The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-21 00:00:00

THE POLICE COUBTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Stephen Ilarnslton Sleigh and llerary Owen, who were
tome days ago charged with having conspired to cheat and
defraud Dr. John Hall Davis, of Russell-place, Fitzroy-
2uare, of 1001., were finally entrained before the Lord
TTher.defendants were connected with a company called
the " Annual Bonus Life Assurance Society," which had
been ranted upon the lottery system, according to the
" Art-Union" principle.
Mr. Clarkson, instructed by Mr. liumphrey, appeared
for the proaecution ; Mr. Wontner for the defence.
Mr. Wontner, before the commencement of the exami-
nation, said—Since the last day on which the d.lendents
had appeared before his lordship, he bad consulted with his
clients, and they had intimated to him that they agreed in'
opinion that it was not fair that Dr. Davis should lose his
money. They had, therefore, determined to pay him bark
the lOU which he had advanced. He hoped the offer
would not be rejected by Dr. Davis or discountenanced by
the Lord Mayor. He was ready to pay the money at that
moment, and if the proposal was rejected, the refusal upon
the part of the complainant certainly could not be attributed 11
to any hot vindictive motives.
Mr. Clarkson, without noticing the proposition of Mr.'
Wontner, proceeded with the case.
Mr. George Isaac Leon said, I am a general merchant,
carrying on busineu at No. 7, St. Michael's-alley, Cornbill.
The cheque produced, or one similar to it—l believe it was
this cheque—came into my powasion on the 21st of July.
It was brought by Mr. Wm. Owen, who is the actuary of the
Age Insurance Company. He asked me to give him one of
my cheques for it, as that cheque was craned. Mr. William
Owen was a business acquaintance of mine. I have known
him, I think, three yens. I paid the cheque I received
Peon Mr. Owen into my bankers, the Commercial Bank of
London. I have known Mr. Henry Owen (the defendant)
not so long. Ido not know Mr. Sleigh. I kaow nothing
at all of the matter to which the cheque refers, and ex•
changed my cheque merely on the word of Mr. William
Owen.

The following are copies of the letten which pawed be-
tween the prosecutor and the iloloadamme the ann. of the
transaction, which foamed the peedof dm semmodoe, and
referred to in the examdeades mid aoloamomioatioa of the
former.

Doctor Davis—l directed the following letter to Mr.
Henry Owen :
" Russell place, Fitzroy-square, July 14, 1852.
"My dear Sir,—l shall be much obliged if you will pro.
pose me as a director of the Annual Bonus Life Assurance
Society, with the understanding which I bad from you and
the proposer of the design that this society is subject to the
laws of friendly societies, by which no claim can be made
upon a director beyond that which he undertakes to meet,
and which in the case of the " Annual Bonus Assurance
Society" is 1001., subject to repayment by the director's re.
ceiving one-eighth of the profits, should the undertaking bo
even for a time successful, and also to his receiving two
guineas ft.r each attendance at the board meetings, or three
guineas when chairman. For strong professional reasons,
which I have mentioned to you, I particularly wish to be
appointed a physician to the assurance. I think, after
what I told you, you will fully appreciate my objection to
, standing as a director alone, without any professional con-
' nezion with the assurance. I am OM ready at any time
to advance the 1001. loan with wr nen within for the W-
EISS of the " Annual Bonus Asearamee Beeiety," and al
which success I am sanguine. Believe see, spy dear sir,
to remain, yours very truly, J. HALL DAVIS, M.D., mem-
ber of the Royal College of Physicians of London."
On the 18th of July, I received a letter from Mr. Sleigh,
as follows :

" Adelascle.place, Lisidcs•bridis, 16th July, 18.52.
" Dear Sir,—l am requested to talons you, that at a
meeting of the Board of Directors of the Annual Bonus
Life Assurance Society, held hero yesterday, your nomina-
tion as a director was unanimously coolirmed, and your
name forthwith added to the board. I have, therefore, to
ask you to be good enough to favour sae with your cheque
for 1001., erased, to the Loadou and County Banking
Company, inch sum being the amount which each director
advances as a loan to the society.—l am, dear sir, yours
molt respectfully, STlBeHlin H. SLEIGH.
" Dr. Davis "
. .

The witness baying givers a cheque for 1001. to Mr.
Henry Owen, about the 18th of July, considered that all
was right with the society. He received on the 3rd of
October a letter, which excited his suspicion. On the 6th,
he *mood the notice to be served upon Mr. Sleigh and
Kr. Owes, demanding the 1001., end prohibiting them from
making use of his name in any manner connected with the
Annual Bonus Life Assurance Society. On the 7th of
October, he received the fillowing letter :
" Counties Union Assurance Company, 1, Adelaide-
[Private.]
place, London-bridge, Oct. 8, 1862.
•
" My dear received last evening from you, with
very great surprise and regret, a notice relative to your con-
nexion with the Annual Bonus Assurance Society. I regret
that your previous knowledge of me did not I justify your
oornsimicating with me before you received any statement
from a stranger to you, which appeared to suggest to you
the necessity of the serious step you have taken. It will be
in your recollection that when 1 referred us a matter of con.
venation to the Annual Bonne, I carefully avoided pressing
you into the service. I had no such object in naming the
matter to you. I do not ask you to reconsider your
decision, but I de ask us a matter of justice, that you will
candidly investigate sny slanderous statements which may
possibly have led to that decision. My friend, Mr. Sleigh,
will call on you to give you any explanation which you may
require for your information.
" I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
" J. H. Davis,Beg., M.D." 0 Hinny OWEN.
On the 9th of October 1 received the following letter front
Mr. Sleigh :
1, Adelaide-place, London-bridge, Oct. 9, 1852.
" My dear Sir,—ln answer to your application for a copy
of the rules, I am directed by the board, to whom I have
communicated your wishes, to state that as soon se they are
printed a copy will be sent. A copy of the agreement will
he forwarded on Tuesday. I am also requested to inform
you that en 1.11; 2nd 8•50.7..tet tho
as physician to thi society was annulled, and that
yesterday it was unanimously resolved to invite you to ac-
dept the vacant post. I should be glad, therefore, to re-
airs an intimation of your pleasure upon this point, as the
board are under the impression that the position is one
' which you have desired to occupy. In reference to Mr.
11--'s demands, the board wish you to be careful to make
no acknowledgment of Mr. J---`e letter, nor of any other
upon the same Istance?, us he has no claim either in law
or equity, and only seek, to obtain some concession, or,
better still, some "admission," by keeping up a system of
annoyance. Your own 1001. the board regard as sunk
in the common fund, and that It, return can only be de.
mended at the cad of the society's yea, and am oniy cut
of the polite sad is a proportiosato retie with °the:claim.

