Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 01 October 1858

Curious Case.—Obtaining a Man’s Wife By False Pretences.

Thomas Smith (a respectable-looking, middle-aged man) carrying on the trade of a boat builder, at Kilnhurst, was charged with stealing number of pawntickets, and with taking away the wife of Mr. Cornelius William Lewis, manufacturer of artificial flowers, in Bow-street.

Mr. A. C. Branson appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Waterhouse (of the firm of Chambers and Waterhouse), for the prisoner.

Mr. Branson said that in consequence of the illness of Mrs. Lewis he had to ask for the case to be remanded.

Mr. Waterhouse: There is nothing before the bench yet.

Mr. Branson : There is the prisoner and his attorney. (Laughter.) If you call yourself nothing its all right.

Mr. Dixon: But their appearance here not enough to warrant me in remanding the prisoner. What is the charge ?

Mr. Eaynor: The prisoner is charged with stealing a lady, I believe. (Laughter.)

Mr. Branson: The prosecutrix is ill and cannot attend. Here is a certificate to that effect from Mr. Wright Wilson. The prosecutor is here, but he can only speak to the absence of his wife.

Mr. Cornelius William Lewis was then called.

He said : On Friday, the of August, my wife left home about ten minutes ten o’clock in the morning to go to Messrs. Gray’s, in Fargate, with whom I business. The prisoner met her, and –

Mr. Waterhouse: You don’t know that.

Mr. Lewis: My wife has told me so since.

Mr. A. Smith: Has your wife returned to you?—Yes. sir.

Mr. Branson: When?—l traced them to Kilnhurst…. Have you seen them together?—Yes.

When was it?—On Thursday, the 26th of August, which was six days after she had left….

Is Kilnhurst the place where the prisoner lives?—lt is….

Where were they?—ln the street in the village…. What passed?

Directly he saw me he ran away across the fields. (Laughter.)

Were they together when you saw them?—Yes. I was a good way off, but I could tell Smith very well, and I could tell my wife, of course. (Laughter.) When he went away wife went into his daughter’s house.

Did you go to see her?—Yes, and she was affected with what she had done and came back with me to Sheffield that night.

Is she ill now? —Yes, she is very ill indeed.

Had you any pawntickets your possession at any time?—Yes, they were in the house when my wife went away

Did she take them with her?—No.

Are they gone?—They are.

Mr. Waterhouse: There is nothing that evidence in which to remand my client.

Mr. Branson (to Mr. Lewis): Did you see the constable in Kilnhurst?—Yes

And did you give the prisoner in charge?—Yes.

William Malpas (the parish constable of Hooton Roberts) said he was at Kilnhurst on Thursday, the 26th of August, and saw the prisoner. He also saw the prosecutor, Mr. Lewis, and he told him that the prisoner had run away with his wife, am requested witness to take him into custody for felony.

Did you go after him?—Yes, and chased him for five or six miles.

Did you apprehend him?—No, he got out of the way and a warrant was taken out against him.

Has the prisoner since the time yon chased him been at Kilnhurst?—Not to my knowledge…. Have you inquired after him?—l have.

Mr. Raynor; Detective-offioer Whaley was sent to Kilnhurst in search of him, and could not find him.

Mr. Dixon : Under the circumstances I shall adjourn the Case for week. The prisoner will be admitted to bail, himself in £40, and two sureties in £20 each.

Mr. Smith : As far as the evidence goes the wife ran away to Kilnhurst to the prisoner, and then the prisoner ran away from her. (Laughter.)

Mr. Branson; He took her to a public-house, made her intoxicated, and then enticed her away.

Mr. Lewis : He took her to a very low house—one of the lowest houses in the town.

Mr. Smith: You cannot prosecute him for stealing a wife.

Mr. Branson: Well, that certainly is the law at present, but there is no doubt that he obtained the wife under false pretences. (Laughter.)

The prisoner was then removed.