BLACK COUNTRY ROMANCE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 494, 22 April 1869, Page 3

BLACK COUNTRY ROMANCE.

At the Police Court, Rowley, a case came on for hearing which appeared to have excited considerable interest, and in which a young woman, named Charlotte Beasest, daughter of a butcher at Cradley-helth, sought to affiliate a child upon Wm. Evans, a pork butcher, of Black-heath. Defendant did not appear. Mr Shakespeare, for the complainant, said the case was an extraordinary one, and he might say a romantic one. The complainant, in January, 1867, went to live at defendant's house as a kind of assistant, being at the time about eighteen years of age. The defendant was a married man, but had no family. The defendant's wife was often absent, and at one of these times defendant succeeded in seducing the complainant. The intimacy was carried on for some time, and at length, some few months ago, defendant persuaded complainant to decamp with him to America. Defendant took with him a considerable sum of money—between L4OO and LSOO, he believed. Defendant vowed eternal fidelity to the complainant, and as a proof of his sincerity he gave her L2OO to take care of for him. They had scarcely reached mid-Atlan-tic, however, before defendant commenced to treat complainant in a cruel and cowardly manner, and many and Litter were the recriminations that ensued in consequence. At last they landed in America, and they, had no sooner done so than defendant said he should return home, and wished the complainant a long and sad farewell. He hurried away, but returned shortly afterwards, and asked for his £2OO back, saying he had forgotten it at parting. Complainant refused to return the money unless he took her home again. After some deliberation, defendant decided to do this, and they left America after a sojourn of three days. When they reached Birmingham railway station complainant delivered up the money, and she had since then been living with her parents. Defendant's wife, strange to say, received him with open arms, and greeted and caressed him as a long-lost husband. The complainant's child, agirl.wasbornonthe6thult. He (Mr Shakespeare) had summoned defendant as a witness, and he thought it an insult to the Bench he did not appear. In conclusion, Mr Shakespeare said he must ask the Bench to grant the solicitor's and midwife's fees, as the defendant was a man of money,

and well able to pay. Mr Shakespeare then called on the complainant to give evidence, after which parish-consta le Moyle was sworn. He deposed to serving the defendant with the summonses, to which the defendant replied he should not appear, but was willing to repay whatever the Bonch thought fit. The Bench made an order for 2s 6d a week from time of birth, with the whole of the fees asked for, and said they were sorry the law would not allow them to impose double the amount.— Birmingham Post.