The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-22 00:00:00

CONTEMPT OF COURT.

A rule, calling upon Mr. Ford, an eminent solicitor,
residing in Pall4nall, to show cause why he had not
attended to give evidence in an action on a bill of ex-
change, tried before the Lord Chief Justice, at Guildhall,
on the Sth of June last, in consequence of which the
plaintiff had been nonsuited, was obtained by Mr. Ser-
jeant Jones on a former day.
Mr. Serjeant WILDE this morning showed cause against
the rule. Mr. Jones, in his affidavit, stated, that at the
time the subpoena was served upon him, he had intimated
to the attorney's clerk the utter impossibility of his attend-
ing the Court on the day in question, owing to the fact of
his being obliged to be present on a commission of bank-
ruptcy on the same day, when the assignees of the bank-
rupt were to be chosen ; that he had received previously
to the subrena being served upon him a great number
of powers of attorney from creditors to the estate, resid •
ing in Yorkshire, authorising him to vote for them in the
election of the assignees ; that he promised that his clerk,Mr.
Simpson, should attend in his stead, who was equally capable
of proving the handwriting of the defendant (al! he was
required to prove) as himself ; and, finally, that he had
not been actuated by the slightest wish te evade the pro-
ceSs of the Court, or offer any disrespect to their Lordships.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—I think it has been alleged
that Mr. Ford was at Ascot races on the day in question.
Mr. Serjeant WILDE admitted that it had been so stated ;
but the fact was he had only been separated from the Court
of Common Pleas by a single wall.
The affidavit of Simpson went to corroborate tfie state-
ments made by Mr. Ford, and added that, in conformity
to that gentleman's request, the deponent had attended the
' Court on the day in question for the purpose of proving
the defendant's handwriting, but that not seeing it men-
tioned in the written cause list, he . concluded that it
would not come on for trial during the day. Yet, not-
withstanding his conviction of the impossibility of the cause
coming on, he had remained in the neighbourhood of the
Court till past one o'clock. He had never received any
intimation that the cause would be undefended, and,
therefore, of course, concluded it would nut come before
the Court that day, so laid down as it was in the printed
cause paper.

Mr: Serjeant JONES, in support of the rule, contended
that in case witnesses were to be allowed thus to bilk with
their Lordships with impunity, there would be an end of
all law and justice.
The COURT were clearly of opinion that Mr. Ford in-
tended no personal insult to any of their Lordships, and
consequently ordered the rule to be discharged.—Rule
discharged.

THE AIAItKETS.-(THIS DAY).

HAY MARKETS.—(At per Load of 3t Trusses.)
ST. JA M ES'S.

Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay £2 5 to £2 13
New Meadow Hay 0 0 0 0
Useful Old Ditto 2 15 3 15
Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay 4 0 5 5
Clover Hay 3 10 5 5
Oat Straw £2 6to £2 10 I Wheat Straw... 2 10 2 14
Meadow Hay ss. per load higher than la.st quoted ; prices of
Clover Hay and Straw stationary. A short supply, and a brisk
trade.