The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

Sir,--During my long professional career I never
intruded myself before the public with any personai
grievance ; but outrages of such an aggravated nature
and character have been perpetrated on me in the name of
the law, as it now stands, that I have no alternative but to
make my case public through the medium of your columns,
ever open to redress wrong and injustice.
I shall be as laconic as possible, and offer no comment
whatever, but content myself with a simple statement
of facts.
On Monday, the sth instant, I was arrested for a sum
of £66 Bs. 1 was obliged to place in the sheriff's hands
£Bl 19s. 4d. as bail, and I have since been obliged to for-
ward a further sum of Ten Pounds in order to enable me
to have this case tried by a jury. One John Simmonds,
describing himself as a silversmith (who is also a theatri-
cal costumier) is the plaintiff. I never had any dealings„
directly or indirectly, with this individual, consequently
I presume, cannot be his debtor. Neither did this person
ever make any demand or claim on me during my five
months' engagement at St. Martin's-hall, London, or since
my arrival here He obtained a judge's order for my
arrest on some information given to him by one Joseph
Stammers.
On Saturday last, I was again arrested for the sum of
£63. I had to lodge in this case a sum of £7B 23. 4d.
Mr. J. Stammers, above-named, is the plaintiff in this case,
and, as his solicitor, Mr. Edward L. Levy, endorsed on the
writ—" the claim is for work and labour done, and money
paid and expended, to, and for my use." To all my profes-
sional brethren it is not necessary to assert that this de-
mand is as unfounded as the tormer one; but to the public
I owe a duty, and to the public I appeal to suspend their
judgment until I am enabled to bring these parties before
a jury. I can with self-pride add that I have never con-
tracted, at any period, any debt that I could not, and did
not pay. In conclusion, I may state that my engagement
at St. Martin's Hall, London, was of such a positive
nature, that by written contract I was held entirely irre-
sponsible for all liabilities whatever.—l am, sir, yours, &c.,
EMMA STANLEY.
Clayton Hall, Clayton-square, Liverpool,
Monday, 12th May, 1656.
P.S.—lt is due to Messrs. Thomas and Chisholm to
express my sincere gratitude for their sympathy and
exertions in my behalf under these most distressing cir-
cumstances.

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST

DIRECTORS, &c

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.
Sir,—The new disclosures as to public companies, the
Tipperary bank accounts, and some insurance offices, may
be usefully aided by the publicity of the following opinion
of two eminent counsel as to criminal proceedings against
officials for similar acts in an Irish railway company. It
may, too, serve as a guide to shareholders, as well as a
warning to officials, although that case was not pursued,
owing to an iniquitous counter-move against the disinter-
ested agent engaged.—Yours, &c.,
Chester, May 10. W. D. L. NA.SH, Jun.
CorY OF OPINION. —I have endeavoured in the indictment
to charge the grievances alleged against the directors, &c.,
and there can be no doubt that if the facts bear out the
allegations, the directors, &c., have rendered themselves
criminally responsible. It is an indictable misdemeanour
to wilfully disobey the provisions of an Act of Parliament,
and a conspiracy to aggrieve any person by any improper
means, although such means aro not in themselves the
subject of indictment—is rendered so by suchicombination.
Now the charges are, substantially, that the directors
falsified accounts, and presented false accounts, &c., by
which the real position of the company was concealed :
That they made up fraudulent books, kept defective or
false books, by which the above objects might be further
accomplished, and that substantially, by such means, they
were enabled to lend money illegally and improperly. The
indictment charges the making false " balance sheets,"
false entries in books, refusing to make proper entries
(of shareholders, &c.),' refusing inspection of books, &c.
Inquiries of the kind suggested are of an unusual charac-
ter, and if the course pursued by the directors, &c., is
reconcileable with a bona fide exercise of judgment they
are not liable under the present form of proceeding. Let
somebody go before the grand jury, who can explain
generally the facts. if possible, also an official of the
company. to speak to the accounts, entries, and refusals,
and facts ; also as many shareholders as were refused
registration or inspection ; so as to show a wilful disobe-
dience, and remove the possibility of omission by mistake
—explain the practices..&c., (Signed)W. BALLANTINE.
SAM. PRENTICE.