The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-01 00:00:00

TEE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1867.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL

(Before Lord Chief Baron Kelly, Baron Martin, and Jus-
tices Bytes, Keating, and Mee.)
THE QUEEN r. ROBINSON OTHER-N.-JDGMENT.
•• 'N D U.

The defendant Mary Robinson, with the other prisoners,
were tried and convicted at the spring York Assizes before
Mr. Justice M. Smith. The prisoner Mary was charged
under the Bankruptcy Act of IS6I, with embezzling and
concealing property, and the other prisoners with aiding
and abetting her. In other counts they were charged with
conspiracy. The prisoner Mary hail carried on business at
Hull as a pawnbroker, as a widow, and was so adjudicated
bankrupt, when in reality she was a married
woman, her husband being alive, though not living
with her. On the trial it was contended that she could
not be convicted of embezzling her husband's property,
and that as the main charge failed the other prisoners
could not be convicted. The learned judge admitted the
evidence, and sentenced the prisoners to terms of impri-
sonment, reserving certain points for the consideration of
this court.

The court, though divided in opinion as to the grounds
upon which tbey had come to a decision on this case, were
unanimously of opinion that the conviction was bad and
must be quashed.
Conviction quasbetL

COURT OF PROBATE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
BIMWICK V. l(( CET.

Dr. Deane, Q.C., and Dr. Swabey for the plaintiff ; Dr.
Tristram for the defendant.

The testator, Mr. D. H. Mouncey, of HiHam-lull, Ferri
bridge, Yorkshire, died in September last. He had made
a will on the lath of April, 11111, which he had directed to
be destroyed ; but the act not having taken place in his
presence did not amount to a legal revocation.
The court therefore granted probate of a draft.

THE LIMITED LIABILITY ACT.

This morning was issued the report of the •
select committee appointed to inquire into the operation
of the Limited Liability Acts. The committee have
agreed to report the following resolutions to the house:
" That all companies should hold a general meeting of
shareholders within four months of the date of the regis-
tration of company. That the companies hereafter to be
formed may, by the memorandum of association, and com-
panies already formed may, by special resolution, agree to
carry on business on the terms that certain shareholders
thereof may be responsible to the extent of the
whole of their means, whilst the rest of the mem-
bers of the company are liable only to the extent
of the shares held by them ; such companies,
nevertheless, to continue to be called •
That companies may, if they think fit, have a portion of
their shares paid up in full, the remainder not being so
paid up. That as regards all shares paid up in full, it shall
be competent for companies, if they think fit, to issue cer-
tificates to bearer, so that the shares may be transferable
by delivery. That the seller of shares may claim a registra-
tion of the shares into the name of the buyer, upon pro-
ducing an acceptance of those shares signed by the buyer.
That the law concerning the mode of contracting, so as to
bind companies by their agents, should be amended by
introducing clause 41 of 19 and 20 Viet., c. 47. That the
court before which a petition for winding up shall be
brought shall have power to refer the simpler cases of
liquidation to such county court as it may direct,
under the order of the mid court. That a petition
to the court to wind up a company, if presented by share-
holders, should be signed by one or more shareholders,
who are either original allottees of shares or whose names
have been on the register as shareholders, for a period of
not less than six months. The companies should be
allowed to reduce their capital, or to reduce the amount
of their shares, or to reduce both their capital and
their shares, on the following conditions :—Notice shall
be given to the registrar of joint stock companies. No-
tice shall be given by advertisement or otherwise in
such manner as the Board of Trade may direct. net
the consent of all parties, being creditor' of the company
at the date of the reduction, be obtained. Or that the
claims of such creditor be discharged. Or that in cases
of the absence or legal incapacity of creditors, that
the amount in cash, of their claims, be invested in govern-
ment securities, or placed in the Bank of England in the
names of trustees, under conditions to be approved by the
I Board of Trade. That it is highly desirable that a bill
should be brought in by the government in the present
session, to carry out the alterations of the law proposed in
the foregoing resolutions."
The committee consisted of Mr. W►tkin, Mr. Goechen,
Lord Frederick Cavendish, Mr. George Grenfell Glyn, Mr.
Brett, Lord Robert Montagu, Mr. Stephen Cave, Mr. Hub-
bard, Mr. Graves, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Lowe, Mr.

Finlay, Mr. Alderman Salomon', Sir Graham Montgo-
mery, and Mr. Vance.