The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-28 00:00:00

IN RE CULLEN.

This bankrupt was described as of the Duchess of Kent,
Ramsgate, licensed distiller.
'llas bankrupt was opposed on behalf of Messrs Elstock
and Bishop and others, on the ground of obtaining goods
from the distillery without reasonable prospect of being able
to pay.

Mr W. R. Buchanan for the assignee did not oppose,
and said that the bankrupt attributed his failure to the bad-
ness of the season and other cause:, one of which was the
new railway. The bankrupt was born in the house ho now
lived, and for 14 years had paid £3OO a year to the opposing
creditors.

His Honour asked how the railroad interfered with the
bankrupt?
The bankrupt said it took all the traffic away from the
house.

His Honour thought the bankrupt had acted impru-
dently, but the distillers, who generally looked out for
themselves, ought to have made inquiries.
Order suspended for six months, with protection.
TILE DANISH W.A.E. -IN RE EYRE.

This bankrupt was a corn merchant in Maik-lane, and
this was a meeting for choice of assignees.
Mr J. B. Sorrall, Mark-lane, appeared to support the
petition.

The debts amount to £2,B33—assets small. Bankrupt
attributes his losses to the Danish war.
M. Julius E. Baerholzn, Catherine-court, Seething-lane,
merchant, was chosen assignee, and Mr Sorrell executor to
the estate.

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr Commissioner Kerr.)

THE GREAT HALF BROTHER MARRIAGE QUESTION-

SUDDEN V. ENGLISH.
This was a case reported sow, time since, in which the
defendant pleaded her coverture to an action for rent. It
transpired that she had married her deceased husband's half
brother, and his Honour held that the marriage was invalid
—but he allowed the case to stand over, in order that de-
fendant might make a settlement with the plaintiff. To-
day the parties appeared again before his Honour, and it
was stated no money had been paid.
Defendant's son-in-law said his mother was a married
woman, and had been sued in her maiden name. Plaintiff
well knew of this marriage.
Plaintiff—l heard of it, but it is no marriage.
Son-in-Law—That is what yeti say.
His Honour—l have decided that already.
Son•in-Law—And does your Honour still say that this
is not a legal marriage ?

His Honour—lt i; worth nothing.
Son-in-Law--Then, I beg to say that there aro very
great opinion upon the subject.
His
of
s ofothere
may be, but you must remember
The Son-in-Law said that the plaintiff sued for £3 Ms,
and only 108 was due,
that in this court my opinion must prevail.

Plaintiff produced his rent book, and said that money
was all owing.

It was then stated that the quasi husband was 70 years
of age, and would have paid the money if the defendant had
allowed him,

mthaeTnhne son-in-law, late at night or early in the morning in a very indecent
plaintiff said that Mrs
made
the plaintiff to grant time.
man
removed
with
her hteor
spend
s
uu ordof for defendant to pay the
upon this, de-
r manner, ud
honeymoon.t that t s(hLea
(Laughter,)
rhn.
)egonlsdh
parted—evidently still
smtrononneisgy'llinaonandoisruerocptohimnenimon that the marriage was a good one.

RAILWAY PRISONS.—The Lord Advocate, M.P.,
delivered a lecture at Portobello (the opening of the
winter course),
and
Fridayin an
o u
length,rse),on e evening, had discoursed at con-
siderable
agreeable
and attractive style,
on the evidences of social progress.
Speaking of the impos-
sibility of assigning a limit to discovery and invention, he
remarked—Posterity will, no doubt, praise your ingenuity ;
but posterity will also, as it is wont to do, speak of you also
with contemptuous disparagement, Posterity will say—
" What times those were when travellers were stopped at
Begshot, or Hounslow, or Shooter's-hill. Railways no doubt
Put an end to these adventures, but only to give rise to
greater danger. Would you believe it ?" My successor
in this hall may say in 1061—" Would you believe it, 100
years ago they treated a traveller like a convict? They
looked him in a box, and, ill or well, living or deed, no man
could see him, and he could see no man, until he had gone 40
Ile might
o
bera
shut
villain;
with a murderer,
he might die of
rua
mileasa.mlatni,swaitfhacat.
drunkard,
apoplexy ; ho might have his throat cut ; all thia was
thought of no consequence at that time, The simple ar-
rangements which we now make were often proposed, but
resisted with frantic wrath as being utterly impracticable.
They had built their carriages for people to be imprisoned
in them, and therefore imprisoned they must be. The easy
expedient of a gangway outside the carriage and a bOl inside
was assailed with a hundred good and conclusive objec-
tions. People would use it recklessly ; and it was a pity to
disturb the guard when asleep when ho ought to be awake,
It would enable anybody to stop the train, although, as you
all know, it does not enable any one to stop the train ; it
would enable thieves to reach the carriages and to
escape—which is about as good a reason for not making a
road to your house." And thus would the lecturer in H;Cil
keep his audience amused by the preposteroes and stolid
follies of these times. It is pretended that there is no satis-
factory proposal for remedying the evil. I answer there
are a hundred ways of remedying the evil, and the worst of
them is not so bad as the state of things which exist?. It is
high time that progress travelled by rail.