In respect of your liabilities, the board will be quite willing
upon your continuing to lend them the benefit of your co-
, operation, and at the same time waling in all respects to a
friendly understanding with them, to give you an indem-
nity. With feelings of deep regret that the petty retaliation
of a disappointed man should have exposed you to annoy.
anew, I remain, my dear sir, yours faithfully, J. 11. SLEIOII.
John ]fall Davis, Esq. M.D.-11 you desired a conference
on the above points I Would be glad to attend your appoint-
ment."

The followinyi lettere were produced by Mr. Wontner in
the cross-examination of Dr. Davie.

Witneu on the 15th of August sent the following letter
to Mr. Sleigh :
My dear Sirs—l have just received the inclosed, with
your new prospectus, which I am sorry I did not see before
its distribution on account of some errors.

You have Mend after my name Instead of
L.R.C.P., the letters of my membership of the College of
l'hysicians of London, the seine as those of Sir James An-
derson. Please to correct this, which would be a great
error to the medical observer. Another error, still more
serious, iv that of appointing Mr. J who is, by our
Medical Directory, nut unly nut is London man, but nut an
M.D. of Great Britain, nor a L R.C.P. of Lundoa, which
he should be if truth is adhered to, and the right practice
and good policy observed in your appointment of a ph; bi-
clan._

" In starting a new society great care should Dave been
übsi mil to make your appointmunte uneireel tionable.
" 1 understand from you that Mr. could not ho
sppointed, otherwise for professional reasons, which I men-
tioned to Mr. Osten, I should have withheld my connex-
ion with tho 'Bonus.' I shall not be satisfied unless a
London physician and a British M.D. fill the appointment
of your physician, instead of a surgeon-apothecary, which
Mr. J- is. I am at a lon bow to answer my corre-
spondent, and will be glad to beer from you in reply, and
rstnain, my dear sir, yours very faithfully,
" Stephen 11. Sleigh, 1.:.q." " J HALL
"1 should have looked in upon you to•day, hut my en-
gagements will prevent my doing so at the Limo you are
there."

Witness also sent the following letter to Mr. Sleigh on
the 20th of August, as follows :
"My dear Sir,—l am detained at the West-end by a
midwifery patient. Having two lists of the Coliege of
Physicians, I send you one, which you may keep, as it may
be useful for you to refer to in connexion with your sea-
water scheme. The Fellows and Licentiates are licensed
for London ; the extra licentiates are licensed for the coun-
try only.—Relics me, my dear sir, yours very truly,
" J. HALL HATIO,
" Russell-place, Fitzroy-square, Aug. 20, Itidd.
" Stephen Sleigh, Esq."
After a few verbal corrections were made in the evi-
dence, the whole of the depositions were read, and
Thu Lord Mayor said, he considered it to be his duty to
send the case to the Central Criminal Court.
Mr. Clarkson said he was instructed to state that the bail
which the defendants had given upon the introduction of
the case would be accepted upon the present occasion.
The defendants were then held to bail, each in his own
surety of 1001., to appear to answer the charge.

BOW-STREET.
James Bryan, Dennis Sullivan, and Daniel Cummins,
occupiers ut rooms in George street, St. Giles's, appeared
upon adjourued summon,es, to show cause why they heel
neglected to comply with the provisions of the Common
Lodging-house Act.

I;iidence was given that the defendants had been duly
cautioned K. long ago as in May last. They were served
with the official notices, mid repeatedly informed of the
obligations which they imposed. In July last they wtr
summoned before Mr. Henry, and convicted of having an
sloe's of lodgers, no partitions to divide them, and no
proper beds. On that occasion the defendants were ad-
monished by the magistrate, and, upon their promising to
conform with the regulations in future, discharged, with
the understanding that if the pledge was broken they
would be called up again to abide by the jn'lgmcnt
of the court. Shortly after this most of the Irish
in St. Oiles'e left London to get work in Kent and
Surrey during the hopping season, and, consequently,
the rooms were comparatively deserted ; but now they arc
se crowded as ever again, and Sergeant Hunt proved that,
on entering the rooms occupied by the defendants Bryan
and Sullivan, on Tuesday night, he found even a greater
number of lodgers in them than on previous visits, although
they bad been cautioned more than a dozen times. The
hoaxes were alas in a meat filthy condition, and there were
no partitions.
The defendants, who seemed too stupid to answer the
case, or to heed the reproof of the court, were asked if they
had any money or goods upon which a seizure could be made
for the fines.

They replied that they had got nothing.
Mr. Jardine, after remarking that they had received
ample caution, fined Bryan and Sullivan each 405., or a
month's imprisonment in default of payment.
Bryan shortly afterwards paid his fine, but Sullivan was
committed.