An aotion of some interest was tried yesterday at the
Oxford Assizes. The Reverend Richard Meux Benson, Perpetual Curate of Cowley, near Orford, was charged with marrying two persons who were already man and wife, without due publication of the banns. Richard Carey and Sarah Polley were married by the Superintendent Registrar at Oxford in 18.52. After the birth of the third child, Mrs. Carey desired to be churched. Mr. Benson declined to perform that office unless the parties were remarried. They submitted to that condition, and Mr. Benson married them. Mr. Baron Alderson ad- vised the Inry to fhid-the prisoner not guilty. If the previous marriage had been void, Mr. Benson would have been within the statute : as it was,-the
ceremony did not alter the status of the parties, and if he had read "Chevy Chase" over to them it would have had the same legal effect. Mr. Benson might be liable to the reprehension of the Bishop, but it was not a case for a court of justice. Verdict accordingly. .
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