The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-26 00:00:00

riffiths.

Dr. Griffiths called—l am one of the canons of Roche s-
,er. I kept an account since 1830 with the defendants,

at that time it was then Paul and Paul, it was

afterwards changed to the present title in 1850. I
They bought, at my request, 2,000/, in Danish
5 per Cent. Bonds, and was debited in mypass-book upon
the following February. I entrusted them to purchase
a further amount of 1,0001. in the same stock, and was
debited with this also, and a further sum of 2,0001.,
making in the whole 5,0001. I do not think
I ever saw or made any particular inquiry about
these bonds. I remember Mr. Bates saying that they
were quite secure and safes in their custody. In April,
1855, I asked Bates particularly about the Danish
Bonds,and he said that they had received the dividend on
the bonds, but the dividends upon some gas shares
bad not been carried to my account. The dividends
upon the bonds were regularly carried to my account
down to March. I never gave any authority, either
directly or indirectly, to dispose of any of my shares, or
in any way convert them to their use. The total
amount of my securities and property in their
hands at the time of the failure was 22,0001.
I did not ask for them or to see them, but I had con.
I versation with Mr. Bates relative to these and other

securities they held of mine. I transacted business
solely with Mr. Bates, and I have bad conversations
with him since the purchase of these securities. He
said they were quite secure, and would take charge of
them. With reference to the Danish Bonds, I had a
conversation with Mr. Bates and Mr. Strahan on the
28th of April. I went to the bank on other business,
and in the course of conversation I said, " You have
received my dividend on the 5,000 Danish Bonds,
but you have not received my interest on the gas
shares (referring to my pass book). Strahan said "Yes;
we have this morning received the interest on your gas
shares, but not yet put them to your account." Bates
went out of the room, and returned, saying, " Yes; they
have been received, and put to your account." The
dividends on the Danish stock have regularly been car-
ried to my account in my pass-book from the time of
their purchase up to March, 1855. I never
gave authority, directly or indirectly, to either
of the prisoners to sell, negotiate, transfer, pledge, or in
any way convert these bonds to their own use ; they
were only to keep them in safe custody, and receive the
dividend.
By Mr. Bodkin—Your balance, I suppose, was al-
ways large ?
Witness—More than was prudent, I suppose. I was
in London at the time of the prisoner's stoppage. I
put this sum into the hands of my solicitor. War-
rants were issued from Bow-street for the prisoner's
apprehension after that application. Strahan called on
me where I was staying in Lower Berkley-street. Two
friends of Strahan had previously called on me, one of
whom I saw. Strahan's first observation was to this
effect. He was surprised to hear that I should have
obtained no information at the bank respecting my secu-
rities, for he and his partners were there constantly to
give whatever information might be required. (This I be-
lieve was in reference to the conversation I had had
with his friend.) He said they were day and night
making up their accounts, and that if I proceeded with
the legal measures I had commenced it would be very
detrimental to the creditors at large, and particularly to
myself, for the securities had been so disposed of that
there was no possible chance of my recovering anything
of them, whereas, if I abstained from these pioceedings,
there was a good prospect of my having them replaced,
as both he and Sir John Paul had great expectation
of receiving money hereafter, by which these securities of
mine might be restored to me; and, indeed, he added that
they bad prepared notes of band for me in case I should
have called at the bank. He then proceeded to say that
my securities had been taken by Sir John Paul to the
city and placed in the hands of either Overend or Bur-
nand ; I could not recollect which. He said Sir John
Paul was not alone to blame ; that he was equally to
blame and equally responsible, inasmuch as it was done
with his (Strahan's) full knowledge and consent.
"Indeed," said he, " I gave them to him," and
immediately added, "I assure you it was the first
dishonest act of my life. I never before defrauded any
man of 6d." I asked him when this happened, and he
replied about 6 weeks ago, and that the securities so
disposed of amounted to nearly 100,0001. (meaning the
securities of mine as well as others), but yours is by fu
the largest amount belonging to any one individual. I
asked him if some of my securities had been disposed
of by Messrs. Peppercorn f He answered; he believed
some of them might have been. I also asked him if my
special securities were kept in my box that I had
provided for that purpose, of which they had
one key and I the other. He replied, "No, they
were not, but that they were kept with other securities
of a similar nature in a parcel tied up by themselves,
with my name affixed to them. I think he said they
were kept in a strong room ; he then urged upon me the
impolicy of my proceedings, saying, many others simi-
larly situated as myself had been very kind to them, and
begged that I would abandon the proceedings ; he said
lie knew the warrants were issued at that time. Mr.
Bates was in custody, Sir John Paul had escaped,
and there was a warrant out for Strahan's ap-
prehension. I told him I was not actuated
by any vindictive feelings, but that I had a
duty to discharge to society, and could not stay the pro-
ceedings.
Cross-examined by Sir F. Thesiger—l never saw these
Danish bonds at any time. I cannot say if they are
securities that pass from hand to hand without assign-
ments. The dividends were payable in March and Sep-
tember, to the best of my belief. I have a correct state-
ment of the conversation between myself and Mr.

