The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-04 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

COURT OF PROBATE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
HART V. 01-I&PMAN.

This was a suit promoted by the plaintiff, Mr. Steven
Hart, a farmer residing at Wistell, near Ashford, in Kent,
to establish the will and codicil of Miss Elizabeth Chapman,
an aged lady, who died at Penton Court, near Ashford, on
the Bth of October, 1863, leaving property to the amount
of between £BOO and £9OO a year. The will was executed
as far back as October, 1842, and the codicil (which was
the only instrument in dispute) was made is 1861. The
defendant pleaded undue execution, undue influence, and
want of testamentary incapacity: By the will the de-
ceased made several bequests to her servants and friends,
but made no promise to her relatives, who were
remote, and by the codicil she left Mr Hart, who was her
bailiff and rented a farm from her, and other tenants, their
farms, on the condition of their paying her sister, Miss Ca-
theriue Chapman, who was a lunatic, and to whom she had
been appointed guardian, £lO a year during her life. It
was stated by counsel that Mr Home, one of the deceased's
tenants, had been her bailiff ; but although she remembered
him in her Ns ill, she became dissatisfied with his manage-
ment of her affairs, which she entrusted to the plaintiff in
1835. He placed them in a proper position. The deceased
was 73, and only ten days before her death transacted some
business.
The court pronounced in favour of the will.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Registrar Murray.)
IN RE STIFF.

This was a dividend meeting under the estate of this
bankrupt, formerly proprietor of the Morning Chronicle
newspaper.
It appears from the report of Messrs Hart Brothers and
Hayles, who had been appointed as accountants to the
estate, that the petition was issued on the 20th March,
1862, and the debts and liabilities amounted to £38,330 14s.
7d., and the assets were stated at £23,770 4s. 6d., leaving a
deficiency of £14,560, accounted for by the deficiency,
paper, stock end cash accounts.
A dividend of 7s. in the pound has already been paid,
and, after deducting for prcofs admitted this day, it is ex-
pected there will be a further dividend of 6d. in the pound.

IN RE TOM SURRIDGE.
This bankrupt was described as of Coventry. street, Hay-
market, licensed victualler, and this was a meeting for choice
of assignees, who were after some discussion chosen.
The accounts by Messrs. Hart Brothers and Hayles show
dr. to cr. £7,406; assets, lease, &c., £5,000; stock, furni-
ture, &c., £4BB ; deficiency, £1,583.
(Before Mr Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN RE ALDRIDGE.

This bankrupt, Mrs Martha Aldridge, had carried on
business in the Borough market, and her total debts
amount to £l4O, £lO9 of which is for law costa, It appeared
that she had brought an action against a railway company
for damage sustained by the non• delivery of goods, and in
the first instance obtained a verdict ; but which was, how-
ever, set aside on one of those technicalities under the
Carriers' Law of shifting responsibility.
The bankrupt obtained an immediate order of discharge,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

A SUCCESSFUL MENDICANT. - Thomas Roberts, a
miserable-looking old man, was charged before Mr Yardley
with begging.
Edmund Hutton, 34 C, proved seeing the prisoner begging
of ladies and gentlemen in Soho-square. On searching the
prisoner at the station he found is 6d in his possession.
Burns, the gaoler, stated that a short time ago the
prisoner was brought to the court on a similar charge, and
then about 16s was found upon him.
Mr Yardley said it was clear the prisoner was an in-
corrigible, and certainly a successful beggar. He should
commit him for a month with hard labour.