The Press. — London, England, 1856-11-29 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 29, 1856. and tender, and one passenger carriage were smashed and thrown on the top of one another, but happily without causing serious injury to anv one. THE BOILER of the West India mail steamer Parana exploded, on Wednesday, at Southampton, while undergoing the usual testing before putting to sea. Three coaltrimmers were killed on the spot, and nine other unfortunate men were seriously in jured. The Parana, in consequence, will not sail on the 2nd. The La Pluta will take her place. A strict investif,ation into the circumstances of the case is being held. A fourth sufferer died at an early hour on Thursday mottling, and a fifth is not expected to survive many hours. A re markable fact connected with the explosion is, that when the explosion took place the pressure of steam upon the boiler, which had previously been up to 171 b. to the inch, had fallen to 121 b., and the safety-valve was open. Mr. Summers, the engineering inspector to the Board of Trade, had been on board officislly during the afternoon, and bad expressed himself perfectly satisfied with every. thing, and he had only left the ship twenty minutes when the accident happened. The fact of the steam gauge indicating no more than 121 b. pressure just previously to the explosion is felt to be so extraordinary that Mr. Summers has caused it to be removed for the purpose of testing whether its action be perfect. The gauge is one of Bourdon's patent, and is believed hitherto to have always acted correctly. A coroner's inquest on the bodies of the deceased is at present sitting. MR. ANDREW ARCEDECKNE, High Sheriff of Suffolk, has been presented by his Suffolk neigh bours with a pair of handsome silver claret jugs, as a token of their high esteem. THE QuEsrlos of "revising" the salary of the Recorder of Bristol is to be considered this day at a meeting of the Town Council, although the matter was supposed to have been finally decided when Mr. Justice Crowder resigned. THE DEATH OF AN ECCENTRIC CLERGY3IAN is re ported at West Retford. The Rev. Henry Dicken son, M.A., a man of studious habits, and an excel lent Greek scholar, has died literally from starvation. The rev. gentleman was not a poor curate, but he was a miser. His living was worth 500/. a year, and he has left 50,0001. behind him. For years be has been remarkable for his eccentric habits—he was dirty, shabby, and though miserly to a degree in his own domestic arrange ments, he was a liberal friend to his tenants and charitable to the poor. He never kept a servant, and rarely admitted a soul inside his house. He was married, and to his wife he has bequeathed his entire property. The following description is given of the appearance of the rectory : The interior of the house presented a scene of utter neglect. The windows had not been cleaned for nearly twenty years ; the window•blin.is, which had never been drawn up during all that period, were rotten with age and dirt, and were patched up with pieces of newspaper ; the kitchen had hardly a particle of furniture, and there had been no fire in it for many years; the walls were covered with dust and cobwebs; the floors, both board and brick, were of one uniform colour from long accumulations of dirt ; the room in which Mr. and Mrs. Dickenson resided was nearly filled to the ceiling with large packing•cases, containing beds, linen, and furniture, including a piano, none of which articles had ever been unpacked. The bed-rooms were almost bare of furniture, and presented the same wretched and dingy appearance as the rest of the house. THE B/RMINGHAY CATTLE Scow opens on Tuesday next. Lard Ward, it is believed, will be elected pre sident of the society for the ensuing 3 ear. THE HUDDERSIILLD MECHANICS' Issurrra held an anuiversary meeting on Wednesday. Lord Gode rich, M.t'., Sir John Pakington, M.P., Mr. Edward Baines, and other distinguished gentlemen were pre sent. After the usual distribution of prizes to suc cessful students had concluded, Lord Goderich ad dressed the meeting in favour of this excellent in stitution, and concluded with giving the students some sound advice upon the principles which should govern them in their studies. Dr. Booth followed, insisting upon the necessity of education, and of ap plying to it that principle of political economy which recognises supply as necessarily following demand. H the Government and employers of labour made intelligence, industry, and application the qualifica tion for places, and neither family influence nor local favour the criterion of employment, they would give an irresistible stimulus to education throughout the country. Sir John Pakington congratulated Hud dersfield upon possessing so excellent an institu ti-- 48 one of upwards of one hundred which did honour to the county of members of these institutions num tan 20,000. Now, he would humbly A county of York, with its 1,400,000 ,t to be content with 20,000 members Positively it was a great number, but not many. He hoped that encourage. -ed from the admirable example of AN AS because be had been informed one such more distinguished than this ti°n He believed this - wi mechanics' institutes York, and that the n berel not less than suggest that the great inhabitant=, ought not of such institutes. F comparatively