The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-13 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Dec. 12.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Phillips.)
IN BE WILLIAM DAVIES.
This insolvent, a commercial traveller, who applied
under the Protection Act, was opposed by Mr. Sargood
for a creditor, named Jackson, and supported by Mr.
Dowse.

The insolvent, some years ago, was traveller to Mr.
Jackson, who was a draper in the City. The insolvent
was deficient in his accounts to 1001., and gave his ac-
ceptance, but of which 201. bad been paid, and 101. fur
law costs. He had been arrested by Mr. Jackson, and
discharged under the Protection Act.
A question arose whether the present was a case to he
entertained under the Protection Act. It appeared that
the insolvent was holding a situation of 1501. a-year,
and had to pay 101. a-year income tax. All be could set
aside, he said, was 201. a-year, and the sum required by
the other side was 301.

Eventually it was arranged that 301. a-year should be
set aside, and the protection was renewed.
Mr. Commissioner Phillips was of opinion that, under
the Protection Act the principle of condonation could not
prevail. He told the insolvent he was wise in setting
aside 301. a year, and he would be wiser still if he made
the payments.

BETTING ON HORSE RACES-IN RE JOSEPH R. MATLIN

THEI YOUNGER.

This insolvent, a fishmonger, in the Southwark-bridge.
road, applied under the Protection Act.
Mr. Sargood opposed for Mr. Forge, a licensed vio•
tualler.

Mr. Sargood drew the attention of the Court to the
schedule. He said the debts were 1541., and there were
16 creditors. The insolvency was attributed to losses by
betting on horse races. There was an entry of 2001. as
having been paid for losses on various horse races. He
submitted that this was not a case for the Protection
Act, which act recited that persons who had become in-
debted by culpable negligence" were not to participate
in its benefits. _

Mr. Commissioner Phillips intimated that it was no
a case for the Protection Act.

It appeared from the insolvent's statement that be-
sides 2001 paid for bets, which he got from his father, to
whom he was assistant, he owed about 401. for bets,
which be had not inserted in the schedule. He also said
the debt of Mr. Forge was partly a gambling debt.
Mr. Forge was called. He had lent the insolvent 411.,
of which 251. was lent to pay a debt, a❑d the insolvent
told him he could get 100/. He had had only one bet
with the insolvent, some years ago, on a horse called
"Nancy," fur 101.

Mr. Commissioner Phillips was fully of opinion, he
said, that the Protection Act was not intended for
gentlemen of this description, and he should dismiss the
petition on two grounds—the first was, that he had no
right to come to the Court with the debts in his schedule,
having paid 2001. for gambling transactions ; and the
next was, that debts for bets bad been omitted from the
schedule.

The petition was accordingly dismissed.
IN AI THE REV. DAVID BROWN MOORE.

This insolvent, minister of St. Matthew's, St.
George's-in-the-East, applied under the Protection Act.
Four creditors appeared in person, and Mr. Sargood
supported.
Mr. Sargood applied for an adjournment to carry out
an arrangement for the benefit of the creditors. The in-
colvent and the trustees of the church where he officiated
were desirous that a sum shoull be set aside for the cre-
ditors, but it could ❑ot be done under this Court. It.
would be necessary for a private deed to be executed,
and he had to apply for an adjournment of two months.
The creditors objected to an adjournment of two
months. They thought one month was enough to carry
out an arrangement.

It appeared that the insolvent's income was about
3001. a-year. It had been as low as 601. Ha had a
wife and two daughters, and had had seven children.
Mr. Sargeod was willing to take an 'adjournment for
six weeks, to which the opposing creditors assented.
Mr. Commissioner Phillips said he deeply felt for the
underpaid working clergy, and he laid the emphasis on
the word "working" clergy. It seemed that the in-
solvent had at one time only 601. a-year.
The case was adjournel to the 23d Jan., with protec-
tion.

CHARGE OF SWINDLING AGAINST A
PROTESTANT CLERGYMAN.

