MIDHURST.
PETTY SESSIONS, TOWN HALL, OCTOBER 29.—present: H. HOLLIST, and J. NEWRY, Esqrs.
— This was also a special sessions for transferring licenses.
— AFFILIATION CASE.—Mary Ann Lintott charged W. RIDELL with being the father of her illegitimate child. Mr. Albery appeared for defendant, who did not appear. This case occupied the bench a long time.
M. A. Lintott deposed—I am a single woman, and gave birth to a child, a girl, on the 3rd inst. W. Ridell is the father. I first became acquainted with him a year ago last Christmas; he began keeping mr company about that time; he frequently came to me at my father’s house; my grandmother heard him promise me marriage more than once after I was in the family way. I was confined at Petersfield. Ridell has been working at Arundel, and used to come up from there with another young man to see me. I had frequently asked him what he intended doing, and he said he would make that all right. I saw him after he was summoned, and asked him again; he said he should appear to-day.
The girl was here cross-examined at considerable length by Mr. Albery.
Ann Brightwell, the grandmother, was next examined, and gave her version of the tale in a most amusing manner. Several other witnesses also spoke as to seeing Ridell with ‟Mary Ann,” and the magistrates consequently granted an order for 2s. 3d. a-week from the birth of the child, and 10s. expenses attending it.