The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-13 00:00:00

Vtiant.

MR. HERBERT, the new Chief Secretary, has been
re-elected without opposition for Kerry.
THE LORD-LIEUTENANCY OF THE COrNfY OF
TIPPERARY, vacated by the death of Lord Lismore,
has been conferred upon his son, the present
viscount.
la THE AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS of the COUDITy are
good. The crops are reported as looking remark-
ably well, apd an early harvest la anticipated,

579

Hls EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF CARLISLE will be
the guest of the Marquis of Waterford at Curragh-
more during the agricultural society's show in
August.

HER MAJESTY has conferred the order of C.B. on
Major Brownrigg, Deputy-Inspector-General of
Constabulary, as a recognition of his eminent services
to the Crown in Ireland.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR has decided the great
jewel case in favour of Mrs. Berry, daughter of
the Master of the Rolls, on the ground that the
jewels in dispute (value 9,0001.) had been gifts to
her by her late husband.

(*ab3 anti Volite.

THE QUESTION OF LIABILITY TO SUCCESSION DUTY,
in a case where a tenant in tail, whose right was
created under a deed executed prior to the Succession
Duty Act, did not come into possession until the
death of the tenant for life, was decided on Saturday
in the case of "Willcox v. Smith," by Vice Chancellor
Kindersley. The Vice-Chancellor, in giving judg-
ment, said, the petition was presented by the
Attorney-General, praying the payment of the suc-
cession duty upon certain real estates, which duty
was sought to be charged upon Charles W. Willcox,
who came into possession as tenant in tail male
under the will of his grandfather. The will was
dated so far back as June,lB26. By that will certain
real estates were devised to the use of the testator's
son, William Willcox, for his life, with the usual
limitation to trustees to preserve contingent remain-
ders, and from and immediately after the decease of
William to the use of his first and other sons in
tail male. The testator died in May, 1827. At that
time William, the tenant for life, had no son at all.
Some years afterwards, and prior to 1853, be had a
son born, Charles W. Willcox, the respondent to
the present petition. William, the tenant for life,
died on the 18th of July, 1853, and his son, Charles
W. Willcox, came into possession as tenant in tail
male. The question, therefore, was, whether Charles
W. Willcox acquired his interest in this property in
such a way and under such circumstances as consti-
tute a" succession" within the meaning of the act.
His Honour entered into an elaborate verbal criti-
cism of the words of the tenth section of the act, and
then observed that the case came, not only within
the literal words of the act, but within the meaning
and intention of it. The Legislature meant to make
the accrual of interest in the survivor the circum-
stance which was to impose liability to the duty.
The fifth and ether sections contained inaccuracy of
language. The fifth set out by making a future
verb apply to a past event. In the act there were
not mere inaccuracies, but considerable ambiguities.
He had not, however, any fair and reasonable doubt as
to the intention of the Legislature, that a party in the
position of the respondent was liable to pay the
succession duty. Some discussion then arose upon
the claim of the Crown to costs ; but this being re-
sisted, the claim was waived.
THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK DIRECTION at length find
themselves within the grasp of the law. Bench
warrants for the arrest of governor, managers, and
directors have been issued, and several of the
principal persons connected with this huge conception
of mischief and swindle have been arrested and let
out only on bail of 4,000/., and two sureties of 2,0001.
each. Mr. Humphrey Brown, ex-M.P. for Tewkes-
bury, has obtained a still further unpleasant notoriety,
by a reward of 2001. being offered for his capture,
which has been duly effected. Mr. Cameron and
others are still in Paris, and it is anticipated that
before long these astute gentlemen will be safe in the
hands of our police.
THE DIVORCE CASE OF " EVANS V. EVANS," in
which, it will be remembered, Inspector Field played
rather a prominent part—behind the scenes—was
adjudged at Arches Court un Tuesday,, and Mr.
Evans's application for a divorce refused.
A MURDER was committed at Dundee last Satur-
day, by a weaver named Coyle. who in a drunken fit
burst into the house of an old woman named Mar-
garet Burn, and so ill-used her that she died shortly
afterwards. Coyle has been arrested and committed
for trial.
A Bntrrir. MURDER is suspected to have been
committed in London. The body of a gentleman
was found in the Thames just off London Docks on
Tuesday night. He was well dressed, his pockets
were turned inside out, his head was severely cut
and bruised, and his body bore marks of violence.
The deceased was about six feet high, round fea-
tures, with black hair and no whiskers, bald on the
top of the head, and with a scar on the left hand.
THE RAGE FOR BANK SWINDLING has extended to
Hobart Town, where we find the cashier of the
local Commercial Bank tried and found guilty of

embezzling 7,0C0/. out of the bank till.
Beanies trial for poisoning his mother will take
place, al "mord? theft w 4 ,bp Centrlll crOliOal
Court, _ •
•