, and ! think l could learn to
love you and make you a good
wife, though l am very young;
but l may not marry you
till l have seen dear papa and learned
from his own lips what he wishes me to
! do" They were on their way to Scot
land for speedy marriage, and at Car
Isle would be met by her papa, who
would accompany them to Gretna
Green. All night they drove with
greatest speed, where they learned that
her father had been thrown into Jail,
and her only way to rescue him from
the cruel position was at once TO go to
Gretna Green and marry Mr.. Wakefield.
At the same time she received letter
purporting to have been written by Mr..
Grimditch. her fathers London solicit
or, urging her immediate compliance
as the only means to save her father
These were proofs overwhelming, and
the Young girl consented, and they pro-
| ceeded to Gretna Green, and, with her
consent, the terrified little girl became
Mrs Wakefield. The witnesses were
William Graham, Postboy, and John
Lenton. From Gretna Green the adroit
rascal carried the girl to Calais, and at
once proceeded to open negotiations
with Mr.. Turner. His demands were
not exorbtant He would be satisfied
with an annual allowance suitable to
his wants to live in the first society of
Europe. 1t is gratifying to know that
the father did not consent, and that af-
fairs were managed so cleverly that Mr..
Wakefield was eventually sentenced to
three years in Newgate. Cincinnati
Enquirer