The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS.,

from the "factious and mischievous conduct" of the
Opposition, that a dissolution might be possible, Mr.
Atherton observed that he bad then met his consti-
tuents on the hustings, and that, whatever the result
might be, as their representative now he felt confi-
dent that he bad " never violated a pledge " nor
" abandoned a principle."
Owatit.—Mr. Cobbett, M.P., on Saturday last
met his constituents at this town, and in a concise
address explained his policy during the last session
and his opinion of the present state of affairs.
Having explained his conduct with regard to the
Ten Hours and Sunday Beer Bills, Mr. Cobbett then
came to the question of the war, and remarked that
the preservation of Turkey against the aggressions
of Russia was the object to be attained bet'ore peace
could be expected. This question, he observed,
was—

One of so much magnitude that it was of the utmost
importance there should be no mistake as to the feelings
of the country in regard to it. The fact was, the whole
nation, with singular unanimity, went into the war—
(Hear, hear)—we were all in favour of it, except those
who were for no war at all, not even in self-defence. He
believed there never was a war undertaken on which the
people were more unanimous than this with Russia, and
therefore it did not become the parties he alluded to to
blame any section of people. They were all to blame, if
blame there was attributable to any one; but he held that
the war from the beginnin,, was a necessary and just one,
and he thought that England would show herself to be
mean indeed if she attempted to back out of it in any
manner bat that which should fully carry out the original
object she had in view in undertaking it—namely, to pre-
serve the integrity of the Turkish empire against the
aggressions of Russia. ( Loud cheers.) He perceived
from their expressions that they were not in favour of a
peace which would be dishonouring to this country—
(Hear, hear)—but that they were, in point of fact, in
favour of pushing on the war until they had obtained that
which would secure Turkey from future incursions by
the Czar, and would give us some " material guarantee
that he would for the future observe the boundaries of his
own empire, and leave the territories of his neighbours
alone. (Cheers.)
- - - -

Alter alluding to the position of Lord Palmerston,
Mr. Cobbett concluded, and, in answer to various
questions, observed that he would vote against the
admission of Jews into Parliament, on the plea that
the house, not fairly representing the country, had
no right to make any organic change in its con-
stitution.

Sat an Volta.

THE TRIAL OP MESSRS. STRAHAN, PAUL,

AND BATES.
THE result of this great trial was unavoidably deli-
vered too late for our second edition last week. The
proceedings were resumed at ten o'clock on Saturday
morning. The case for the prosecution having been
closed on Friday, the evidence was gone into for the
defence. Mr. Lewis, the solicitor for the prisoners,
was the most important witness examined, and gave
evidence in favour of the full disclosure of their
affairs which had voluntarily been made by the
prisoners. The books were examined, in order to
show, on behalf of Strahan and Bates, that the pro-
duce of the cheque of Messrs. Foster and Braith-
waite for the Danish bonds sold to them had been
placed to the private account of Sir John Dean Paul.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then replied upon the
whole case :

It appeared to him that the cue resolved itself into two
points—one which was possibly more for the consideration
of their lordships, and another upon which the jury alone
could give a satisfactory answer. The first question they
would have to consider was, whether the prosecutor had
made out the charge, and if so, then the second question
would arise, had the defendants, by making the statement,
or supposed disclosures of the circumstances of the cue,
relieved themselves from the penal consequences of the
act they had committed.

The learned gentleman then proceeded to argue
that the case was clearly made out against Sir John
Paul, and although not of so direct a character
against Strahan and Bates, yet when the jury came
to examine the books and found that upwards of
113,0001. of securities had been made away with, that
fact ha thought was conclusive evidence of the guilt
of all parties
Could his learned friends seriously ask the jury to come
to the conclusion that transactions of such magnitude
could be carried on by one member of the firm alone with
out the knowledge of the others? This was the proposi-
tion they were asked to believe. They were to say that all
this money had been obtained by Sir John Paul for his
own private use, and that this was shown by its being
carried to his private account in the bank books. To his
mind, this private account, as it was called, of Sir John
Paul, was the most cogent proof of the guilt of all the
parties, and that it showed most convincingly that these
transactions were known to all the members of the firm,
and that they all concurred in them. He should ask them
to look attentively at these accounts, and he felt convinced
that they would see that they were clearly colourable and
made for the purposes of deception. It was true it was
tailed the private account of Sir John Paul, but in point

SATURDAY,

of fact it contained an account of all the securities tha
had been disposed of, and shoWed the nature of the whole
of the transactions connected with them.
After a few more observations the Attorney-General
concluded his reply, and Mr. Baron ALDERSON pro-
ceeded to sum up

He said that he should ask the jury incidentally to
answer one question he should put to them in reference to
the point of law, in case it should be raised in any shape
again; but the main question he should Ask them to
decide was of a totally different character. He would call
their attention to the first four counts of the indictment,
which he believed were all that they need trouble them-
selves with. By these counts the defendants were alleged
to be bankers, that certain valuable securities had been

placed in their hands by Dr. Griffiths, and that they had
afterwards sold or pawned those securities. As to these
facts he apprehended there could be no doubt, and he sup-
posed the jury would be satisfied that the securities had
been placed in the hands of the defendants for safe cus-
tody, and that they had been sold or pledged; and the
main question they would have to decide was whether this
act had been committed by one of the defendants, or by
the whole of them jointly.

