The Sun. — 1857-01-27 (London, England)

RANDALL V. LUCK.-SEDUCTION.  • This was an aciion brought by the plaintiff to recover damages off the defendant, for the seduction of his stepdaughter, Emma Staggell, 19 years of age, whereby she had lost her service and incurred great expense. It appeared from the plaintiff's evidence that be kept the Acorn public-house at Rotherhithe, and the defendant was a contractor at the docks close by. The defendant had been intimate with Mrs. Randall and her family for many years, and had known her daughter since she was about 12 years of age. He visited the plaintiff's house, and was occasionally waited on by the daughter-in-law, who acted as bar-maid. On the 27th Aug. last she left the plaintiff's house, and was afterwards traced to Eritb, where she was found living with the defendant as man and wife, under the name of Barnes. When discovered there by her father-in-law, she exclaimed, on seeing him, "Oh, God ! father, is that you I'll go with you anywhere." She appeared most anxious to return home with him, and did so on the 16th October. She was then found to be in a very nervous state, and afterwards twice attempted to commit suicide. A medical man had to be called in, and attended her several days. In the plaintiff's cross-examination he stated that his daughter-in-law was paid no regular wages, nor was there any agreement between them as to services. Sha had clothes found her, with board, lodging, and spending money, which amounted to more than the usual sum, &c., paid to a bar maid. She acted as such in his house, and he was much inconvenienced by her leaving, and had to employ a bar maid in consequence. Mr. Sergeant Slice, who appeared for the defendant, contended the plaintiff had not shown such a servitude on the part of the daughter-in-law, and such a loss of service on his part, as entitled him to recover in this  21 -- 2i  94  b6P i— 58  i 32 135  9 - 9i  33 •- 34 118 g 0  action. Mr. Sergeant Parry, for the plaintiff, contended con_ tra, and called the daughter's mother, but she was un able to carry the service beyond the facts stated above. Mr. Baron Bramwell said that if the plaintiff could not carry it further there was no case for the jury. Mr. Sergeant Parry contended at much length that the evidence showed an implied service, at the time of the seduction, sufficient to warrant the case going to the jury. There was ample evidence to go to the jury on the counts for expense, &c., incurred by loss of the daughter-in-law's service.  Mr. Baron Bramwell ruled otherwise, and Mr. Sergeant Parry submitted to a neusuit.  In seeking any alterations, however. I would be sorry to advocate any other doctrine than that of the convertibility of the bank-note, which should be retained, as it is now, a fundamental principle. The following amendments appear, in my humble judgment, to be primarily necessary, iu order to bring the Charter into unison as much as possible with Free-Trade principles :Ist —That all existing privileges enjoyed by the Banks of England and Ireland be abolished. 2d—That the convertibility of the note be retained, founded upon a basis of one-half to three•fourths of the amount being lodged, either in specie or other approved neg, Liable security. 3d—That all other restrictions upon the quantity of notes issued, and the value of the note, be rescinded, leaving them to be regulated by the natural law of supply and demand. In order to check any over supply and, consequently, too low a rate of discount, some parties advocate restricting banks to a minimum rate of discount of 4 per cent. ; but this would bo a gross violation of the principle of Free Trade. ',would be sorry, however, to see discounts range below 4 per cent., as that rate is quite low enough for all legitimate commercial transactions, and any lower terms offer a premium to speculation and encourage overtrading. 4th—That Bank of England and Bank of Ireland notes be made legal tender throughout the Unite .1 Kingdom. sth—That the possibility of a deficiency of the legal tender, arising from the Bank of England or Ireland note ceasing to be a legal tender, when these banks cease to pay in gold, he provided for by Government. 6th--That the banking and issue departments of the bank he amalgamated as before. With alterations similar to these, it might be well, also, tr combine that of making directors and officials liable to criminal prosecution, in cases of irregularity similar to those for which the past year has been so famous. I would not have presumed to address you, on this occasion, had it not been for the feeling evinced at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commei co. on Thursday last, by the Presi lent, and also by Mr. William Dunwhen I brought this matter before the Chamber. As the question is to be discussed at the approaching conference in London, it was considered by those gentlemen more advisable for me to address you on the subject than to bring any specific motion before the Chamber at that time. All the subjects to be brought before you are of a most important character, and I have no doubt will be considered by you in a comprehensive and enlightened spirit, worthy of the important commercial town you represent, which indeed has already recently immortalised itself by its philanthropicadvocacy of the unselfish and equitable principle of direct, in preference to indirect, taxation. My own impressions aro at preent iu favour of restricting the issue of notes to one bank, which we may call a " National Bank," sulject to the control of Parliament. Any joint-stock company or other parties wishing to establish a bank could supply themselves with this national paper, on payment of satisfactory security, in specie or other convertible property in lien thereof, receiving from the Bank of Issue a certain premium for circulating the notes. This National Bank should be confined to one of issue and deposit alone, with the liberty of lending, which their immense receipts, in lieu of notes, would enable them to do, most profitably. The profits of the Bank, which would be large, and increasing every year, could be devoted either to paying off the National Debt, or lightening the public expenditure. The public mind is not yet, however, iu favour of such an important monetary revolution as this, and it is useless to advocate its adoption at present.—l am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, Belfast, Jan. 1837.