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The Freemasons who had patronized Aldridge's benefit performance in Cork on January 15 would have been surprised the following morning to read a lengthy report in the Cork Examiner describing a court case in London involving him. The story had appeared in the London Times and Daily News the day before and was reprinted verbatim with no editorial comment:
BAIL COURT
(Sittings of Nisi Prius, before Mr. Justice Erle and a Common Jury)
STOTHARD V. ALDRIDGE
Mr. Edwin James and Mr. P. Thompson were counsel for the plaintiff, and Mr. Serjeant Wilkins for the defendant.
MR. JAMES, in opening the plaintiff's case, said that the plaintiff sought to recover compensation in damages for the seduction of his wife by the defendant. The plaintiff was a very young man— he had been educated for the business of a surgeon at Hull. The defendant was a person who had acquired considerable reputation as an actor, acting under the name of the “African Roscius,” and he was well calculated to play certain parts, being “coloured” by nature, and he had amassed a considerable sum of money. The plaintiff was now carrying on the business of a surgeon-dentist, but in 1849 he had taken a fancy to try his fortune on the stage, and, having heard of the celebrity of the defendant, he went to Liverpool, where the defendant was then “starring” it as the African Roscius. He introduced himself to the defendant, and it ended in his offering to teach the plaintiff the profession for a sum of 50L. The plaintiff sold a reversion to which he was entitled for a small sum of money, and he gave the defendant 50L. The young man was sent to Hull, Liverpool, Wales, and other places. Soon after this, upon the introduction of the defendant, the plaintiff was induced, at the age of 18, to marry a young girl who resided where they lodged, at 22, Judd-place, New-road. They were married on the 15th of August, 1849. The defendant was present, and gave the young woman away. After the marriage the defendant sent the plaintiff upon a theatrical engagement to Wales.
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