The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

CUSTOMS' COURT.

Yesterday this new court was opened for the first time.
It is a convenient, well fitted up chamber in the Custom
Hoses, Thames-street. The court bye been called into ex-
istence by the 16th and 17th of Victoria, chap. 107, sec. 33,
which was an act pared in the last moms of parliament,
and by which any one or more of the commissioners of cus-
toms is entitled to decide matters of dispute connected with
Customsdues levied in case any owner, merchant, agent,
'or other person shall feel himself aggrieved, and bring the
case before the court.
Before the court was formally opened a haensonicon was
introduced, to have, not its tones, but its Custom-house
value tried. Sir Thomas FrentanUe was in the chair, and
the question raised by Mr. Solomon., the importer of the
instrument, was, whether 61 reeds divided into two rows
formed one or two stops.
Several witnesses were called on the part of Mr. Solomon
and several on behalf of the Customs, who gave contradic•
cart' evidence as to what did or did not constitute a atop.
TIM question involves a very large amount of revenue,
although apparently insignificant in itself.
At die sonolusioa of the proceedings,
Sir Thaws Fremantle said that he would inform the
cononiselosere of what had transpired.
Mr. 801•211011$ thanked the right hon. baronet for the
manner in which he had conducted the case, and said that
whatever the decision of the Commissioners might be, he

should bow to it with satisfaction.
The court then broke up.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LivuerooL, DEC. 9.

IMO= RV SAXON JALDSIIIOII.
IFIRACT TO DEFRAUD TRI LIVIRPO
CORPORATION. . .

JosfpA llowaon and WUlian Cfwrke were indicted foe
conspiring to defraud the corporation of Liverpool of the
sus of 1,72 W. 14e. 9d., by false certificates of brick de-
livered amounting to upwards of two million. There was
oleo a count charging the former with obtaining the above
nom wader false pretences. The prisoners pleaded not
uilt
Mr. Bison and Mr. Brett appeared for the prosecution,
and Mr. E. James, Q C. (special), and Mr. Alpine!, for
Rosman ; Mr. Moak appeared for Clarke.
Mr. Simon stated the cue, from which it appeared, that
on the occasion of the building of a new gaol at Walton, by
the Liverpool corporation in 1850, • contract was entered •
into with the prisoner Romeo for a supply of bricks, at 15s.
the thousand for common, 25e. for builnosee, and 275. Gd.
for bevels and seconds. The prisoner Clarke was appointed
clerk of works, and it was his duty to see that the bricks
were properly delivered, and give his certificate to Mr.
Weightman, the surveyor to the corporation, who was to
certify for its payment. The number of bricks certified for
was 6,000,000, which, it was contended, were not delivered,
the actual quantity delivered being about 4,000,000. At
the conclusion of the statement of the case,
U. lordship doubted that they would be able to prove
either of the allezed charges.
Mr. Weightman wss called and examined by Mr. Brett,
who proved the receipt of certificates from Clarke of the
number of bricks delivered, and of the money paid by his
directions to Rowson.

Two brick-moolders, aimed Charuock and Kitchen, were
then examined with a view of showing that the number of
stools on the brick-field could not have produced the
quantity alleged to have been delivered, as only eight were
esgaged. The witness Charnock stated be had made the
most in the field, only producing 600,000, while in the total
number delivered as made by hint was nearly one third
more than that quantity. Cbarnock also stated that be had
repeatedly seen the prisoners together is the field, and in
the street.
His lordship stated that there was evidently overcharges
(and large ones too), but they would have to make out some
criminal motive by both parties.
Hr. Simon said he thought the systematic and weekly
overcharges which were made, evidently with the know-
' lodp and emetics of Howson, who, epos the evidence of
I witamses, was always present at the payment on Saturday
snalciear 'Mums of the criminality of the
Upansitted. he would prove that Clarke wee
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