The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1861.

tab) inttlltanue.

EQUITY COURTS.—Dsc. 17.
(adore the /trier al tbe Roth.)

T. NATIONAL INVEATIIENT AND ANNUTIANcL

M " RANK DO DUPONT."

The eeandeatioa of the directors of *hie ...ricty erne com-
menced to.dey. Before h wesegiseed it was stated that thong
• Do ID tvatioll to coet,te say iedividual director, and Chet
the object of the in% eetigatitei weasolely to ascertain by what
means the property of the emiety had been lost. There
arts maga auffleirat to pay all the creditors in full, and to
pr.,vide fee the return of three shillinp in the pound to the
derreibys.

Hu Honour haring intiniated that he should merely pre-
side over the v, the first witoess callnl was
Lord Keane, the late chairman of the society, whose ex-
amination by Mr. salary a Listed throughout the whole day.
It is inspessible to give news than an outline of the mi-
di.n of his lordship. tided by referring to the books of
theessipeay he detailed some of the circumstances under
which venom loans were made by the National Society to
other nuuratme companies. These loans sad the looms in.
nort,al by them vaned in amount from 40,000 f. to 5,1X1111.,
and were advanced, among others, to the State Fire Insu-
rance Company, which, at the time of the loans, app-
j•-are to have been hopelessly insolvent; totM
Tina's lammuice Compasy, to the Agricultural Cattle
loste.amo Company, to the Defender Lutheran Company,
(.1,1 to exist but iu name), to the Livorno Bank, and other
' col:wens. to reply to Ineetioss as to the various deeds
with reformism to which "minutes" were entsnd in the Looks
of the company, sail as to their Wine:scatted by the wit-
sees. Lord Keane said that beeea the deeds put before
hint lay the oilier' of the company, who told him that they
were correct. He had *lied several deeds under such cir-
cumstances of which he did sot know the contents. No
loss that be halo of were made by the society to say of
its directors, except fur the purpose of paying for the capital
stock held * the directors In his own came
the loan of • ~IW was wide to pay far capital
1 sloth of that amount. His lordship knew nothing
al • lean in April, le6o, to one tithe directors, lir. Bean,
for I,OOY. The speeial unease whisk appeared in the
hooks to have been made to Major Adair, be was informed
by Yr. llorrieoe, had been made in repayment of a loan of
the sense amount by the major to the society. If that were
ant so Imbed hew deceived. He always set his face spinet
ism W directors except for the pogwaes before mem-
tbesed. The coorersioa in November, of 4,0001.
capital slack lab 2.3010/. investment stock was according to
the rides of the society. He believed the stock in apiestioa
wee Lord George Paget's. Whim mosey was paid by adr
poeitor a receipt wars peen to him as well as a certibasto in
a particular form. His lordship said he always initialed
all monies entered to the caah•book, and in reply to
ussetioas touching the sum of 36,00 W., which appeared
to have been received since February kat, and which
bed neither twee paid to the society's hankers, one entered
is the mob-books, be stated that whet. any of the moons
comprised is that amount were mentioned in checking the
leeks, it was represented that the various sums paid in from
time to time and not appearing in the caeh-hook, would be
he brought forward in the beet weekly account. He was
alined from Julie to September, and us his return rumours
reached him as to the coalition of the society. Heat...wailed
meatier an the latter mooch, when the managing director
was naell to prepare a statement of the affairs of the corn.
pay. He resigned his office oo the 'htth September.
The examiaatioa wee out cosiclusled at the rising of the
wart, and will be resumed this Wedaseday) morning.
Mr. sebum Ile Roxburgh, and Mr. °Ward are for the
alicMl manager ; and Mr. diesel for Lad Lowe.

(Before Vice( htscalar Sir W. P. Wood.)
Iti VIZ OT TN VTU 11111117111A7C1 CO/PANT.

This was • petition for the winches up of this company es
the ground thst it was insolven• Some arningemente were
in progress for lauding over its busies= to soother 00111.
they, and it was thought this ansagensent would be facili-
tated by being adyied out wider the senotios of the court-
The Vice-Chtheellor made the order.

