The Sun. — 1818-11-24 (London, England)

HALL.—Ann Sarah Webb, a young woman of extremely respectable appearance, yesterday preferred the following 'charge against Inn. Beale altas Briant, a man between 30 and 40 years of age, and of . genteel address. About three weeks ago the prisoner comasenced an acqoaint's ante with the complainant, by accosting her daring an'evening's walk at Walworth, near the Elephant and Castle ; a few days subsequent to the first, meeting, she again saw him at Kennington ; he then made a declaration of attachment to her person, professed to entertain intentions of the most honourable nature towards her, expressed a wish for . an immediate introduction to her family, and represented himself as the nephew of Mr. Beale, of Kennington ; and en.t titled, upon the death of that gentleman, to the sum of 8,0001. He also stated that he then acted Ps clerk to Mr. Beak, and resided at his countryhouse at Clapham. The complainant felt highly gratified with the attentions of a person of so much apparent, respectability, introduced him to her father and mother, at their residence, Golding'splace, Vauxhall, by whom he was received and considered.as a man of honour, and the future husband of their daugliter; his addresses were sanctioned and encouraged, his .frequent visits received with pleastrre, and an unrestrained intercoarse allowed with the object of his choice.— Qn Saturday evening he prevailed upon her t to •accompany him in a walk towards Kennington ; he there took a coach, and ordered the driver to proceed to the Elephant and Castle at Newington. He had not been seated in the coach more than a few minutes, before he .treated her in a most indecent manner, and forcibly attempted to violate her person. She screamed as loud as she was able, when he threatened to murder her if she did not discorrinue her vociferatinns, and struck her several blows on the head, and endeavoured, by placing his hand upon her mouth, to prevent her spreading an alarm. The coachman heard her screams, 'stopped the coach, and opened the door, when she I ran. in a state of distraction,- to the house of her parents, about a mile front the spot where the transaction happened. She fell upon the floor 1 breathless and exhausted, and for a considerable time remained insensible. Upon her recovery she acquainted her father with the particulars ot the circumstances, and he adopted measures which led to the prisoner's being taken into custody. Mr. 1 Webb stated to the Magistrate, Sir J. PINHORNB, that since the confinement of the prisoner be had niscovered that his daughter Kati been deceived by a series of infamous misrepresentations. The r prisoner's real name was Brian/ ; he was a mar-I ried man, and resided at Wilson's-buildings, Kenningtoti ; his circumstances were indigent, although his appearance was genteel ; and his statement, as to the expectancy of 8,0001. upon the death of Mr. Beale, -.% is as destitute of truth as the other parts of his tale, which had been '.: framed to effect the ruin of his (laughter. The prisoner denied at first that any assault 4 had taken place in the coach, bat afterwards admitted that something tinplevant had happened, and imputed it to intoxication. The censures which the Magistrate passc;cl upon his conduct, he appeared In regard with great indifference) ~ and proposed to. Mrs. Webb, the mother of the complainant, to compromise the affair for a sum of money. Mrs. Webb rejected the offer with ~ scorn, observing, that the wealth of the %swift could not Wire away the disgrace of her child, nor restore the happiness of the tarndy, which had been destroyed by his infamous machinations. He was committed for want ot bait. ..