it was went would be derie4 Huddersfield. It x% that there was not op THE PRESS. institution in its efforts for the benefit of the working classes, that he had accepted the invitation to Le present, doing so for his own pleasure and instruction. Mr. Edward Baines also briefly addressed the meet ing, and the proceedings terminated. THE INQUIRY INTO THE MURDER OF THOMAS SIMPSON, gamekeeper to Mr. Charles Featherstone haugh, of Staftleld•hall, Cumberland, on the night of the 15th instant, has been resumed this vo!ek, and stands adjourned to Friday next. Two la'oourers, Henry and William Graham, are in custody oa sus picion. ,'al:e ant Value. A GA3IBLING CASE of some interest, and consider able profit to the " general reader," was heard on Wednesday last at the Court of Queen's Bench. The action, that of Culverwell v. Sidebottom," wa. , brought to recover 2,0001. on a promissory note drawn by a Mr. Atkins (the keeper of the Barkley belt, at the corner of Albemarle-street, known by the name of the "Stick Shop "), accepted by Mr. Sidebctom, the son of a wealthy Manchester cotton manu facturer, and held by Mr. Culverwell, a retired tailor. The defence was that the bill was given for money lost in gambling. Mr. Sidebottom, in 1817, came up to town, saw life, and visited Atkins' hell. He played at hazard, and the first night lost 8,000/. From that year to 1853, whenever he came up to town, he spent a little time and much money at this hell. He thus detailed his experiences : When I have been there I have always seen Atkins. HI sat at the table, and seemel to be the moneylender. Then were two bankers. They were called croupiers. Atkins was one of them. He sat at a small table at one side of the room. He seemed to take the general management of the place. The persons almost always play with counters. They are given out by the croupiers. Money is paid for them. When the parties have no money the croupiers ask Mr. Atkins whether they shall give them counters. When he gives his consent the croupiers hand the counters to the parties, who give bills, and sometimes do not. I have often obtained money in that way. I gave 1 0 U's and cheques for them. Having obtained the counters, I went back to the table, and played at the game. I continued to go there until 1832 or 1853. Mr. Sidebottom then proceeded to give the modest history of his play and his losses. On the first night he lost 8,0001.: — From 1847 to 1852, or 1853, I went about twelve times. I cannot say positively what I lost altogether, bat I think it was between 25,0001. and 26,0001. I think I paid of that sum about 15.0001. or 16,0001. When I lost my largest sums I was playing against the bank alone. I played all night and until the next morning. There were refresh. ments in the house, champagne and other things. They were supplied by the people of the house. The waiter went round and asked who wanted refreshments. This was the gentleman's story. He had lost his money at what he thought fair play. A little of the inner life of the Stick Shop," was yet to be detailed by a Newington publican, one Davis. He had known Atkins for thirty years : When I first knew him he was doorkeeper, or porter, at 160, Piccadilly, which was a gambling•house. I took him in partnership at a gaming-house at the corner of Albe• merle-street. It was called the Stick Shop. ( Laughter.) The person who kept it sold sticks and umbrellas. The next gaming-house we kept was in St. James's-street, over Dodd's, the tailor's. So much for Mr. Atkins. Now for Mr. Culverwell, who, according to this witness, was upon the most intimate terms with Atkins : I know Culverwell, the plaintiff. When I first knew him be was a tailor. He has retired from business, and lives in North street. Clapham. I have seen him on several occasions at these gaming-houses with Atkins. I have heard Atkins apply to him for money—that is where his money came from. I have known Atkins lend him money. Atkins would say to Culverwell, " The bank broke last night, and we want some money." He has ad vanced money, and he has asked me whether I thought he would be safe in so doing. But Cnlverwell was something better than a monci lender : Cnlverwell used to be the " bonnet "—that is a by word for a person who pretends to play when any stranger conies in, but always wins. (Laughter.) Saw him act as a " bonnet " at Atkins's table and mine. Charles Pitcher was also a bonnet." Atkins knew him well. We three were concerned together at HO, Piccadilly. Pitcher was the "bonnet " there. At last we get a view of the tables and dice, and the fools and rogues who occa,ionally use them. Lord CAMPBELL: Supposing the bonnet wins? Witness: Well. he generally do. (Laughter.) I have heard applications made to Culverwell to lend money upon bills. I know what loaded dice are. ,Some dice were handed to witness.) 1 think these are loaded. There are other dice, which are called " dispatchers." Lord CAIIPBELL : I never heard of " dispatchers " before. Witness : This dice (holding it np) is loaded to make a particular number turn up. The dispatch dice have doable fives and double sixes. They are in favour of the table, I should say, fifty to one—in tact, ail the world against one. They are changed for other dice; some- 1137 times by the " bonnet," and sometimes by the room• porter— " rung in," as it is termed. I have seen them used at Atkins's table, but I have always tried to get them away as soon as possible. I am speaking both of loaded dice and " dispatchers." _ _ Crosaexamined by Mr. Sergeant Sitaz : I have been engaged with Atkins about ten years altogether. During that time we sometimes used loaded dice and "dispatchers." 