poeiti.,o of arch-protector of the commercial interests of
this community, which mot be in a very bad way lode A if
it want. d such protection as the spy system could
Thew was another gentleman named Perry, who was
also engaged in the setae benevolent design—
(laughter)—and it seemed that the system was
going on to an enormous extent in this country.
A public nevrspeper, Lluitra Wails News, had referred to
it as a question of public interest and importance. That
newspaper was sot conducted I. the Stubbs fashion—it had
no secret agents, no secret epics. but as a public newspaper it
bad its attention called to the bet, and Littler these circuit'•
stances the article had been published. He would submit
that all it intended to convey warn that the system was rife
with danger. and that such a power in the hinds of en un-
scrupulous person was bad and injurious. The system was
this : If any subscriber thought any person a rogue,
he was requested to inform the Gazette, so that
not only did Mr. Stubbs spy out swindler, but
he addressed to the gentlemen whom he wished to
protect the insulting proposition that they should do the
PAW, In every parish how many men were there who
hated their neighbours, and every subscriber had the power
of putting his neighbour into Stubbs black list. How
mussy persons were there whom be was addressing whose
names might he in Stubbs' black list. Mr. Field. whoee
younger days hod been passed in catching thieves, had now
his private inquiry-office ; but one advantage of his system
over Stubbs' was that the former only gave the information
he acquired to the person interested, while the latter gave
his to the whole world.

The Lord Chief Baron—You overstate the ewe, brother
Ballantise. It is • secret which is only confided to 20,000
subscribers. (laughter.)
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine admitted the seamy of the
trassactioo, and that the fact of them being 20,000 sub-
scribers must prevent any one else from knowing anything
about it. (Laughter.) Now, this Stubbs' Gazette was one
masa of libel from beginning to end. He had rather admired
this young gentleman, Mr. Stubbs, sod he would frankly
admit he rather believed him, for be bad gives his evidence
with a smiling satisfaction that irresistibly lei to the con-
clusion that he felt he was doing nothing dirty. (Laughter.)
There were street scavengers as well es moral scavengers,
but the persons who swept our chimney, or who cleaned
out our dustboles were not precisely the class of persons we
should wish to see in our drawing-rooms. How did
the system work ! John Tompkins had a grudge
to Jobs Jones, and he sent in his name to Stubbs' Goatte.
John Jones did not read Stubbs' Gwent —k• preferred a
lighter class of literature—(laughter)—and them his name
. If there were a Jobs doom in onirk he would
aviestidhim to look at Stubbs' Gazette, and probably he would
then find his autograph in mistake for that of some other
Jolts Joules, in the same way as the little mistake bad
Gemmed before. (Laughter.) Now Mr. Stubbs might be
the incarnation of everything that was bosoonbie and
upright, 1104 i jest as good as be thought himself, but who
were Stubbs' agents! He tawniest Ballantine) hated spies,
and from their employment be had no faith in Muhl,. He
thought that the agents of innocent Mr. Stubbs might do very
dirty things in the very dirty work which he provided for them.
So much for swindlers. But was every person who gave •
judge's order or abill of sale to be held up to this publication!
A person might raise money for the most honourable purpose,
and yet be branded amongst a nest of swindlers. He trusted
that the trade of this country would never have to depend
on such • system as spies and informers. 'This was • great
and important question which the proprietor of this journal
bed taken up ; and he trusted that it would he COUD•
tea/twig! or supported by the verdict of soy jury of English
gentlemen.
The Lord Chief Baron, in summing up, said that this was
an action for libel by the proprietor of Stubbs' Gazette against
the proprietor of Lloyd's Weekly News. The pram of this
reentry was Naively free, and if it published anything
regarded as questionable, and • ready we. sought in •
civil or criminal court, it would be for the jury ales* to
decide that poise. The proprietor et a sesirepaper could not
complain if oomments were made on the modest of his
The idea that the intelligence whisk the plaintiff cit.-
! Waal was mast because it was confined to 20,000 subscri-
bers was a faros. He could not see any objection to the plain-
tiff's Gazette if it were limited to the publication of what
wee directed to be registered somewhere by the legislature
but he did not think that any person would be justified
is publishing the names of those persons who had pawned
' articles, though that might be to some rases • guide
to credit ; he soak not justify the practice wider which A
could complain d B, and then B should be placed under
the immetoos el 700 attorneys ; he weld not say that this
system of spying behind a man's back might not lead to
coesidseable mischief, and certainly it deserved no en-
cowagernent. But the only gumption for them was not
as to the conduct of Stuas' Gazette, but as to the
spirit in which the paragraph complained of bad been
written. Was it a fair comment on • public man! And here
he would say that is using the word fair, it should be
need with • large and liberal indulgence to the
rights of the public jotunals to comment on public men.
Juries owed certainly very much of their freedom to the
press, but juries were sot independent because the press
111111 free, bat the press was free because noise were inde-
pendent. They would say bad this article been written in a
spirit of fair criticism—if so, they must find for the defend-
ant, and if not, for the plaintiff, with such damages as they
thought tit
The jury retired, and in • quarter of an hour came into
court with • verdict for the plaintiff— Damages, one
%rebate.

