West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-11-09
A Celebrated Case.

Early I'm the present century there re-
! Iidcd in Paris numbcrut impccuuious
gentlemen, who STYLED themselves the
first society in Europe. Among those
Englishmcn was one Edward Gibbon
Wakefield, nephew of the celebrated
Priscilla Wakefield, whose nursery taics
and sChool-books were the delight of
children of that day. Edward was n
widowcr with several children. and
in somewhat needy circumstances
to support the life of elegant leisure
that he wished. So IL occurred To him
10 clopo with an English hcrcsS. The
lady selected was n pupil at Miss
Doulhy's famous seminary i'm Liverpool,
whose father, William Turner. was u
wealthy Lancashire manufactures.
Wakefield, accompanied by his shrcwd
French valet, Mons. Thcvcnot, crossed
the channel, and the following scheme
was selected; MIR Turner had gonc to
London on business, and Gibbon sent
his valet, who was instructed To repre-
sent himself rs the servant of physi-
clan named Armstrong. with u note to
Miss Doulby purporting TO have been
written by n physician who was attend
ing Mrs Turner, of Shriglcy Park. aud
1t represented that Mrs. Turner.
being in urgent danger from para
lytic stroke, wished To SEQ her only
child as soon rs possible. The
patients condition required the
Immediate return of her daughter, and
the note requested Miss Doulby To i'm
trust Miss Ellen Turner. aged fifteen, TO
the physician servant, who would con
vcy her To her mother at the greatest
posting speed. Tho letter cnioincd
Miss Doulby not TO alarm tho Young
lady by telling her of Mrs. Turner'S ill
ness. The scheme worked To perfection
The dcicrcntal French valet drove at
once 10 Manchester, whcrc the elegant
Wakefield was met The young and
unsophistirntcd schoolgirl was most
agrccably impressed hy his musical
voice and politcness. 1t was his sad
duty TO tell the young lady that her
father was i'm great financial distress
caused by the failure of two largo
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 10 the child about this Her
own experience had taught her that
suddenly from wealth. The last half
year one of her favoritcs was removed
from school by her fathers failure.
Like good girl, she replied: Dear
MIR Wakefield, YOU are very kind to
me, and | think | could learn to
love you and make YOU II good
wife, though / am very young;
but may not marry YOU
till | have seen dear papa aud learned
from his own lips what he wishes me 10
do. They were on their way 10 Scot
land for n speedy marriage. and at Car
Isle would be met by her papa. who
would accompany them to Grctun
Green. All night they drove with
greatest speed, whore they learned that
her father had been thrown into iail,
and her only way TO rescue him from
the cruel position was at once to go 10
Grctna Green and marry Mr. Wakefield.
At the same time she received letter
purpor'ing 10 have bccn written by Mr.
Grimditch. her fathers London solicit.
or urging her immediate compliance
n the only means 20 save her father
These were proofs overwhelming. and
tho Young girl consented, and they pro-
cccdcd 10 Grctua Green, and with her
consent, the terrified little girl became
Mrs. Wakefield. The Witnesses were
william Graham, Postboy and John
Lcnton. From Grctna Green the adroil
rascal carried The girl TO Calais and mt
once proceeded To open negotiation
with Mr. Turner. His demands were
not cXorb.lant lie would be satisfied
with an annual allowance suitable e.
his wants To- live in the first society OF
Europe II is gratifying 20 know that
the father did not consent and that NJ.
fairs were managed so clcycrly that Mr..
Wakefield was eventually sentenced tc
three years in Ncwgate. cincinnati
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