After carefully reviewing the whole of the evidence
adduced, and pointing out to the jury that it was not
because Messrs. Strahan and Bates were partners in
the firm that they were to be convicted, but that it

must be shown that they were parties to the criminal
acts commited by Sir John Paul, Lndthat this was a

question for the jury to decide. With regard to the
act of Parliament relative to a voluntary exposure
of affairs, upon which the prisoners reluwl so strongly,
the learned judge explained that the prisoners in the
first place had not disclosed the real facts of their
position :

Did they say a word about having sold the bonds to
Messrs. Foster and Braithwaite in DIM ? All they stated
was, that they had pawned the bonds with Messrs. Overend
and Gurney, and it was quite clear that these were not the
same bonds. Independently of these facts, it appeared to
him that the Intention of the Legislature never could have
been for a person by his own voluntary act to release him-
self from a grave charge of misdemeanour, that he should
be able to play fast and loose, and, after having committed
an act for which he was liable to be transported for four-
teen years, to go and acquit himself.
After a few more observations the learned judge
left the case in the hands of the jury.
The jury, after deliberating a short time in the box, ex-
pressed a wish to retire. They left the court at twenty
minutes to one o'clock and returned at live minutes past,
when they gave a verdict of guilty against all the defendants.
- Baron A.Lnitasort asked the jury their opinion upon the
other point, regarding the disclosure alleged to have been
made by the defendants.
The Foreman said the jury were of opinion that the dia.
closure did not come within the terms of the act of Perlis-
went. (A laugh.)
Baron ALDERSON : That is a question of law, gentlemen.

I don't want you to decide that: All I want you to say is
whether the proceeding was a sham one, got up to evade
the criminal charge.
The jury said they were of opinion that it was.
The ATTORNEY•GENERAL said there were three other
indictments against the defendants, but, of course, after
the verdict that had just been pronounced, it would be un-
necessary to go on with them.
Baron Alderson then left the court for a few minutes to
consult with his learned colleagues, and they all three re-
turned together, and took their seats upon the bench.
THE BENTE:4(2E.

Baron ALDERSON proceeded to pass sentence upon
the defendants in the following terms :
William Strahan, Sir John Paul, and Robert Makin
Bates, the jury have now found you guilty of the offence
charged against you in the indictment, the offence of dis•
posing of the securities that were intrusted to you, as
bankers, by your customers, to be kept in safe custody, for
their own use, but which you, no doubt, under circum-
stances of temptation, disposed of, and applied to your own
use. A greater offence than this can hardly be committed
in a great commercial community. It tends to shake all
confidence, and it has, no doubt, shaken confidence in
establishments of the description of that which you for a
considerable time undoubtedly conducted with honour
and integrity. 1 regret that it falls to my lot to have to
pass sentence for such an offence upon persons like you.
It is with great pain that I do so ; but the interests of
justice, the interests of the public, demand it at my bands,
and I must not shrink from that duty which belongs to the
functions I have to discharge. I should have been glad if it
had pleased God that some one else should have passed
the sentence. I know that 1 have seen one of you, at
least, under very different circumstances—sitting by my
side in the performance of the duties of a high office. I
little thought at that time it would have come to me
to pass sentence upon you, and it is only another proof
how heartily we should pray, all of us, not to be led into
temptation. You have been all well educated—you have
filled a high position in life, and therefore the sentence I
am about to pass must affect you greatly and all those who
are in any way connected with you. All I can say is that,
as I consider the case to be one of the very worst under
the act of Parliament, I am bound to pass the sentence
for the worst offence contemplated by it, which is, that you
be severally transported for the term of fourteen years.
The whole of the prisoners seemed complete)
stunned by the sentence. Sir John Paul clasped his
hands together, and appeared desirous to speak, but
was unable to give utterance to his words. Strahan
and Bates looked helplessly towards their counsel.
After a short interval the three prisoners slowly retired

ma al

from the bar, and were placed in the gaol of N e.
The severity of the sentence seemed to create some
surprise, and Dr. Griffiths, the prosecutor, welt
bitterly when it was pronounced. The learned judge
himself was very much affected, and at some portions
of his address he was scarcely audible from emotion.
The prisoners, we believe, will remain in Newgate
until their accounts are made up, and will then, it is
stated, be sent to the fortress of Gibraltar for the
term of their transportation.