Child of Ann Ferry

. . . "George Ferry, and Charles Chainey, charged with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of William Munford, at Burton Bradstock, on the 9th day of June instant, and stealing four sovereigns and a deal box, his property"

A CURIOUS LETTER.—At the Southampton County Court, on Tuesday, Judge Leonard heard the following case:—William Cousins v. Elizabeth Ferry (administratrix of George Ferry, deceased).—The plaintiff, a coal-meter living at Bevois Town, sued a widow living at Burton Bradstock, for whom Mr. Killby appeared, for £9 18s, balance of account for board and lodging from September, 1877, to October, 1879.—Mrs. Cousins appeared, and in answer to Mr. Killby said she was the authoress of the extraordinary document which had been handed up to the Judge. His Honour said it was an extraordinary one, but plaintiff should be careful how he sent out such documents, or he might get himself into trouble.—Mr. Killby read the document as follows:—

Notice before summons or writ (to be served on Elizabeth Ferry to appear before one of Her Majesty's judges of the United Kingdom, in the Year of Grace 1880, and the 40th year of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen Victoria, &c. [Laughter].

To wit, 2. Upper Dover Street, Bevois Town, Southampton. George Ferry, deceased.

Mrs. Ferry, Madam,—I am very much surprised, in fact I am astonished, at not receiving any answer to the repeated applications witch I have made to you for the settlement of my claim on the above estate. Are you aware of the consequences of such acts, to my mind it is more than a refusal of settling my claim on the above estate (de facto) (laughter). It is a unpleasant necessity for me to tell you I shall take the law for the recovery of the claim and (dejure)—(loud laughter)—for compensation, &c. I hereby give you notice that if not paid by the 24 (instant) I shall put the law in force against you, and am, Madam, Truly Yours, WILLIAM COUSINS.

Witness, CHAS. CRABTREE.

Date April 20th, 1880

This was duly sealed with red wax, and bore the impress of a common seal.—The deceased, it appeared, was drowned five days before last Christmas, and was described by Mrs. Cousins as having been a very "nice" man. He had lived apart from his wife for some years, and the fact of the widow having administered to the estate was denied by Mr. Killby.—His Honour said he must have proof that Mrs. Ferry had administered. Mrs. Cousins, who said her husband was not present, put in some letters from the Board of Trade, but His Honour said these went for nothing, and gave Mrs. Cousins the alternative of having the case struck out or adjourned.—She said she would consult her husband, who then came forward, and elected to have the cause "scratched" out, Mr. Killby thereupon not pressing his application for Mrs. Ferry's costs.