Strahan.
By Mr. Serjeant Byles—l did not suppose anything
about the securities being kept in the box.
By Mr. Edwin James—The gas shares were not in
the prisoners' custody ; they only received the divi-
dends.
By the Attorney-General—The gas shares world re-
quire my signature before they could be transferred.
Mr. Charles Peppercorn examined by Mr. Poland—l
am a stock and sharebroker, carrying on business at 2,
Royal Exchange-buildings. I was in the habit of making
purchases for the prisoners, and called on them for orders
from time to time. On id February, 1850, I made a
purchase of 5 per cent. Danish Bonds by the request of
the prisoners to the amount of 2,0001. for Dr. Griffiths ;
the order book produced in which the entries of the pur-
chases are made belongs to the prisoners, and when filled
up is returned to them ; the bonds were marked 378,
460, 459, 457, and 458.
Mr. John Hill, stock-broker, examined by Attorney-
General—l purchased stock for the prisoners ; the orders
were generally given on slips of paper ; on the 15th of
April, 1850, I purchased 1,000 Danish five per cents, by
their order; it was one bond, No. 87. I think the order
is in the handwriting of Mr. Bates. On 10th April
1851, I received another order from them to purchase
2,000 Danish five per cants. They were purchased and
delivered on the 16th April : two were for 4001. each,
and numbered 426 and 573 ; two for 3001., and num-
bered 693 and 794 ; and six for 1001., numbers 657, 659
to 663 inclusive. They were all duly delivered on the
16th April.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Byles—l am unable
to state without reference to my books whether I re-
purchased for the prisoners in. June, 1854, any of these
Danish 5 per Cent. Bonds.
Mr. Sergeant Byles said it would be necessary forhim
to ascertain the fact, and requested him to send for the

books.
Mr. John Allen examined by Mr. Bodkin—l was
clerk in the prisoner's bank. It was Strahan, Sir J.
Paul's father, the present Sir John Paul, and Bates
Sir John Paul died about three years since. No other
alteration had been made in the firm. Before Sir John
Paul's death the securities were kept in tin boxes in the
strong roem. The prisoners bad access to the books of
the bank. It was part of my duty to cut off the cou-
pons from the Danish bonds as the dividends became
due. I made a list of them and gave them to a clerk to
take into the city and receive the amount. In Septem-
ber, 1851, I did it. Messrs. Ilarnbro and Company
were the London agents for the Danish stock (the
book produced contains the list, and the Coupons are
numbered 426, 573, 793, and 794 ; in another list the
Co-upons were numbers 657, 659, 660, 661, 662, and 663,
;
and they were in the possession of the prisoners at that
t ime
I should say Sept., 1853, was the last time these
I knish Bonds had the Coupons cut from them.
By Serjeant Byles—No other person but Dr. Griffiths
h id Danish 5 per Cent. Bonds at the bank.
G Mr.t:neratlelxaanuideornßeeoaftttihee,
Directors of the
examined
by
the
NationalA tt L
or neiyf
A, tsurance Company. I am very intimate with Sir
Jo bn Paul ; at the end of 1853 Sir J. Paul asked the
cot 2:nany to advance him 20,000/. on foreign securities.
I rc F lied the company did not advance money on such
securities, and suggested introducing him to the Stock
Exck ange for a loan. He came to me a second time.
I t old him it would be difficult to get money then in
cot ,sequence of the war, and suggested his selling the
fore ign securities. Sir John gave me a list of the seen-
ritie. s, and I asked Messrs. Foster and Braithwaite, my
brok, Ira, to manage the matter for him. I received two