Facts and Fiction.

Colonist, Issue 10, 24 November 1857, Page 4

Facts and Fiction.

Extraordinary Charge op Libel.— Lately, at the Marlborough-street Police Court, in London, Mr. Henry Spicer, surgeon, No, 3, Oval Cottages, Kennington, was brought before Mr. Beadon on a warrant charging him with having published a false and defamatory libel on Mr. William Day, solicitor, No. 1, Queen-street, Mayfair. The defendant, Spicer, was formerly an apothecary and surgeon at Notting-hill. He became acquainted in the course of his business with a lady named Lawford, and possessed of upwards of £20,000 of her late husband's property. This lady happened to call at the defendant's shop. The defendant found out that she was a widow of fortune; he ingratiated himself in her favour, and the result was that he caused the unfortunate lady to believe that he had formed a sincere attachment to her. Mrs. Lawford placed herself in communication with her friends. Mr. Day was professionally consulted, and his advice was that the marriage should not take place until a proper settlement of the property was made on Mrs. Lawford. Mr. Spicer professed acquiescence in this proposal, but, instead of waiting till the deeds .were drawn out, he forced the widow lady into a clandestine marriage, without any settlement having been made. Having married Mrs. Lawford without any previous settlement, it turned out with respect to the bulk of Mrs. Lawford's property, that it had been so settled hy the late Mr. Lawford that, with the exception of about £4000, the husband could not touch the remainder, and the result was that from 1854 to 1855, Mr. Spicer practised the greatest barbarity towards his wife. He took her through England and Scotland at her own expense. She contrived to make her Escape in Scotlandj «but the defendant telegraphed to the various stations that she was mad, and she was stopped at Preston. She told her s-tory to the mayor at Preston, and she was released. She made her way to London, and had hitherto succeeded in evading the persecution of the defendant, who hoped by getting possession of her person to obtain the benefit of the £600 or £700 a-year settled on her. When Mr. Day first became' aware of the defendant's conduct towards his wife, he advised her to bear it if possible; but as human nature had its limits of endurance, she could not put up with the treatment she received, and she sought the1 protection of her friends. The defendant then proceeded to issue placards, one of which offered £50 reward against the parties alleged to have incarcerated and ill-treated the missing lady, and mentioned that she had been seen in Mr. Day's house. This formed the libel. The defendant was committed for trial, but bail was taken— himself in £200, and two sureties in £100 each.A few days since a girl of 17, residing in Bridgegate, Glasgow, had her neck fractured in a struggle arising from a young man having, attempted to kiss her. No extra violence, it was said, had been used. . The medical attendant reported that the injury sustained appeared to be partial dislocation of one of the vertebrae of the neck, causing great difficulty in respiration and swallowing, he presumed from pressure on the respiratory nerve.- She lies- in a dangerous state.