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
Doc. 17.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
eaAW o. !MAW.
. .

Mr. Buller moved the court to commit the defendant, a
retired house spot, for contempt, in threatening two
witaems who were to be called by his wife. It appeared
that a few weeks ago Le west to a servant named Martha
Dowaheat, sad told her that if she gave evidence for the
petitioner he would hays her prosecuted for perjury. She
was described as a person in weak health, and as one likely
to be intimidated. He had also written a letter to a Mrs.
Stewart full of coarse imputations and threats.
Dr. Dews, Q.C., and Dr. Spiel's, for the respondent,
said there could be no question that their client had behaved
is •vyearryy undignified meaner ; but he had not repeated his
and they submitted that the Gads of jostles
would he answered if the court discharged the Me sad
etedemeed him in the wets of the motion.
The court said there could be no doubt that alas air** of
the respondent in going to the servant Downbeat was to
deter her from coming forward to give her evideues. It
would, however, diechart,e the rule, and merely order him
is pay the acd&

SUCKLING (CLINK) V. SUCKLING AND BATLDON.
In this case the petitioner had obtained damages spinet
the co-respoodent is an action for crim. con., and the point
had been reserved whether Mr. Bayldon should also be ems.
demised in the cost' of the petition! The court thought
that an the husband bad been put to the exposes of the suit
by the nsloomidnet of the co-respondent, be (Mr. Bayldon)
ought to pay. An application had likewise been made to
direct the petitioner to settle something upon the
respondent; bat he (Sir C. Creaswell) did not think it
ought to be dose. A case had been cited in
support of the applicatios, but the circumstances
were there wholly different. The wife had brought
her husbandl,7ool. of 1.800/., and there bad been no sett:e-
meet upon her. A sum of 1,000/. had also been recovered
u damages which bad not been paid when the court desk
with the matter. I. this instance, however, the damages
had been received and probably spent long ago.

A girl, named Emma Tatham, employed by the prisoner
in his docuestits Weary, had beim in custody for the same
offence, and ea alleged improper intimacy between the
gner and this women supplied a mama for comuutting
oners.

Mr. Spooner and Mr. Bodes prosecuted ; Mr. O'Brien and
Mr. Elan defended the prisoner.
The case had oot coocluded when our parcel was despatched,
but we learn, by electric telegraph, that the prisoner was
found Guilty sod sentenced to death.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Beton, tb. AmidaatJudge.)
-- THE CASIII OT WANT ZEWZLL.

Mary Neux//, 22, servant, was indicted for stealing •
box containing • coat, other articles of wearing apparel,
and • watch, the property of Mr. John Barker, her master,
and also other propertybedonging to • gentleman named
Heath, who lodged in Mr. Barker's house.
Mr. Cooper was counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Dickie
for the defence.
Mr. Cooper, after stating the case, called the prosecutor,
who said he lived at 29, Beaborough-gardens, and on the
7th of November, on going out, ho left Mrs. Barker at home
with the prisoner, his servant. The prisoner said, before
he left, that • strangei man bad called and said he wanted
to repair the window blinds. He returned in the after-
noon, and afterwards went out again, leaving the prisoner in
care of the house, her sister being then with her. At
10 he returned, and knocked and rang, but was
not answered, and got into his house through a
neighbour's. Be found the plate packed up in a damask
curtain in the drawing-room, and the place in confusion.
Mr. Heath's room was all in disorder and his property
gone. He stumbled over a poker covered with a liquid re-
sembling blood, and matted with hair ; the back window
was broken, and the fragments of glass were on the slates
below, which showed that, instead of anyone having got in
from the outside, it must have been done by some one in.
side. The property mimed consisted of coats, shoes, cra-
vats, handkerchiefs, • bracelet, opera-glass, a watch, V. in
money— value altogether 671., of which 401. worth belonged
to Mr. Heath. Needled in the police. A panel hadbeen cut
oatof the second Boor bedroom door with a pair of scissors. ,
and one of his canon. The razor was found in a drawer,
jagged like a saw, and the point clone of the scissor blades ,
wee found at the bottom of the door, it having been
broken off.
. . .

