The Sun. — 1863-04-02 (London, England)

SINGULAR CHARGE OF ABDUCTION. Frederick Burrell, 21, a clerk in the Royal Arse, nal at Wooiwich, was charged with having on Jan 20, from motives of lucre, fraudulently allured taken away, and detained Jane Burrell, a person under 21 years of age, she having a present legal interest in certain real estates i❑ Norfolk, out of the possession and against the will of her mother, Mary Ann Hyder, and of her guardian, William Silver Ryder, with intent to marry or carnally know her, the said Jane Burrell ; and Henry Richard Burrell was charged with aiding the said Frederick Burrell to commit the aforesaid felony. Mr. Bulwer and Mr. Sims Reeves appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Drake for the defence. This was a very singular case. It appeared from the opening statement of the learned counsel for the prosecution that the young lady's mother had, since the death of her first husband, married Mr. Hyder. The girl was sent to school at Norwich, and when she returned home to Fakenham for the last ChristIMO holidays—when she was between 15 Ind 16 years of age—she went to the house of the elder prisoner, Henry Richard Burrell. She remained there several days against the will of her mother and Mr. Ryder. On January 16 Frederick Burrell came down to Fakenham, and on the 19th of the same month Mrs. Burrell, the wife of the elder prisoner, Jane Burrell, and Frederick Burred left Fakenham for London. Only one through ticket was taken for London, but two other tickets were afterwards procured for London at Dereham station, a little farther on. The party reached London on the evening of Jan. 19, and on the following day the prisoner, Frederick Burrell, was married to Jane Burrell, she being his own niece by blood, both the prisoners standing in the relation of uncle to her. Oa Jan. 6an affidavit had been made by the prisoner, Frederick Burrell, for the purpose of obtaining a marriage licence, in which it was contended on the part of the prosecution that he had made two false statements, as that the young lady was 19 years old, and that she had no parent or guardian living. The case against the second prisoner, Henry Richard Burrell, was that be had taken the parties to the railway station, that his wife went to London and witnessed the marriage, and that he was fully cognisant of and assisted in the whole transaction, of which Mr. and Mrs. Ryder were kept in complete ignorance, although Mr. Hyder was the young lady's legal guardian. Evidence was adduced in support of the prosecution at great length, the cross-examinatien being directed to show that the young lady had not been very comfortable at home. The points insisted on for the defence were that the prisoner Frederick Burrell had not been actuated by any fraudulent intention in carrying away his niece ; that the young lady had passed out of the custody of her mother in consequence of her telling her that she could not remain at home, and that she was not in the care and custody of her guardian. The jury, however, found the prisoners guilty. Judgment was reserved in order that the opinion of a court above might be taken upon the points raised. In the meantime the prisoners were admitted to bail. Richard Roberts, who pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to murder Eliza Hunt, at North Lopham, was sentenced to five years' penal servitude The prisoner, who seemed much affected, had to be assisted from the dock.