The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-30 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

William Wilkinson, aged 21, and William Gray, aged
22, two respectably-dressed young men, charged with
stealing a silver watch of the value of 51., the property
of Henry Clark, and the latter with unlawfully attempt-
ing to steal the same, pleaded not guilty.
It appeared, from the evidence of the prosecutor and
an inspector of police, that on the night of the 21st of
this month Mr. Clark was coming out of Drury-lane
Theatre, when the inspector, who was in the crowd, saw
the prisoner Wilkinson put his arm round Mr. Clark's
waist, and attempt to take his watch. Shortly after this
he again saw the prosecutor's watch attempted to be
taken, and on this occasion •it was again by the prisoner
Wilkinson. He followed in the wake of the prosecutor,
and the prisoner Wilkinson made another attempt, and
this time succeeded in getting the watch from his waist-
coat pocket, but without breaking the guard. When
the second attempt was made Gray was some distance
in advance of Wilkinson, and turned round and said
" Come on." When at the station, they denied ever
having seen each other.
Mr. Repton, who appeared for the prisoner Gray,
made an eloquent appeal to the jury, and contended that
he had not assisted the other prisoner ; and the fact of
his turning round and saying "Come on" showed that
he was leaving the theatre as fast as the circumstances
would permit.
The prisoner Wilkinson, in defence, stated that he
knew nothing at all about the charge.
The Assistant-Judge summed up at some length, when
the jury returned a verdict of guilty against both prison-
ers ; and they, having been several times before con-
victed, the learned Assistant-Judge stated that he was
sorry he could not send them out of the country. The
sentence of the Court was that they be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for 12 calendar months in the House
of Correction.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Holroyd.)

IMPORTANT QUESTION AS TO THE LIABILITY OF A MINOR

UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY LAW.

This was a summons under the 'Debtor Traders Act,
and defendant was called upon to pay the debt claimed,
or, in case of not doing so, or showing cause to the con-
trary, proceedings in bankruptcy might be taken.
Mr. Chidley, of Gresham-street, appeared for the cre-
ditor, and Mr. Sturgeon as counsel for the debtor.
Mr. Sturgeon took an objection, that at the time the
party summoned contracted the debt he was a minor,
and quoted authorities to show that any person who
sned out proceedings in bankruptcy would be guilty of
contempt of Court.
Mr. Chidley said he would not waste time in discussing
that point ; for in the first place the debtor was now of
age, and in the next, that these were not proceedings in
bankruptcy, but preliminary to them, or proceedings at
law ; all that he now required was that the debtor should
admit or deny the debt.
Mr. Sturgeon said he certainly denied the debt, and
also the jurisdiction of the court to enter into the case.
His Honour said that the party summoned was now of
age ; the question of minority could not be tried before
him, and whether the debt was legally contracted or not
was for a jury to decide—the party was now fully before
the court, and must answer the claim one way or the
other.

Mr. Sturgeon then said the usual affidavit would be
made, and leave the creditor to take ulterior proceedings.

ELECTION PETITIONS.

The following is a list
against :

of 120 members petitioned

46 MINE

Astell, J. H.
Bagge, W.
Bateson, T.
Bentinck, G. P.
Booker, T. W.
Booth, Sir R. G.
Bremiidge, R.
Brisco, M.
Butt, I.
Dodd, G.
Ducane, C.
Fraser, Sir W. A.
George, J.
Gipps, H. P.
Grogan, E.
Hamilton, J. H.
Hanbury, Hon. S. B.
Heathcote, G. H.
Herbert, Sir T.
Hill, Lord A. E.
Horsfall, T. B.
Johnstone, Hon. H. B.
Ker, D. S.

;TERIALISTS.
King, J. K.
Kirk, W.
*Lacon, Sir E.
Macaulay, Kenneth
Mackenzie, W. Forbes
Mare, C. J.
Miller, Taverner J.
Mills, A.
Montgomery, H. L.
Peacocke, G. M. W.
Pigot, Sir R.
Robertson, P. E.
*Rumbold, C. E.
Smith, Sir F.
Taylor, Colonel
Taylor, H.
Turner, C.
Vance, J.
Waddington, D.
Wellesley, Lord C.
Whitmore, H.
Woodd, B. T.
Wyndham, General

74 OPPO

Aglionby, H. A.
Alcock, T.
Armstrong, R.
Ball, J.
Barnes, T.
Bass, M. T.
Bell, J.
Bland, L. H.
Boyle, Hon. Colonel
Brady, J.
Carter, S.
Challis, Alderman
Chaplin, W. J.
Clay, J.
Clifford, H. M.
Cockburn, Sir A. E.
Collier, R. P.
Crook, J.
Dent, J. D.
Duffy, C. G.
Eccles, W.
Esmonde, J.
Fagan, W.
Ferguson, J.
Fitzgerald, J. D.
Fitzgerald, Sir. J. F.
Forster, M.
Gardner, R.
Goderich, Viscount
Gower, Hon. F. L.
Graham, Right Hon. Sir J.
Henchy, D. O'Connor
Higgins, G. G. 0.
Kennedy, Tristram
Keogh, W.
King, Hon. P. J. Locke
Lawless, Hon. Cecil

,SITIONISTS.
Lowe, R.
Lucas, F.
Mackinnon, W. A.
M'Taggart, Sir J.

Magaii: WI H.

Maguire, John F.
Mangles, R. D.
Mills, T.
Opposition?;
Moore, G. H.
Murphy, J. S.
Norreys, Sir D. J.
O'Brien, C.
O'Brien, P.
O'Brien, Sir T.
Oliveira, B.
Osborne, R.
Peto, S. M.
Phillimore, J. G.
Ponsonby, Hon. A. G. J.
Price, Sir R.
Price, W. P.
Ricardo, J. L.
Russell, W. F.
Sadlier, J.
Scully, F.
Stapleton, J.
Swift, R. M.
Towneley, C.
Wall, C. B.
Walmsley, Sir J.
Warner, E.
Westhead, J. P. B.
Whatm an, J.
Wickham, H. W.
Willcox, B. M`G.
Wilson, M.