The National Register.
London, England, 1822-09-29 00:00:00

Mr. Platt.—Yon dare not answer that question.
Mr. Thornhill.—Due not, Yon are protected now on
your own dunghill, or I would let you know whether I dare ur
not. You dare not tell me so oat of this place.
Mr. Platt.—ls this language to be amid before a magistrate?
Sir R. Bind's desired M►. Thornhill to be more cool.
Mr. Thornhill.—Sir, I have great respect for the chair ; bet
d— me if ever I saw such a fellow u this. I won't be ques-
tioned by a militia like him. He a member of the law ! Wby
be is paid for concealing the law, and not for expounding it, fur
he has no law in him.

Mr. Platt coolly remarked, that the abase of some men was
an honour.

Mr. Thornhill here iodulged in • strain of coarse invective
for some time, and told Mr. Platt he was to be found at 48,
Ludgate-hill, if Mr. I'. had the courage to meet him, or bad any
thing to say to bim.
This hint being repeated, Sir R. Birgit told Mr. Thornhill be
should certainly exercise his authority in a very decisive man-
ner, if he did not refrain his .ongoe.
Mr. Platt.—Did you not lease Bath because yen could not
pass your accounts I—No, I did not. I'll answer you that.
Have you ever offered to give up this bill to Mr. Claugbtou
upon receiving • sum of money I—No,I never did.
. .

Did you ever see Mr. Clau,:lwaal—Yes, cud showed him the
bill ; but I took c.ire to keep oa the further side of the table
from Lim.

Whence are the funds derived from which you were to pay the
1,0001. to Mr. Knight, as you gave an undertaking to uo t-1
shan't answer that.

Did you offer Mr. Walker atinuey to discount this bill I—l
was introduced by bin to the defendant, whom Walker said he
knew to be a gentleman of fontanel, and it was agreed upon that
1 should give 5001. 1 knew 31r. Claughton was end ring
to hunt op the bill.
Don't you know that the bill was stolen ?—No, I know it was
not. I saw Claughton, and he said he had been as bad as
robbed of the bill, and that • Mr. Farquharson had got hills
from him to the amount of 6 or 7,0001., and had sent them into
the market without ever giving a farthing for them. He ob-
served, however, that if I was a bona fide holder of the bill, I
must be paid.
To some further questions Mr. Thornhill said, that Mr. W.
certainly stated that the defendant was a monied man in the
city, and in the habit of discounting bills to a large amount.—
The defendant said he would have nothing to do with Claugh-
ton, for he was worth nothing—his name stunk in the market.
Mr. Platt.—Will you Swear that Mr. Walker said the de-
fendant was a monied man, and in the habit of discounting
bills I—Wlll I swear it! Why, Sir, have I not sworn it al-
ready ? What do yon mean ?
Mr. Platt-1 do not mean to offend you by these questions;
why not answer them coolly ?
Mr. Thornbill.—Now why did you not say that before, mid
all would have been good humoured enough ; bat you are such
a ham,* 2, there in no knowing bow to deal with you.
Mr. Platt, addressing Sir K. Biroie, said his defence to the
charge was a right to the possession of the hill ; and be bad
no objection to allow it to be impounded with the worthy ma-
gistrate, until the question cou:d be settled elsewhere.
Sir H. Dirnie.—Did you ever know an instance, Mr, Platt,
of a magistrate taking such a step?
Mr. Platt.—We will give you indemnity, Sir.
Sir It. Diroie said, he must decline the honour of holding
the bill.
Mr. Tortill was called to prove that the defendant at that mo-
went was clerk to Mr. Drammen, a solicitor.

Mr. - king deposed, that he heard the defendant repre-
sent himself to ►e • man of property, and that he often dis-
countedhills. He did not hear Mr. Walker say so.

Mr. Pollock said lie bad closed his case.

Mr. Platt then proceeded to call witness for the defence.
Thomas Clang Mon, Esq. M. P. for Newton, lrucashire.
and a magistrate for that county, sworn.—l know this bill for
3,5001. It was drawn by me upon Mr. Leigh. I gave it to
Farquharson with others, and have his receipt for them—
(Receipt produced.) I never received one farthing for them,
and I gave him notice many months ago to return them. I is-
sued advertisements to stop them. 1 also filed a bill in Chan
eery, sod several persons were served with injunctions not
•eg,tiate them.
By Sir R. Birnie.—l wrote to the defendant to stop the bill
in question. 1 know him, and bad bad dealings with him.
Mr. Platt.—We are ''ree to confess that this was • plan to
get po ion of the bill.
Sir R. Birnie.-1 should he sorry tri attempt to expound the
law in the presence of two learned gentlemen who bear me. A
felony is the stealing and taking away the goods, money, or
property of another, and I certainly cannot view this charge
against Mr. Sweetman as a felony. As far as lam concerned,
Mr. Sweetnian is discharged.
The parties then quitted the office, the bill remaining in the
possession of Mr. Claugliton's party.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER