The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-05 00:00:00

LA.W INTELLIGENCE—Sept, 4,

LORD MAYOR'S COURT.
(Before the Recorder and a Common Jury.)
BULVEN AND ANOTHER V. FORSTER—AN INFANT MER-
CHANT—SINGULAR CASE AND SPECIAL VERDICT.
This was an action to recover moneys paid for defendant
as premiums for insurances upon certain ships. Defendant
pleaded infancy.
Mr. Day, instructed by Messrs. Ashley and Tee, appeared
for the plaintiff, and Mr. Joyce instructed by Mr. Davies,
for defendant.
Mr. Joyce said that the simple issue to be tried was the
question whether defendant was an infant at the time this
debt was c)ntracted. If be were, then it was clear that de-
fendant was entitled to a verdict, though the debt was ad-
mitted.

Mr. Forster, sen., seid—l was present at the birth of my
son, the defendant. I made an entry in the family Bible.
Defendant was born on the 4th February, 1812.
Cross•examfned—l live at Evesham. My son came up
to London four or five years ago. He came up as a clerk,
but soon became a merchant. I lent him £3OO to start as
a raerchant about four years ago. It may have been in
1858, hut I do not think it was. He became a merchant
on his own account about four years ago. He did not tell
me that the plaintiffs had laid out £7lO premiums for in-
surances on his ships. lle may have done business to the
extent of thousands when an infant, but he did not tell me.
He now lives in lodgings in liendell-street. He was to
repay me the £lOO out of his profits. I had no interest in
the business.

Mr. Day said this was a most disreputable plea, and de-
fendant and his lather ougnt to be ashamed of it. Here
was a case where plaintiff had actually recovered £3OO in
this Court under an attachment. The defendant owed
them COO, money actually paid for his business, and now
he sought by this miserable plea to deprive plaintiffs of the
£3OO they had already got. The plaintiffs were highly re-
spectable ship and insurance brokers of this city, and they
had dealt with defendant upon the faith of his being of age.
He himself stated so, and it was a scandalous thing that
merchants in the city of London should be so deceived by a
person in this manner.
Mr. Thos. Loden said—l known defendant, and have
known him four or five years. I have had business
dealings with him on his own account since I have known
him. He had an office in Cross-street, and traded as T.
Forster and Co. One day we had a conversation in the
autumn of 1860, and he said " I have just turned 22. my
transactions with him were large. He was a merchant.
lam a cornfactor. lam 28. I began business in 1858.
Cross-examined—Hc was debtor when he said he was 22,
and I dealt with him afterwards, but I should not have
done so had I known he was under age.
Mr. Day then quoted a case recently decided by Mr.
Commissioner Kerr as to the privilege and liabilities of an
infant trader in the city of London, bat his lordship said he
was not awt.re of any custom or law by which an infant
trader could be made liable in this City.
Mr. Day admitted that he had no authority but the report
for the jury 11, say
in the City Press, and, after Mr. Joyce had replied,
Ills Lordship summed up, and said that the father was
\
bound to tell the truth, and could not be blamed. It was
e defendant which side was most to be believed, the
Family Bible and Mr. Forster, sen., or the witness called
by plaintiffs.
the jurynaa
actonwsiuthl teNd.e,ryangdretahterfecgrreemt7 said, " We find for
Ills Lord, .
11,P—All honest men must feel in that way.

Mgr' 131tbor, Archbishop of Paris, is at present
on a visit to Blois.

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing Hornirnan' 8 pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4cl. and
43. "High Standard''
at 4s 4d"
(formerly 4s. 81), is the
strongest and most delicious i
town supply it in packets. mported. Agents in every
[ADVERTISEMENT.I-41011ONVar, p.
—anagement of
nealth.—The complex composition 4'.M
to produce
of the
functions of the human body are ever tethed-dezlicacy
aiitte.. This
disease unless the blood be maintained inna tending to
most desirable object can be accomplishedPbuyre
use of these purifying pills, which have the
regulating the stomach, liver, and bowels. These pills also
ofa
alteratives, tonics, and gentle. aperients ; they overcome
flatulence, loss of appetite, biliousness, constipation, and
many other inconveniences wifich should never be aeglected
for fear of worse results,