The Sun. — 1844-04-06 (London, England)

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron G:uaNey.) After a case of administering noxious drugs with in tent-to procure abortion, which, as it was stopped by the Court, it is perhaps more just, and otherwise better, not more particularly to mention, George Gardner pleaded guilty (an understanding having been come to between the Learned Counsel, Mr. Miller, Mr. Hayes, and Mr. Mellor) to an indictment charging him with a misdemeanour, in having, on the 10th of February last, at the parish of St. Mary, in the borough of Warwick, unlawfully 'taken one Jane Page out of the custody and care, and against the will, of one Catherine Kimberley, the person having the lawful care and charge of her, the said Jane Page then being an unmarried girl, and under the age of sixteen years, that was to say of the age of thirteen years. It appeared that the young lady was entitled to some property, it was said about 400 L year, and she was at school at Miss Kimberley's at Warwick. The defendant was also in very good circumstances, had been on terms of acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Page, and had been accustomed, with the full permission of Miss Kimberley, probably sanctioned by Mr. and Mrs. Page, or one of them, from time to time, to take the young lady out with him. On the 10th of February last, he took her out as usual for a walk ; she did not return to Miss Kimberley's, but the defendant took her away to a distant part of the country, somewhere in Wales, as it was said. Mr. Page did not wish to press the prosecution, as, whatever might have been his apprehensions at first, he was now satisfied that the defendant had respected her virtue. Indeed, it seemed now unquestioned, that except as above stated, no sort of freedom had been taken with the young lady, and probably none was ever intended. Whether or not it had been in contemplation to detain her until she became of proper age for marriage, or otherwise to possess himself of her and her property at a future day, did not at all clearly appear. There was a suggestion of other and very distinct motives altogether heard of and talked about, but nothing of the kind transpired in Court, and it was of a nature to make mention of it, under these circumstances, very improper. Mr. Baron GURNEY acquiesced in the proposition agreed upon and submitted by the counsel on both sides, but said that it was an offence of a very aggravated description, invading the peace of families; and that but for that fact which had been stated by the learned counsel, and which there was every reason for believing to be true, that he had respected the young woman's virtue, he should have felt it his duty to have inflicted a very severe punishment. The defendant was then discharged on entering into his own recognizance in 5001. to come up and receive judgment when called upon, upon the understanding that he would not be so called upon if he in no way further molested the prosecutor, Mr. Page, or any of his family. James Gleaves, the lad who was yesterday convicted of the manslaughter of his brother, at Birmingham, by stabbing him in the stomach in a quarrel, was then called up to receive sentence. His Leanne'', said, that it was a melancholy instance of the sad effects of giving way to an ungovernable temper; he had killed his own brother, an the mode in which he had committed this lamentable crime bordered very nearly upon murder. The sentence was that he be transported fur ten years. Some other sentences were passed, and there then remaining only one other case, which had just before been called on before Mr. Sergeant Clarke, in the Grand Jury-room, his Lordship rose at half-past one o'clock, and shortly afterwards quitted the town.