The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-03 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.,-(TIIIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURT.
(Before Vive-t liancellor Sir 0. M. Oitiard.)

moan• T. TUE ANGLO-AMLRITAN TEL}OIAPU COT/CANT

(iimertm).
Mr. Drum, and Mr. Lawson appeared for the
plaintiff in this butt, which wlti ilOtitUted to prevent the
infringement of an alleged patent far " improvements in
the mode of genctuting electric currents, manufacturing
submarine telegraph cables, and the mode of transmitting
signals- which was granted to the plaintiff, William
l'eter Pigott, and dated the 3rd of December, 1830, and
ailed the court for bare to inspect the mode in which the
defendants' cable wit. worked, and signals transmitted
along the same, and also the pro.mas by which certain di®_
r 'Mice in transmitting the electric current through the
cable were civet-cunt.

The plaintiff's cmie was that he had invented a process
of making cables which consisted in charging them with
electricity, and keeping them in what he called a condi-
tion of " static charge ; " the signals being produced by
drawing off the electric fluid at various points—the
system thus being one—as the learned counsel remarked—
similar to that which prevails in the Court of Chancery—in
Icing a process of "charge and discharge." The provision:4.l
specification did not say anything about the "static clutrge ; "
and was confined wholly to a cable composed of two or
more copper wires as a centre or core, covered with a
coating of iron wire. The complete specification, how-
ever, stated as follows :—" My mode of remedying this
defect consists in the novelty of so constructing the cable
that it shall at all times retain a static electric charge ;
or, in other words, so that a cable, or the wire or wires
of a telegraph cable may co-operate as agents with the
genernt:ng surface, by which means such cable or wire
or wires, will be kept in a constant static condition,
and consequently will require but very small power fur
the production of the required force."
The plaintiff's contention in argument was that his
invention lay not in the "construction," but in the
particular use of the cable. The defendants denied in-
fringement, and said that an inspection would reveal to
the plaintiff certain trade secrets.
Sir B. Palmer, Q.C., Mr. Wickens, and Mr. Theodore
Aston, for the defendants, were not heard.
The Vice-Chancellor, after observing that inspection,
thoml granted more fiequently in equity than at common
law. was nevertheless a mutter of discretion, said the plain.
firs prorisiinal specification was for a cable, and nothing
n..,re. Portions of the plaintiff's and of the defendant?
Ale had been exhibited, and the difference between them
sic. complete. No one could pretend to say that the
e. tetruction of the defendants' cable was an infringement
of the plaintiff's cable. At the same time his honour did
mean to say that the plaintiff's was not a very good
Facet. Very possibly it was • but as to the construction
acre had been no infringement. That being so, and it
ing sworn that them were trade secrets which would be
divulged by the inspection, his honour thought he should
committing a grow injustice if he were to accede to the
plaintiff's request. The motion must, therefore, be re-
lobed ; the costs to be costs in the cause.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Winslow.)
IN HZ EDWARD WINTON.

The bankrupt, who was formerly the proprietor of
'Weston's Music Hall, in Holborn, has since carried on
Lusinais as a licensed victualler at the Bedford Arms,
Croce-street, Camden-town. His preliminary list of
creditors returns unsecured debts of 6,0331., and security
for the further sum of about 6,00 W. is held in the shape of
mortgages upon the Bedford Arms. The failure was
ascribed by the bankrupt to pressure by creditors and
falling off of business.
This was a sitting for examination and discharge, but
the statutory accounts had not been filed.
Yr. Peverley appeared for the bankrupt.
Mr. Bromley, on behalf of the assignees, said that it
was proposed to take the case out of court. under the
166th section of the act. A meeting for that purpose
would be held on the ith instant, and in the absence of
accounts the present sitting must necessarily stand ad-
journed.
Adjourned to the 9th of November.