On Wednesday, an elderly gentleman, respectably
dressed, calling himself the Rev. Michael Crotty, was
brought up at the Townhall, Preston, on a charge of ob-
taining
money from numerous persons under false pre-
tences. The court was crowded by many of the gentry
and inhabitants of the town, who represented themselves
to have been swindled by the rev, gentleman.
Mr. Ascroft, solicitor, appeared for the prosecution ;
and Mr. Blackhurst, solicitor, was retained for the de-
fence.
Mr. Ascroft stated, that from inquiries which bad re-
cently been instituted, it had been ascertained that the
prisoner was ;formerly a Roman Catholic priest, but
having been converted some years ago, he became a
minister of the Church of England, and was institeted
to the Church of St. Brandon, .Parsonstown, King's
County, Ireland. He was there licensed, but the
licence was subsequently withdrawn.
The prisoner—The licence has never been withdrawn.
Mr. Ascroft continued—Upon the withdrawal of the
licence it weud appear that the rev. gentleman paid a
visit to this country. In Liverpool, in February, he
was found collecting money for enlarging and endowing
his church in Parsonstown, representing at the same
time that his cousin, William Crotty, acted as his curate
in Ireland during his absence. In that town, it ap-
peared from the subscriptiok book produced, that no
less a sum than 2001. had bees collected. Early in Oct.
last the rev. gentleman came Preston, and there ob-
tained numerous sums of money, varying in amount
from 1/. to 55., from many of the respectable inhabitants.
Several discrepancies having been detected in the state-
ments made by the prisoner to different persons with
respect to the object to which the subscriptions were to
be applied, suspicion was aroused, and the rector of
Birr, in whose parish the church sf St. Brandon is situ-
ate, was communicated with. The following letter was
received in repty:—

"Rectory, Birr, Ireland, Dec. 5, 1855.
et My dear Sir, --I really feet oblited for the trouble
yon are taking to prevent Mr. Crotty collecting money
in England for no other purpose tbak for the support of
himself and his family. His licence hie been withdrawn
by the bishop of the diocese, he having disappointed us
all in our anxiety to have seen him ksefully employed
as a clergyman of the Church among OA people to whom
he formerly ministered as a Roman Catoolie priest. His
wife, who is a native of Birmingham, atd the children,
are residing here, and, as lam informed, receive constant
supplies of money from Mr. Crotty. It 41 time that a
stop should be put to this state of thing?. The chapel,
which was built about 20 years since by the sub-
scriptions of those who were interested in the progress
of the Reformation in this country, is slut up, and
Mr. Crotty has been an absentee ever since he
obtained his licence, with the exception of a few
flying visits which be paid to his family. I ckn have no
objection to your making use of my name, btt at the
same time would wish to avoid any collision with Mr.
Crotty. I have advised him in this matter, and he gave
me a distinct assurance that he did not intend to remain
here, and that he would discontinue his visits to Xogland
for the purpose of collecting money, and endeavour to
obtain a curacy. His cousin, William Crotty, is a
Presbyterian chrgyman in Galway, and I do not think
that he has been in this town for twenty years.
"I am,. &c., yours, faithfully,
"L. Clark, Esq., Preston." "MARCUS M. CAI:ISLAND.
On the receipt of this letter, information was given to
the police, and that (Wednesday) morning Mr. Gibbons,
superintendent of the borough constabulary, appre-
hended the rev, gentleman on the platform in the rkii.
way station as he was about to leave Preston by train.
Mr. P. Park, C.E., and Mr. Watson, solicitor, were
then examined, and deposed to having, at the solicitation
of the prisoner, given him 11. and 10s. towards enlarging
and improving his church in Parsonstown. They would
not have entered their names in his subscription-book
if they had been aware that the money was intended for
the support of the rev, gentleman and his family.
Mr. Gibbons, superintendent of police, said he took
the prisoner into custody at the railway station, at ten
o'clock that morning, and charged him with obtaining
money under, false pretences. In the course of conver-
sation the prisoner said he had transmitted the contri-
butions he had received to his wife and family in Ireland
for their support.
Mr. Ascroft then applied for a remand for a week.
Mr. Blackhurst—Of course, the bench will admit Mr.
Crptty to bail ?
A. Ibe M-ayet-rWe shall require tie prisoner to enter
into recognThances, himself in 200/.-a;nd two sureties in
1001. each, for his appearance next iTednesday.
The prisoner—it will be totally out of iny power to