The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-11 00:00:00

I3OW STREET (THIS DAY).

THE CASE OF MESSRS. STRAHAN, PAUL,
AND CO.

The above prisoners—Williant Strahan, Sir J. D.
Paul, and R. M. Bates—were again placed at the bar
before Mr. Jardine for further examination, for fraudu-
lently disposing of 22,0001. worth of securities, deposited
with them as bankers, the property of Dr. Griffith,
canon of Rochester.
Mr. Bodkin appeared for the prosecteion ; Mr. Bal•
lantine for Strahan and Sir J. Paul, and .Mr. Parry for
Bates.

Mr. Bodkin said that notwithstanding• the utmost
diligence had been used by those connected with the
prosecution in this case since the last hearing, he was
not in a condition to carry it much further tixday. They
had hitherto proceeded on the presumption of the accu-
racy of the prisoner Strahan's statement to Dr. Griffith,
that it was his securities that were taken to the house
of Overend and Co., and upon which the loan spoken of
bad been raised. Inquiries had been made, but they
had been unable to find that the numbers referred to and
those of the securities in Messrs. Overend's possession
corresponded, in order to identify the stock, and it was
only fair to add that Messrs. Overend and Co.
-had given them every facility for tracing the
.securities. The securities to which Mx. Strahan
alluded, and since made the subject of a loan, there
was now reason to believe were not those of Dr. Griffith,
which made it necessary for the prosecutor to have re-
, coarse to the books of the prisoners now in the Bank-
ruptcy Court. Application was accordingly made to
the official assignee for that purpose, but his
'conduct, to say the least of it, had been extraordinary,
-tending rather to defeat than promote the ends of jus-
tice. Remonstrances, however, bad been made respect-
ing it, and he had every reason to believe that a different
course would be adopted for the future. Yesterday after-
noon the solicitor for the prosecution received infor-
mation that every facility should be given him to exa-
mine the prisoners' books at the Bankruptcy Court for
such information as they might require for effectraally
conducting the case. Under those circumstances he
p -oposed to call only two witnesses, and then ask for a
further remand.

Mr. James Watts Peppercorn, broker, 2, Exchange-
bo ildings, identified the purchase notes of Danish Stock
pc :rchased by him in Feb., 1850, for Dr. Griffith, through
e prisoners. He could supply the particulars of the
t ack so purchased. On 29th June, 1843, he purchased
0,000 florins Dutch 2,', per Centg. for Strahan and Co.,
and on the Bth July, 1843, 10,000 for the same firm; he
bad the number of all these securities in his books.
Me had had securities from the prisoners on loan,
I )ut was unable then to go into the particulars. From
: a paper handed to him by Mr. Bodkin he stated it was
on the 16th May, 1854, that securities were so deposited
with him to the amount of 5,0001.

Mr. Ballantine submitted this evidence could not be
received. The prosecutor was seeking for evidence on
which to support his case, instead of proceeding with
the charge of illegally disposing of the securities in ques-
tion, the property of the prosecutor.
Mr. Bodkin said he was compelled to pursue that
course in consequence of Mr. Strahan's mis-statement.

Mr. Ballantine protested against such remarks being
made against the prisoners, who stood in a very
peculiar position.
Mr. Bodkin said be was only asking for general infor-
mation,which would be afterwards entered into in detail
in private, and then brought before the bench. •
Mr. Jardine thought the general question might be
asked, and the details examined into afterwards.

Mr. Ballantine said the fact stated must be shown to
be relevant to the case before it could be received as
evidence.

Mr. Jardine suggested whether, under the circum-
stances, it would not be better to remand the case from
time to time until the case was perfect. Remands no
doubt were inconvenient as regarded both parties.

Mr. Bodkin said that, gene-rally speaking, on going
to a gentleman's counting house he might refuse to give
the information required.
Mr. Jardine—ln that case bring the party here and
examine him.

Mr. Bodkin—So far as the witness in the box was
concerned, he had shown every disposition to give all
the evidence he could.
Examination continued—He succeeded in business
Messrs. Hodge and Davis, who were both dead.
Mr. Burnard, 69, Lombard•street, stockbroker, re.
ceived deposits of Danish and Dutch stock from the
house of Strahan, Paul, and Co., in the beginning of the
year 1854. These transactions appeared in his books,
and he was ready to give every information.
Mr. Ballantine said he was not there to oppose a full
and fair examination of the case, for by that no doubt much
of the obloquy under which the prisoners rested would
be removed. The charge was one of embezzlement, so
far as Dr. Griffith's securities was concerned, in support
of which no evidence had been produced, or from which
a conclusion could be drawn of the prisoners' probable
guilt. He asked the bench to admit the prisoners to bail,
because there appeared to be such a mass of confusion
intolwhich the prosecution hadgot which would occupy a
considerable time, if they ever could unravel it, and to
detain them in custody for so long a time would be a
great injustice to them, and also that they were now far-
ther from the proof of the charge than at the beginning.
He had abstained from doing so on former occasions,
but hoped his application would now be acceded to as
reasonable.

