The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

Mt. Lermon, plaintiff's attorney, and also attorney I', the
lite Mr. Crockford, stated, that the debt for • hiebA'ne
lent action was brought. or any other debt dlfi to the late
31Le. Czockford, had nut been purchases'. `di witness.—Crois
pasminad ; The only arranigenter.t madebetween the plaintiff
sad witness was, Ott. ke a..ould receive his costs and 10 per
cent. commisaiou on all debts recovered.
Mr. James, who (with Mr. Jones) addressed the jury for
the defendant, and complained of the unmerited obloquy
and invective attempted to he east upon his client, because
he thought proper to defend the present action upon
the grounds stated on the record. He
least degconreetended
ame that
the defendant, instead of feeling in the ash
was entitled to praise for the manliness and the courage with
which he had resisted a claim made on behalf of the manager
of a house into which numbers of young, inexperienced, a
nd
dng
honourable men, were inveigled f
wor thehad purposeed the case on
of effecti
their destruction. Mr. Humfrey, ho open
behalf of the plaintiff, was instructed to state that Lord
Maidstone had walked off whenever be won, and
pocketed his winnings, although, whenever he lost,
he gave cheques, which were always dishonoured
tin re was not the slightest foundation for such
a charge—and Mr. HUMffey did not attempt to sustain it by
the least tittle of evidence. The reason was, because it was
untrue in every particular, and could not be sustained. Lord
Maidstone unfortunately did play at this club and lost sums
of mousy which be (Mr. James) would scarcely venture to
name. Messy of the members of the club were undoubtedly
otters e highest station and respectability, but there were many
othe ot very different character. Whist was commenced
there every afternoon at 2 o'clock, and it was a nototious
fact that the late Marquis of Hertford won 100,0001. at Crock-
ford's. Hazard and whist were played there almost without
cessation ; and largo sums were won and lost. How then
could any one doubt that suchen establishment was what the
record described it to be " • common gaming house"
one of the rules, as good a cold supper as could be provided
was to be on the table at 12 o'clock every night during the
sitting of parliament. The viands to be of the best descrip-
tion, and the fruits the choicest they season could afford. Yet,
no charge was made. Could anthing look tnore like a
decoy—a regular gaming-house—than whist in the afternoon,
—hazard at night—• good supper, with the best of
wises, Otis' As to the claim for the entrance
subsenption fees, they were never meant to be paid by
ttats
hose who played ; these charges were merely supposed to
be made for the purpose of defeating the vigilance
an of the
police, and give the establishment the apps
nary of ordi-
nary club. Any of the members who used it merely as •
club and did not play were expected to pay those fee
and hes,
was
but
the defendant used it merely as a gaming-house,
obliged to pay soother way. As to the dinners and wines
for which the defendant was charged—
emitted one
At the request of Mr. Humfrey the court pe
Langhorne, a clerk to the late Mr. Crockford, to prove the
factsthat the defendant himself had ordered the wines.which
delivered in Bolton-stree
Mr. James then continued his address to the jurye, d
the
and
contended that the 371. 17s. 6d. paid into court exceed
m'W of the dinners and wines sent to Bolton-street, or used
by Lord Maidstone at the club and unpaid for. If that was
not so, why were not the bills produced ?—for the witness
proved that when they remained unpaid they were kept as
vouchers. The coffee-room transactions were, by the rules
of the establishment, to be for ready money, and no member
was allowed to be in arrear more than 101. ; how, then, in
the absence of direct evidence, could the jury suppose that the
defendant had incurred the debt alleged to he due by him ?
Why was not Gabriel the archangel of this hell (laughter),
who received the money in the coffee-room, called? No doubt
could exist as to the fact that Crockford's was a h
fathell upo
and
n a
large scale, where many a young man, as well la ers
husbands, had their ruin effected. The late Mr. Crockford
realised a fortune by that establishment. What was hi
ruines an-
swer to a nobleman who complained that his son wa s d
in kis house ? " I know it," said Crockford, very coolly, "I
ruin one a day—l live by it." If be had lived, this case
would in all probability never have been heardbut as it
had been brought forward, he (Mr. James) sincerely hoped
the jury would mark it with their condemnation by giving
their verdict for the defendant.
The Lord Chief Baron, in summing up, said, he expected
some evidence would have be: given to sustain the state-
ment made as to the exemption of those who played in the
club from the payment of subscriptions or entrance fees.
There was no proof whatever of such an understanding.
There was no evidence, either, to show who lived at
No. 13, Bolton-street ; but there was quite sufficient
to show that the defendant felt an interest
he had
tin that
establishment, and it was natural to suppose tha
ordered the dinners and wines, of the value of which the
jury arehould form an opinion. As to the special plea, which
stated that the club in question was a common gaming-house,
it was his duty to tell them that, in point of law, that plea
saw not supported. It appeared that persons played at this
club, both by day and by night.but play was not at all illegal
at common law ; and it being quite clear that no person
except members could go into it and play there, he thought
it did not come under the description of " a common gaming-
house." The jury should form their own opinion as to
whether the sum paid into court was sufficient to cover the
plaintiff's demand, as it was proved ; and if not, their ver-
dict ought to be for such additional sum as they considered
the plaintiff entitled to.
The jury almost immediately teturned a verdict for the
plaintiff for the full sum demanded ; but, on the suggestion
of the learned judge, it was reduced, by deducting therefrom
sundry items for luncheons, soda-water, and brandy, with
respect to which no evidence was given.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
Before Mr. Collllthilkillef Beans.
THE M.P. FOIL OSFORD.—Mr. Lawrance applied to
the court to grant further time to Mr. Donald Mac-
lean, a baokrupt, to surrender to the fiat.—lt appears
that the bankrupt owes about 77,0001., and the assets
are "none " He is now abroad for the binefit of his health.
—His Honour granted further time, intimating that if
Donald Maclean did not answer the letters which would be
sent to him by the assignees, he or his friends having posses-
sion of the books, he would be treated as &fraudulent bank-
rupt.—Mr. Maclean was declared bankrupt as a brickmaker,
and several applications similar to the above have been
made.—A medical certificate was handed in by Mr. Law-
ranee, by which it appeared that the bankrupt was in a very
precarious state of health, and totally unable to attend
this court. --

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.
Before Mr. Com=*loner Danis.
A TRAOEDILN IN Titoustr.—George Jones, one of the
original founden of the British and Foreign Institute, cam*
up on his petition to be heard. lie was opposexl by M
Creswell for Mr. Dodd, and was supported by Mr. Cooke.
The opposition was for a vexatious defence of an action in
which Mr. Dodd was plaintiff. The insolvent, who had been
a tragedian, an author, and a jobber in railway shares, pub-
lished a tragedy entitled " Tecumseh," and other works, of
which Mr. Parnell was the original printer. Mr. Dodd
afterwards came into the business, and brought his action for
an instalment on an agreement for the printing of tlje
works. The insolvent said he considered Mr. Dodd merely
as his agent, and hence the plea to the action. lie was ex-
amined as to his dealings in railway shares, and stated his
debts to amount to 2,0001. The court thought the explana-
tion given by the insolvent satisfactory, and considered him
entitled to his discharge. Discharged accordingly.

SHERIFFS' COURT, RED LION-SQUASE.
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell and a Special Jury.)
NV ILLIAMS V. CHAPLIN AND OTHESS.—In this cafe,
which created some interest in the coal-market, the plaintiff,
a coal-merchant at the Regent's Canal basin, sought to
recover of he defendants, as directors of the London,
Westminstert, and Vauxhall Iron Steam last Company, the
sum of 7841. &s. 10d. fur coals supplied.--Mr. Bodkin, in
stating the case, informed the jury that the defendants
having suffered judgment to go by default, thereby ad-
mitting their liability, the only question for their deter-
mination was one of amount. The plaintiff was the sole
ant in London for the sale of the Duffryn coal,
which came from Wales, and which was pecul'arly
adapted for the purposes ot steam navigation on the
river Thames, as it emitted less smoke than other coal,
and gave a more intense heat. For some years the
London and Westminster Iron Steam boat Company
' were supplied at 235. 64. per too, and the contract
continued until a Mr. Pegg and another, who were
coal-merchants, were admiaed into the direction of the
company, and then the supply by the plaintiff ceased. The
cessation occurred in June last, up to which time the plaintiff
had supplied coals of the description stated, " Duffryn Welch
coal," amounting to kOOl. worth per week. It, however,
happened that the coaritterwards supplied for the boats was
not of the quality required, and that the several boats per-
formed each one journey less a day than before, by which a
loss of 1201. a day was sustained. In the following month
the plaintiff was again requested to send the Duffryn coals,
and he executed the orders at 325. 6d. per ton, and a bill for
5001, was signed by three of the directors, and afterwards paid.
A remark was made by Mr. Cattarn, ot the firm of Cattarns
and Fry, on the charge 325. 6d. per ton for the same coals as
had been supplied at 23e. 6d., and he was informed that in
future they would be charged for at the rate of two guineas per
ton. From the Ist of August to the the 12th of the month, 230
tons were supplied, for which the company were charged, not
two guineas as they were informed, but 40s. per ton, and
on this sum the jury would understand that the struggle was
to arise. The price was no doubt a very large one, arising
from the scarcity of the particular coal and the demand made
for the same. A bill was drawn for the coals so supplied,
and two of the directors had accepted it, but the third de-
clined, and the bill was left in his possession and had
the
ot
been returned to the plaintiff. It had been proposed on
part of the company to refer the case to arbitration, but the
plaintiff had refused and preferred submitting his case to a
Jury, feeling confident that they would award the sum he
claimed—namely, 7841. for coals supplied at 233. 6d., at
32a. 64., and at 405. per ton, with the expenses incurred in
the delivery of the goods.—The clerk to the plaintiff, Mr.
Cripps, woo the principal witIKAII, and he confirmed the state-
ment of the learned rounael.—Mr Bramwell addressed the
jury fur the defendants on the ground that the price charged
was unreasonable, and that the piatatiff had offered to supply
the company with coalsat the rate of 235. 6d. under a couu act
for oae year, which contract was not, however, agreed upon.
A number of witnesses were called for the defendants,
among them Mr. Cattarn, who was present when Mr. Cripps
applied for the payment of the demand. Several coal-
/asters stated the prices Welch coals fetched in July and
August in the present year. None, however, had the
Duffryn coal ; and a factor's clerk, on being asked whether
40s per ton was a fair sum, said, he supposed that it must
be given, if it could not be obtained for less.—Mr. Bodkin,
in his reply, insisted that no defence had been given to the
aden, and asked the jury to assess tho damages
at the
tint claimed. The learned counsel made some remarks
ea tb.e manner in which the plaintiff had been used in regard
to the bill of exchange, which had been signed by two of the
directors, ant Shen retained ; it was only another instance of the
observation, that See in theircolleetlee capacity ma company