The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-20 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

(THIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURT.
e-Chanriellor Sir B. T. Kindersley.)
arriON v. 000DDIN.
This was a bill filed by the Watermen's Company in
order to establish their exclusive right in a ferry crossing
the Thames at Greenwich. The company, under their acts
of parliament, are empowered to fix ferries and appoint
watermen at such places as they may think fit between
Teddiegton and Grarreend, so long as they do not interfere
with existing rights. The court of wardens and assistants
have also, under parliamentary authority, fixed a uniform
sharp of twopence for the conveyance on Sundays
of palmation across the river, or to or from
any ship or craft, and this money, after pay-
ment of the wages of the entwines', goes
to the charitable fund of the society. From this source
the company realise, an income of 6001. a year from all the
stairs. There have been from time immemorial at Green-
wich (*Alin common stairs—Billingsgate Dock Stairs,
Garden Stairs, and others, and the company, is pursuance
of their act of 1827, have for many years appointed water-
men to ply from Garden Stain to the Isle of Dogs.
The defendants in this case, the Potter's-ferry Society,
are the lames of enancient ferry from the Isle
of Dogs, which, by several legal decisions, has
been held to have the right only to carry from
the Isle of Dogs to Greenwich, and not back
The society by virtue of their lease dated in May,
1116 have been carrying passengers on Sundays from the
Isle of Dogs to Greenwich, sod no question was raised se to
their right to do so, bat a placard was issued by them an-
nouncing that on sad after Sunday, the 7th of May, 1865,
the North Kent steam ferry boat would convey passengers
from Greenwich pier to the Isle of Dogs and back every
quarter of as boor during the day at • fare of twopenoe
eseh way, sad this was held to be ea Infringement of the
rights al the Watermes's Company. Under these eir-
Cminsianceri the company prayed foe an injunction to
restrain the defendants from tarrying passengers
from Greenwich-pka, which, it was stated, was only 15
. free Garden-emirs, or sufficiently sear, as was con-
k, make its use by the Potter's-ferry Company an
t of the plaintiffs' rights.
zrar part of the plaietiffs a great deal of evidence was
pat in to show that there was no public demand for the
aesommodation proposed to be given by the Potter's-ferry
Company, and that wherries were better suited to the pur-
poses of the ferry than a steamboat.
Mr. Glees lad Mr. Lindley supported the injunction,
sad Mr. Bailey and Mr. Kaye opposed.
The Via-Chancellor took time to consider his judgment.

(adore

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Winslow.)
IN BB ma JOHN BRIMS, BART.
The bankrupt was described as of No. 8, Ceoll.street,
Strand, aad of Montane, Cork. civil sneerer. The adju-
dication was roads on the sth of January last, on
the petition of Mr. W. T. O'Keefe, civil esgi-
seer, of Cork, a creditor for 651 The accounts
show debts of 1,0001. only, but them are liabilities of
26,0151, incurred by the bankrupt as &director of the Cork
and Mamie Jonclios Railway. Property given upend held
ea security 4591. The expeaditure is stiffed at 4001. a
year for two yeses preceding the tailors. The liabilities
ars on promissory notes,. which the bankrupt bad given
*stay with the other directors of the Cork and Kinsale
IJaestioa Railway—Lord Kinsale, Mr. P. N. Roddy, Mr.
H. W. Wood, Mr. T. Bsbingion, Sir Cusack P. Roney, end
Mr. H. Conybears.
Mr. Lawrence, for the assignees, offered so opposition.
He observed that the unsecured creditors amounted to
3751. only; but as a director of the Cork and Kinsale
Railway, Sir John, in conjunction with his brother
direction, had incurred certain liabilities with a
view to meet an emer. Of the 26,0004
of those liabilities upwards of 11,0001. had been met ; and
the secretary of the company stated that they would all
be paid off in a twelvemonth, and were covered by pee-
fermata shares. None of the liabilities had been proved
against the estates.
His Honour asked if the preference gams were worth
meepting ?
The bankrupt add be could not say, but he believed the
line would be a pro/porous one. He was Dot the
engineer of the line, but one of the directors.
He was induced to give the bills by the offer of
pretenses shares, which he believed thee to be valuable.
The line, eleven miles in length, was open and defrayed its
expenses. It was his impression that the other directors
would meet the liabilities on the bills. Those bills were
given to raise money for the opening of the line. He bad
been brought here by those liabilities.
( The Commissioner—Yon had no means of meeting them
when you incurred the liabilities ?
The bankrupt said he had no espectatioa of being called
on to do
Mr. Lawrsaise referred to a aimilar cue recently before
Mr. Commissioner Holrtyd, in which that learned commis-

slater had granted an immediate order.
His Honour laid be could not take dist view. The book-
ropthad Incurred large liabilities without any means of pay-
ment ; but their being no opposition he would snopend the
order for six month. only ei.:l3 protection.

SURREY SPECIAL SESSIONS.

(THIS DAY.)

A special adjourned sessions of the peace for the ,
county of Surrey was opened this morning at the Sessions
House, Newington-esessway, for the trial of prisoners from
all parts of the eonnty, it being the trial day before the
wiser. Mr. P. G. Johnson presided, end among the
magistrates present were Mr. Thomas ninon (deputy-chair-
man). Lieut.-Minna It'Docald, Dr. Collambell, Dr. Strong,
Mr. H. Peek, Yr. R. Roberts, la. The calendar contained
the names of twenty-three prisoners for trial, twenty for
felony, and three for misdemeinour. The status of educa-
tion was as follows :—Four could winker reed nor write ;
four could only read ; thirteen could read and write im-
perfectly ; and only two could read sad write well.
THE DAY 07 HOMILIATION.
The grand jury having been sworn, the chairman in hie
address said that they met there this day under very special
circumstances, end some of the gentlemen present might
think it rather strange inasmuch as it was appointed by the
Bishop of London relative to the cattle plague. The court
was, however, so situated that they had no alternative but
to preened witb the basin's, as it was usual in this county
to bold a special sessions three days prior to the county
assizes, to relieve the judges of petty cases, and save the
county a considerable sum of money. Besides that,
be had to inform them that a very small por-
tion of the county of Surrey was within the diocese
of the. Bishop of London. The greater pert was
under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester. and the
day set apart by him es a day i f humiliation has passed.
However, as this day has been appointed for this part of
the county be hoped that the business of the court would
not prevent them from attending their respective places of
worship. The court would, if possible, rise early to enable
those who liked to attend the evening services. With
respect to the calendar it is unusually light, but that is owing
to the proximity of the last swims, winch took place only
fifteen days ego. There was one for housebreaking, two
for embezzlement, four for stealing from masters, one for
wilful damage to property beyond the value of Si'., and
several for stealing from the pearls. There was a very
peculiar case that would come before them —a female
charged with carrying a crowbar into the gaol with intent
to aid a prisoner to escape. If they were satisfied it was
concealed about the persoe, they would end a true bill, and
seed the case into court for trial, as it was a very serious
offence. With theme remarks he dismissed than to their
room.
The grand jury then retired.