Star. — 1831-01-14 (London, England)

PRICE 71).  EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FELONY.  A charge of felony was on Wednesday brought under the notice of the sitting megistates at Lambeth-street police-office, out of which arose some singular disclosures, and in the hearing of which considerable time was occupied.  The facts, which will be found of somewhat extraordinary character are these :—On Friday last, Miss H. a young woman, most respectably connected, who had been atoppiag some weeks previously at the house of Mr. T. an extensive mercer and draper, carrying on business in the parish of St George's in the east, was brought before Mr. Wyatt, on a charge of having stolen a valuable muff and tippet belonging to Mrs. T. It being than alleged that varioas other articles of property were miming, and the necessary witnesses to complete the charge not being in attendance, the accused was remanded for further examination until yesterday. The pain she felt at the degradation of her situation, preyed most sensitively on her mind, and at the New Prison, Clerkenwell, where she was confined, she was scarcely seen to utter a syllable to any of the prisoners with whom she wax confined ; but spent her time in walking about, in apparently the utmost mental uneasiness and anxiety. In this state she continued until Monday morning, when taking advantage of the absence of her fellow-prisoners, she suspended herself by her handkerchief from the iron bars, and when discovered and cut down, life to all appearance was quite extinct. However, by the prompt application of some powerful restorativesand other remedies, animation was restored, and she afterwards so far recovered as to be able to be removed to this office at the time appointed. On being brought to this office, Mr. H•RDWICK humanely pointed out to her the consequences which might result from her rash attempt. Hiss H. who appeared much affected, expressed mucb contrition for what she had done, bat said she was quite innocent of the offence laid to her charge, for that, instead of stealing the articles, as had been alleged, they had been made a present to her by Mrs. T. Mrs. T. denied that this was the fact, and declared she hid never given the prisonei either the muff or tippet. Mr. Hs How lc ic questioned Miss H. as to whether any thing particular had passed at the time the present was made ?  Miss H. replied that she could not recollect: but that Mrs. T. having acquainted her (Mies H.) with all her secrets, and admitted her without reserve into her confidence, for this it was she thought tho present had beeen made her of the articles in question. A lady, a friend of the accused, here came forward, and stated on oath that Miss H. had informed her of receiving the present from Mrs. T. and she afterwards accompanied Miss H. to that lady's house with the same muff and tippet on. The witness added, that this took place after Mrs. T. had returned to her husband's house, subsequent to her elopement. Mr. and Mrs. T. affected much indignation and surprise at this insinuation, and asked the witness what she meant by the expression of Mrs. T.'s elopement ? The witness replied, that they surely could not be ignorant of its meaning. They, however, still appeared to evince a total ignorance on the subject, and begged the Magistrates would require an explanation from the witness of the insinuation which she made, and which was to them of a most unpleasant nature. Mr. HLRDWICK, in consequence, requested that the affair might be explained. On which Miss B. stood forward, and with some hesitation, stated that Mrs. T. had left her husband's house about Christmas last, and went to live at the Portugal Hotel, Fleet-street, but after stopping there a few days, she attempted to commit suicide by swallowing a dose of poison, and on this circumstance coming to her husband's knowledge, he at once removed her home.  Mr. and Mrs. T. the most solemn manner, declared that there was not a tittle of truth in this statement, which they said must have been got up merely for the purpose of intimidating them from coming forward to prosecute. Mr. T. assured the magistrates that during the eight years be was married, his wife had never even for one night, slept from under his roof. Mrs. T. also declared, that she never, to her knowledge, slept at an hotel, and that as for the Fortugal, she knew no more where it was than her infant child of three months old. Mr. HARDWICK, finding the parties so pertinaciously positive, questioned Miss H. more closely on the subject, and asked her if she spoke of Mrs. T. being at the Portugal from her own knowledge, or if she had made the statement merely from what she had heard from others ? Miss H. replied that she spoke from her own knowledge, for that she bad visited Mrs. T. at that hotel three different times while she was there; and that after her husband bad taken her away from there, she, Miss H. herself paid the bill which she had incurred, and which amounted to 21. 18s. This fact, as well as Mrs. T.'s being there, could be p:oved by the waiters and chambermaid them. Mr. T. requested that the case might be postponed to a future day, when he would be able to prove, both by his own servants, and those at the Portugal-hotel, the utter fallacy of these statements. Mr. HARDW ICK replied, that the ease had now assumed an aspect which, in justice to all parties, required further investigation, and for that purpose he would remand the accused until Friday, On the application of Mr. Wooller, who attended at the request of her friends, Miss 11. was admitted to bail, to appear on that day. Independent of the above singular incidents, there are several others connected with this case which are worthy of remark. bliss H. has been for some time paid addresses to by a gentleman who was formerly an officer in the royal navy, but is at present Captain of a West Indianan, and a day was some time since fixed on for their marriage. A short time before the. arrival of the day nami?d, a German Baroness, of considerable property, fell violently in love with the brother of Miss H. and another day was appointed for the celebration of the nuptials of both couples, and that day was hest Wednesday. The necessary forms of publishing banns.' &c. was gona,,through at St. George's Church, Hanovessquare, where the ceremony was to have taken place. It is, however, for the present,in consequence of the present " untoward event,' deferred.  •