—Glare-examined—All the clothing taken away was men's.
He received a good character with the prisoner from a very
respectable tradesman in Ebury•street. She had at first
101. • year, which he was about to incase to 111. when the
west away.
Inspector Humphrey (B) produced the property, and de-
scribed the state of the home when he went to it. He was
sure that the window must have been broken inside, as the
glass had been knocked out, not in. The poker was broke.,
and be found seine hair in a pall in the passage, which was
sprinkled with red.
Michael Jahn Sheen, 272 B, said he received informatioe
of the robbery, and found • cabana who had taken • young
era from the boom to the Pastern Comities Railway with
loge, boson carpet-beg, and • large portmanteau. He
that lowo to Ymisouth, and there he was
directed to a boom, where a supposed young man
had taken lodgings, it Wng a leiging-lieuan In the
parlour he found use of the boxes tied up in canna as a
settee. It contained clothes and a quantity of hair, exactly
corresponding with the prisoner's and that foetid on the
poker. On searching he found • hand-box with a hat in it.
The landlady told him that the young man had
gone on to the Marine Parade. In three-quarters
of an hour the young man came to his lodgings smoking a
cigar. The witness said to prisoner that he was an °Soar,
and charged her with being Mary As.. Newell, late • ser-
vant of Ir. Barker's, wham home bed been robbed. She
said addle& As she was in mee's elothes, he said he did
not wish to do anything Waikato, bat be most search her
pocket., and on doing so, be found two sovereigns, three
half-crowns, two foreign coins, a pipe in • coat pocket, a
watch in the waistcoat pocket, and she told him when a
missing pin was. The clothes she was wearing were Mr.
Heath's. She said the rap she bought at Ipswich,
and wished it to be gives to her brother. The
, be had been informed, bad been in Cambridge
ro4ireri. When he took her she had no false whiskers or
moustache. She came to the door in a jaunty sort of way
after her walk on the Marine Parade. The Modlady said
be was a nioe sort of young men. (Laughter.)
Mr. Heath was called, sad identified the articles belong-
infsotoinehim. They were worth about 40i.
questions were put to him which the Assistant
Judge thought had nothing to do with the was, but the
witness was allowed to say that he hid ..an her with a
portrait of an actress in male attire.
Inspector Humphrey said he found among the property •
pocket-book containing theatrical memoranda in the pri-
soner'. writing, but it was of no importance, and did not
relate to the case.

The defence set up was ia substance that the prisoner
had • kind of monomania for the romantic, and though not
exactly insane, was at the time she did this under some idea
that she was playing the peat of • heroine in mine melo-
drama. She was of very weak mind, and her grandfather
and father bath died inane. The learned counsel argued
that she had no felonious intention, sa must be inferred
from the fact that though ohs packed up the plate she did
not take it with her, and that, as far as was know. at pre-
sent, nothing she took was missing but one pocket
handkerchief. It was not madness nor felony, but
• ease of diseased mind ; she was not in con-
stitutional health. Altogether, it was • case one
did not hear ef in a lifetime, and wee one more illus-
tration of the saying, that " truth is stranger than fiction."
Whatever might have been her motive at the time, she had
net gone to • reedy market to dispose of the property. It
was all recovered, sad he ashedited that it was • case in
which the jury could, upon the evidence, safely come to the
conclusion that at the moment she did this she was under
some temporary deludes, and on that pound acquit her.
Evidence was then given of the facts stated in the defence,
and after • lengthy summing up by his lordship,
The jury found the prisoner Guilty of the felony.
His lordship, after some remarks upon the prisoner's
conduct, in which, be said, the jury could not have come to
any other conclusion, sentenced her to 18 months' lord
labour.
Stimbda johnson, 21, • savage and dissipated•looking
woman, was indicted for steeling from the person of a child
named Repast a hat and other articles, value 10s., the
property of its father.
She pleaded guilty, sod it appeared that she had been
before convicted, her offence then being robbing a poor
servant girl, who was taken ill in the street. Next she was
convicted of stealing • child, and cutting off its eyebrows so
into make it an object o: pity. In this OLIO she stripped a
little girl not apparently more than five years of age of her
clothes, and left her almost naked in the street. She bad
served 18 months, and bad been repeatedly in prison, chiefly
far robbing children.
His lordship said it was • most atrocious case, and the
prisoner must be made an example of. The sentence on her
wee three years' penal servitude.
The prisoner, as she was leaving the dock, gave one of the
witnesses • blow on the eye.

W ESTM INSTER.

Mr. William Harris, of the 6rm of Harris and Harris.
solicitors, of Rugby and Lincoln's-inn-fields, appeared to a
summons charging him with wilful and corrupt perjury.
The prosecutor war Mr. Roger Dawson, who had been coo.
veysiociog clerk to Messrs. Harris, had rued them for salary
due to him, sod obtained a verdict, which was reversed on
• new trial, in consequence, as he alleged, of the false
swearing of Mr. William Harris.
After the prosecutor's case had been stated by Mr. Sleigh,
and two witnesses had been examined on his behalf. the
further hearing of the case was adjourned by mutual
arrangement untilEaturday next.