The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-08 00:00:00

JULY 8, 1854.

Sabi an folitt.

THE SISTER OF FEARGUS O'CONNOR applied for
advice and assistance to Mr. Broughton at Maryle-
bone Police Court. Her brother, she said, was con-
fined in a lunatic asylum at Chiswick, in consequence
of the report of a commission de lunatico inquirendo,
and, although now restored to his senses, was re-
fused liberation. On account of his detention she
was reduced to the lowest state of poverty, inasmuch
as she was thereby kept out of property tp which she
was entitled. She was willing, she said, to release
her brother, and have him under her care, but com-
plained of the trickery and chicanery of certain law-
yers, who prevented her from attaining her object.
Mr. Broughton could not interfere in the case, but
afforded the applicant some present aid under her
necessities.
A SHOEMAKER named Wetherell sued his neigh-
bour Cornish, a butcher, in the Court of Common
Fleas, for damages sustained through the ferocity of
his dog. The injury was received as long since as
December, 1851, when plaintiff, on leaving defend-
ant's shop, was attacked by his mastiff and bit se-
verely in the band. He was afterwards confined in
the hospital for two months, suffered much pain, and
had, in great degree, lost the use of his hand ever
since. Defendant had paid 201. into court, and it
was shown that, after the accident, he had given the
plaintiff meat, wine, and some money. The jury
found a verdict for the plaintiff for 101. in addition to
the sum paid in.
APPLICATION was made to the Insolvent Debtors'
Court by Giacomo Prospero Levi' the son of a
banker at Trieste, for relief from his debts. The
insolvent, who was an Italian, had been about a
year in England. Between August and December
be contracted debts to 2421., principally far money
borrowed. He had an allowance from his father,
who was a rich banker, of 121. a month, but his ex-
penses had been about 121. a week. Among the
expenditure was one of 21. a week for operas and
concerts, and another of 201. lost at cards. There
were other expenses, including cigars, &c. Ile was
arrested in December, and had been in prison ever
since, and was now obliged to petition the court as
his father would not pay the debts he had incurred.
On being asked the reason the insolvent came to
England, he said to "learn the language."
Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS: You have indeed learnt the
language to some purpose. (A lawk) Hie Honour said the
insolvent had been living at a rate which could not be justified.
The young luau had, however, been a long time in prison, and
might now be discharged.
He was discharged accordingly.
JUDGMENT was given in the Bankruptcy Court on
Saturday in the case of Mr. Charles Mathews, lessee
of the Lyceum Theatre. The learned commissisper
(Rine) recapitulated the chief circumstances attend-
ing the bankrupt's present and former applications
for discharge for indebtedness, and concluded by
awarding him a first-class certificate.

A CASE OF MUCH INTEREST TO THE STOCKBROKING
COMMUNITY and public companies was tried in the
Common Pleas on Tuesday. Mr. Wood, a broker, was
plaintiff, and the defendant was Mr. Bell, a director
in the " Lake Bathurst Australasian Gold Mining
Company." The point in dispute was whether the
plaintiff, or the board, of which he was an account-
able member, had made any misrepresentation to the
committee of t,be Stock Exchange in order to procure
the fixing of a " settling day " and the admission of the
company into the official list of the Stock Exchange.
Plaintiff had bought 100 shares in the company for
931. 155., and now sued for the recovery of that money,
pleading that he had been induced to pay it by the
misrepresentations in question :
In their prospectus the company was described as being estab-
lished for the purpose of working extensive deposits of alluvial
gold and mines of gold quartz, already discovered, on 500 acres
of freehold land purchased by the company near Sydney, and
that the capital was to be 100,0001. The purchase of the 100
shares by the plaintiff took place on the 16th December, 1852, at
which time the company had been in the official list at the Stock
Exchange for some months, and the plaintiff stated in his evi-
dence that he would not have bought the shares had the company
not been in the official list. By the rule of the Stock Exchange
the committee could entertain no application for fixing the set-
tling day of any new company, unless attended with a certificate
from the secretary of the company that the subscription list was
full, with the exception of such shares as might have been re-
served for special purposes, not less than two-thirds of the scrip
having been paid upon, and being ready to be issued. In April,
1852, the directors were desirous of getting the Lake Bathurst
Company within the limits of the Stock Exchange, hut at that
time only about 6,000 shares had been paid upon, which was not
nearly enough to entitle them to ask the Stock Exchange to ap-
point a settling day. immediately afterwards, however, the com-
pany's bankers' accounts were suddenly and largely increased,
for on the 10th of April there was paid to their credit to Messrs.
Dmsdale and Co. about 15,0001., and to Messrs. Marten, Stone,
and Co. about 18,5061., both of which firms acted as bankers to
the company. There was no evidence to show where this money
came from, except as to 4,0001., which Mr. Denny, one of the di-
rectors, stated that he advanced. A meeting of the directors was
held on the same day, at which defendant was present, and the
secretary was ordered to write to the committee of the Stock
Exchange to appoint a settling day. On the 12th the secretary
wrote to the Stock Exchange, and stated that 40,711 shares had
been delivered, or were ready to be delivered, at the office, and
all paid on, and that the residue (19,289) bad been kept for cir-
culation in the colony. Two certificates were also sent from the
Sankersi which atated that the balances at Messrs. Marten, Stone,
tad GM's Were 21,9681., and at Dimsdale aad Cot's 18,24111. las. 2d.