Mr. Parry applied for bail for the prisoner Bates, on
the ground that there was no evidence whatever to con-
nect him with the charge.
Mr. Bodkin admitted it would be impossible to con-
vict the prisoners on the evidence already produced ;
but he hoped to be able to procure other evidence of a
more positive character in support of the charge, which
compelled him to ask for a further remand. Admitting
the prisoners to bail was a matter which rested with the
discretion of the magistrate.
Mr. Jardine said he did not consider, under the cir-
cumstances arising from an inaccuracy in Mr. Strahan's
statement to Dr. Griffith, that any unreasonable length
of time had been occupied in investigating this case.
He thought, however, from that statement there
was sufficient evidence to compel him to send the
case for further investigation, as against Mr.
Stralaan, and Sir J. D. Paul. There was also some evi-
dence against Mr. Bates, on which it would be for a
jury to decide. For the present (whatever he might do
hereafter) he should decline admitting the prisoners to
bail.

Mr. Cooper, messenger to the Bankruptcy Court, who
was called on his subpoena, said he took possession of
the prisoners' books, and afterwards handed them over
to the Court of Bankruptcy. He believed they were i❑
the possession of Mr. Bell, the official assignee, or under
his control. Mr. Bell was aware of his coming to the
court, and told him to produce all the books ho could
find bearing on the case. He had not brought any, not
knowing what were wanted ; there were sufficient books
to fill two or three waggons.
Mr. Bodkin asked to have Mr. Bell called.
Mr. Jardine—Has he been subpoenaed ?
Mr. Cooper—Yes.

Mr. Jardine—Then ho ought to attend. His absence
very much prejudices the prisoners' case. If he does
not attend when he is summoned I shall be obliged to
deal harsEly with him, and bring him here in custody
should the prosecutor ask for a warrant.

Mr. Cooper said it was not out of any disrespect to
the magistrate Mr. Bell had not attended. He believed
Mr. Bell was acting under the advice of the solicitor to
the fiat in bankruptcy against the prisoners.
The prisoners were then remanded for a week, by
which time Mr. Bodkin said it was not likely any mate-
rial evidence could be produced against them, and that
a further remand must then take place.

HER HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS MARCRIALINE CZAR-
TORYSKA'S MATINEE MI7SICALE.—We are authorised to
state that this matinee, in aid of the Benevolent Fund of
the " Literary Association of the Friends of Poland,"
which was to take place at the house of the Marquis and
Marchioness of Breadalbane, on the 13th inst., is post-
poned to Tuesday next, the 17th inst.
Miss REYNOLDS.---That very charming actress, Miss
Reynolds, takes her benefit at the Haymarket Theatre
this evening, when, no doubt, her friends and the public,
with whom she is a favourite, will give her more sub-
stantial proofs of their admiration than the customary
applause, The pieces are, Sheridan Knowles's play of
" Love," after which the Spanish dancers, who will ap-
pear in a new ballet, the popular farce of " As Like as
Two Peas," and the whole will conclude with the amus.
ing farce, entitled "Only a Halfpenny."
ADELPHI THEATRE.—The capital extravaganza, writ-
ten by Mr. G. A'Beckett and Mr. Mark Lemon, on the
subject of the " Forty Thieves," has been revived at
this theatre with considerable effect. Mr. and Mrs.
Keeley and Miss Woolgar resuming their original cha-
racters. The miss en scene has been liberally attended
to, and the production is likely to be of service to the
interests of the house, for there are few pieces of its class
so thoroughly whimsical and amusing. The extravaganza
has been edited anew by the authors, and certain shafts
apropos to the recent disclosures relative to private
banking tell with uncommon force.

GRAND FIELD-DAY AT ALDERSHOTT.—Yesterday, he
Majesty," his Royal Highness Prince Albert. the King
of the Belgians, and the Royal children, left Buckingham
Palace. The royal cortege, escorted by a party of the
7th Hussars, passed over Vauxhall-bridge, to her Ma-
jesty's private station in the Wandsworth-road, where a
train was in readiness, and the royal party proceeded on
to Farnham ; here the train stopped, and the Queen,
Prince Albert, and the King of the Belgians visited the
camp at Aldershott. There was a grand field day on
the return of the Royal party. The train left Farnham
for Portsmouth, where her Majesty, Prince Albert, the
King of the Belgians, and the Royal children embarked
on board the Victoria and Albert, and proceeded to
Osborne, Isle of Wight.
" THE TIMES" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.—Every and
has read the brilliant letters of Mr. William H.olivbae
Russell, the Special Correspondent of the Times i.easten,
Crimea ; and, without doubt, every one will bs pie!
thea
to hear that the entire series has been p .''?
na- lsdiate publi-
hands of Messrs. Routledgo & Co., for i-me
eWar—fro
cation. This remarkable Chronicle of
g Southampton mto
interest in every
the time of the British Army
the very latest events—is of important
°rnarl called the
point of view, no less from having atten-
tiontate and management
of the English nation to
the
E
of the army generally, and produced
which c those great and
entire changes in its organisation,successes, than contributed so
greatly to its subsequent from its en-
thralling attraction asa p
owerfully-writt en, intense, and
graphic description of
Aix. Russell, the terrible drama now being
played in the
Crimea.
British • s letters have be-
some as essential to the public as the Times itself ;
and few will hesitate, we imagine, to purchase a volume,
moderate price,
at a which, apart from its great value
in a point of practical importanceof -
information, forms
the most absorbing 4( Romance of History" that the age
has prOnced.