The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-03 00:00:00

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—FRIDAY.
(Before Mr. Cominiarioner Fans.)
IN BE LAVIN AND BPI:M.-CURIOUS CASE.

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The bankrupts, who had kept a German tavern in
Long-acre, applied for their certificates. Debts, £782 ;
sleets, £B5.
Mr. Flux, for the assignees, stated that the bankrupts
had been in business eleven months only, commencing
with • capital of £25 each, and taking extensive premises
at a heavy rental. The accounts were entirely unvouched,
no book of any sort being forthcoming. This the bank-
rupts explained by the allegation that their premises had
been broken into, and a safe containing their books,
licenses, Sto„ taken away, together with 1.75 of money.
The safe was built into the wall of an inner room ; and
the representation was that the premises were entered,
at an early hour of the morning, both the bankrupts
' being absent; and on the barman being alarmed by the
police. he found that the safe, containing all the books
had been taken down from its place in the wall, four
feet from the ground, and removed.
The Commissioner—What! the safe itself?
Mr. Flux said this was so; and it was remarkable that '
up to this time no trace had been found of the safe or of
any of its contents. Though several persons slept in the
house no one was disturbed by this alleged burglary and
the removal of the safe, which could not have been
effected without great noise.
His Honour, observing that the bankrupts were both
away from the house, said that they were the least to
blame. That none of the persons in the house were dis-
turbed merely proved time cleverness of the robbery.
Mr. Flux said it was for the bankrupts to show that
they ware free from blame in the matter. The safe
might have been privately removed in an early part of
the evening. It was highly improbable that the bank-
rupts had £75 at that time, for they were very much
premed by various creditors, and had just made some
heavy paymenta. The alleged robbery took place on the
14th July. It was admitted that the door had been
opened from the inside; and the removal of • sale was
an nubsard-ot-thiag.

The Commissioner—According to your hypothesis, the
bankrupta were the burglars; but whether they were, or
were robbed by some one else, the removal of the .ate
must have made a noise. All I can say is that the bank-
rupts have been very reckleas, in both leaving the house
at the same time. I can only grant them common Ger
tificates.
Mr. Lucas wished to say a few words on behalf of the
bankrupts. One of them had been Captain of the Muni.
cipal Guard at Aix•la-Chapelle, at the time of the trou-
bles on the Continent in 148, and had received the
of the Municipal Council. Only one of the bank•
repts wu absent from home on the night of the robbery.
They had had a supper in the house, at which some 60
foreigners were present. Liven left the house about 2
o'clock in tha morning to visit a young lady who was ill
—(laughter)--and it was supposed that the robbers had
concealed themselves somewhere in the house during
the bustle of the entertainment. The police found the
door open about five o'clock; and though every search
had been made for the property, no trace of it had been
discovered.
The Commissioner—lt is an odd story; but there is
no proof against the bankrupt& They may have third.
class certificates.