1 used to get them away as soon as possible, because I did not like to take the responsibility of employing them. 1 never returned the money which we won with them from young men—they never applied for it. We, how. ever, did use the " dispatchers," but I hope I am a better man now. 1 have never been a " bonnet." Re-exanained by Mr. E. JAMES: Culverwell made clothes for the " bonnets." (Laughter.) I have seen " bonnets " iu military costume, and in all shapes and forms. (Laughter.) This closed the case for the defendant. On the other hand, Culverwell ddnied that he was ever in a gambling-house. He discounted bills, and, among other persons, for Atkins, but he never acted as a " bonnet," nor had he ever gambled. He had discounted this bill brought to him by Atkins, and had given for it two cheques, one for BSOI., another for 675/., but be knew nothing of its origin. The bill was drawn by Atkins upon Mr. Sidebottom, who accepted it, payable at four years, and that was all he knew about it. Lord Campbell summed up briefly on the evidence, and the jury immediately re. turned a verdict for the defendant. THY QUESTION OF AN ADJUDICATION IN BANK RUPTCY, in the case of the Royal British Bank, which for some weeks past has given rise to a conflict between the Courts of Chancery and Bankruptcy, was partially decided by the Vice Chancellor on Monday. Notice of appeal was immediately given, and the case will come at an early day under the notice of the Lords Justices, from whom it may possibly be further referred to the House of Lords. The VICE-CHANCELLOR, in delivering judgment, observed that the practical question to be decided was, whether the property of the Royal British Bank was to be distributed among the creditors by the official assignee under the bankruptcy or by the official manager under the Winding-up Act. He then went through the material facts and dates of the ca-,e. On the 3rd of September, 1856, the bank stepped payment. On the Bth, Elliot, a creditor, filed an affidavit of debt in the Court of Com mon Pleas. On the 9th of October, when a caleidar month had expired from the service of Ellict's writ of summons, another creditor named Burke presented a petition for adjudication to the Court of Bankruptcy, and oa the same day the com• pany was adjudged bankrupt under 7th anal 8:h Vic., cap. 1-1, and Mr. Lee was appointed official assignee. On the 13th of October Mr. Harding was appointed official msnager : Upon these facts, the first question to be determined is this—who has the legal tide to the property of the com• pan; ? hit vested in the official assignee or in the official manager? If in the latter, no ground has been suggested why that edit should not prevail. If in the official assignee , the next grtstion is, are there any grounds upon which this court cagbt to interfere with the assertion or exercise of his legal t' tle ? The solntiot of those questions depended principally upon the cozatruction and comparison of two acts of Parliament-7th and Bth Vic., c. ill, and 11th and 12th Vic., c. 45. His Honour then entered into a luminous exposition of the state of the law with respect to the vinding up of joint-stock companies , from which it appeared that, while the Court of Bank ruptcy under th4th and 8:h Vic., c.lll, is empowered to declare a con.?any bankrupt, and to proceed to a certain extent in vinding up its affairs, it pussesses no power for eiforcing contributions among the debtors, which end is only to be attained by the aid of the Court of Chancery. Upon the point whether the double litigatict_ could be carried on together, his Honour observet certainly feel that same inconvenience may possibly arise from the simuitalions prosecution of proceedings in bankruptcy and procetlin , ,.., , s under the Winding-up Act against the same compaiy, but I cannot admit its impossi bility. All that can be done in any case by the assignee under the orders of the !nun of Bankruptcy, is to divide among the creditors the (listing estate and effects of the bankrupt company ; to go beyond this and make the shareholders contribute vast is needed to supp:4 gee deficiency of those assets fir full satisfaction of the debts is not the function of the Court of Bankruptcy, but oflt his court, so that if the procesawas carried on simultaneously in both courts, the effect timid be that the assignee in bankruptcy would collect aid realise, and divide among the creditors the existing estae and effects, and the official manager would proceed to Bette the list of contributories, and ascertain bow mach each eight to contribute, in order to effect lull satisfaction of the tebts. With respect to the proceeditgs in the present case, it was clear that all was don, thatjwas necessary in conformity with the 7th and Bth die., c. 111, and that on the 6th of October at al e►ents the company had committed an act of bankinpt c y, an d adjudication and appointment of the official Mr. Lee, on the 0,1 of October, Tested all estate in the °Masi assignee, niter the 1 that the assignee, the legal 33rd sec-