The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-25 00:00:00

SL►NDER BY AN ATTORNEY.—SWAN v. LEES.-11i8 was
an actio❑ brought by the plaintiff to recover damages for certain
false and slanderous words spoken of him by the defendant.
The Attorney-General, with Mr. Monck, was for the plaintiff ;
and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, with Mr. Spinks, for the defend.
ant. The plaintiff is a tailor and draper, of Staleybridge, and
the defendant is an attorney, in practice in the same
town, and until recently held the office of clerk to the
local commissioners. The plaintiff was ono of the commis-
sioners, and took an active part in the management of the
affairs of the town. On the ith of last November the com-
missioners elected another clerk, but on that occasion, when
the defendant was ousted in the contest for the post, the
plaintiff did not take a particularly prominent position. On
the same evening the plaintiff, on returning from Ashton
where lie had been on business, stopped at the 'White Hart
Tavern, in Staleybridge, and entered the bar parlour with
some friends to get refreshment. The defendant was already
there, and on the entrance of the plaintiff said, " Here is the
greatest liar and thief in Lancashire:" The plaintiff said, "
am glad your saying so does not make me one ;" whereupon the
defendant ordered him out of the parlour, saying that it was a
private room. The plaintiff answered that if it were a private
room ho would at once leave, but being told by the landlady's
daughter, whom he called for the purpose, that the room was
free to all who conducted themselves as gentlemen, he
remained. The defendant then called him " a poor beggar,
and a robber," and shook his fist i❑ the plaintiff's face. He
further said that the plaintiff had been tried for a misdemeanor
and imprisOned—that he was insolvent, and could/not pay ten
shillings in the pound, and he also accused him of having set
his house on fire in order to get the insurance, and of having
prevented, the fire police from putting it out, and he wound
up his slanderous accusations by recommending the plaintiff to
go and set his ho"aise on fire. The plaintiff brought the present
action for the vindication of his character, and on his examina-
tion denied the truth of the several allegations which constituted
the slander. His house bad been on fire, but it was extinguished
before the arrival of the police, the danyag.e.amounting only, to
£1 12s, which was immediately paid by the insurance office.
As the case proceeded, it was clear, from the character of the
evidence, that the plaintiff had wantonly used the slanderous
expressions, and that they were untrue. Mr. Sergeant
Wilkins said he could nut think of further contending the
case. In extenuation of his client's conduct, however, he
might state than he had held the oqce of clerk to the com-
missioners for thirteen years, and that be had telt aggrieved at
the loss of the office. He had alto had a little too much drink
on the evening in question, and he could not believe, until
lie had heard the evidence, that he had used the language
attributed to hint. He was therefore willing to submit to a
verdict for the plaintiff for 40s and costs. The Attorney-
general accepted the offer, observing that his client sought to
Vindicate his character, and not to coin money out of the
action. A verdict was accordingly returned for the plaintiff
for that amount. It was arranged, after leaving court, that
the defendant should pay £3O, in addition to the plaintiff's
taxed costs.

There being no other ease ready for trial, his lordship pro-
ceeded with the trial of some prisoners who were brought from
the other side. The eases possessed no interest,

EXTRAORDINARY MODE OF CAPTURING
A RUNAWAY DEBTOR.

A case that presented some strange features was
brought before Mr. Mansfield yesterday morning at the
police court, and it clearly proves that "necessity is the
Mother of invention." The facts are these. A man,
whose name was given as Robert Deane, and who resided
at Pudsey and was in business there, resolved to get rid
of his debts, friends, and country, at one " fell swoop."
In pursuance.of this object he " made all right,'' but with
so much secrecy that none of his creditors or neighbours
had the least suspicion, as all his affairs at Pudsey were
kept on as usual. The Australian ship Shalimar was to
sail (and of course did sail) on Sunday morning, and
matters were so arranged that Mr. Deane had taken a
passage in her for Melbourne, and he was to be on board
just at the moment she weighed anchor, which was to be
about eight O'clock in the morning. Things went on at
Pudsey up to Saturday night, and after closing business,
the time came for Mr. Deane to close on his creditors,
which he did by Wanting. Somehow the coarse of run-
away debtors hardly ever runs smooth, and it not
unfrequently happens that creditors, like lovers' fathers,
have flinty, hearts. A lady-,be the dame old or young we
know not-called "Fame," gave a sort of rumour to some
of Mr, Deane's creditors, and ou inquiry, it was found
that ho had "cut." There was only one chance for it
then, and that was to " express it" after him. Liverpool
being the most likely place where to find him, one of the
creditors procured an absconding warrant and a bailiff,
with whom, armed with a warrant, he arrived here at an
early hour on Sunday morning. The bailiff and warrant
went in one direction and the creditor in another. About
eight, o'clock two men were arrested at the Prince's pier
end of Chapel-street by police constable 485, who found
them fighting in the street, to the great scandal of the
public. They were locked up in the main bridewell, and
turned out to be no other than Mr.DeaneM.
r
and his creditor. The latter having encountered
Deane at the aforesaid place, was at his wits end what to
do. He had not the warrant, and as there was not a
moment to be lost, an idea flashed across his mind—it
was this—he knocked down Mr. Deane, and thus arrested
his progress to the ship, to which he was proceeding,
when met with great velocity. Mr. Deane got up, and
being a thorough Englishman, could not brook such an
indignity—even from a creditor, and on regaining his feet,
he returned the blow, A conflict followed, in the midst
of which police officer
d a 485 came up, and took both per-
sons to the bridewell, o charge of fighting in the street.
This was the very thing the creditor aimed at, for he
Said to himself, " if I cau only get Deane into at fight with
me, the police are sure to came up and arrest both, and
this will give me an opportunity of detaining him until
the bailiff comes with the warrant." Some time after the
parties were locked up, the bailiff did come, and laid his
detainer on the " Master Deane." When he was brought
before Mr. Mansfield, the facts were explained, and both
persons were discharged, but the moment Mr. Deane left
the dock, he was grasped by the bailiff, who will pro,
bably deposit him in Pudsey, before ho relinquishes his
hold on him,

His Royal Highness Prince Albert will, it is expected,
inspect the camp and troops at Colchester this week. It is
believed that his Royal Highness will be accompanied by
the Duke of Cambridge and Visc?unt Hardinge.
CHANGES OF POLICE MAGISTRATES.—Mr. H. S. Selfe,
of the Oxford Circuit, has been appointed Metropolitan
Police Magistrate in the place of Mr. llardwicke, resigned.
Mr. Peadon is transferred from Hammersmith to Marl-
borough-street. Mr. Ingham, from the Thames Police
Court, goes to Hammersmith. Mr. Selfe takes the Thames
Court.— Observer.