The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-24 00:00:00

LAW-THIS DAY.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Registrar Hazlitt.)

IN RE DENNANT, BEATER, SCROSS—DIVIDEND MEETING.
A meeting was held to-day for proof of debts and declara-
tion of further dividend in this case. The bankrupts had
carried on a very extensive business in the city, under the
firm of Coster and Co. Mr, Coster, retiring, left the busi-
ness, under conditions, to his partners, who continued it up
to a certain period with success, but ultimate:y succumbed
to unavoidable losses, with a very large amount of indebt •
edness, but since the bankruptcy a dividend of lls. 6d. in
the pound had been paid.
Some proofs were admitted to the amount of about
£5,000. The most noticeable point was in a case where the
assignees had elected to terminate a lease, and the sessor
was allowed to prove for dilapidations, on the award of a
surveyor agreed upon by Messrs. Sale and Turner for the
assignees, and Mr. Reed for the official managers, Messrs.
Honey and Co.--The proof was admitted.
Mr. Reed then proposed an allowance to the bankrupts,
which is, under the new act, entirely dependant on the cre-
ditors. He proposed £1,200 to Mr. Dennant, £Bto to Mr.
Beater, and £3OO to Mr. Ross. The difference was made
on the grounds that Mr. Dennant had much more at stake
than Mr. Beater, and he had been indefatigable in his exer-
tions to assist the assignees, which unfortunately Mr. Beater
was, through ill health, unable to do. There was not the
slightest reflection intended on Mr. Beater, and Mr. Ross
had been but a comparatively short time in the firm. Sub-
ject to these allowances, it was proposed to pay a further
dividend of Is. 6d. in the pound, but it would be some time
before another could be announced, as it would take
time to realise the remaining property. He (Mr. Reid)
also proposed £2OO as remuneration to Messrs. Honey
and Co.

Mr. Errott, a creditor for a large amount, spoke in very
high terms of praise of the conduct of the members of the
firm, and said he should have anticipated a surplus some
time ago, but he most cordially agreed with the proposi-
tions made.
The resolutions were adopted, and the time of payment
of the dividends will be duly announced.

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Kerr.)
ADVERTISING FOR A WIFE AND SELLING TUB LADY
FOR £227.—BYE V. KOWATSKI.
The plaintiff in this case bought to recover £5 upon a
certain I 0 U, alleged to have been signed by defendant
on behalf of a third person.
Mr. Buchanan (for defendant)—lf your honour will per-
mit me, I can simplify matters very much by stating that
no consideration ever passed for the I 0 U. The defen-
dant is the head cook at the Castle Tavern, in Gresham-
street, and he was acquainted with a Mr. Camera. Now,
Mr. Camera advertised for a wife—(laughter)—and a cer-
tain young lady answered the advertisement. (Renewed
laughter.) Mr. Camera, however, was not quite satisfied ;
either the lady was not pretty enough or had not money
enough—(laughter)—but for some reason or other he
said to defendant, " You want a wife ; it is a pity the lady
should be disappointed. (Laughter.) You shall have
her for £27, (Shouts of laughter.) Defendant
thinking a good wife cheap at £27, gave a
bill for the amount. (Here the gravity of the
judge quite gave way, and he could not but join in the
bursts of laughter which greeted the speech of the learned
gentleman.) The lady, however, turned up her nose at
defendant. "What," said she, "marry a cook—a common
cook. No, indeed, I haven't come to that yet." (Great
laughter.) Mr. Camera then said to the defendant, " Well,
the sale is off, and you may have your bill back, but she
may alter her mind, for women are changeable, so you shall
have her for £5. Give me your I 0 U for £5, and if you
should marry the lady pay me." As the lady was still
obdurate, he (Mr. Buchanan) contended that no considera-
tion had passed.
Miss Bye (the plaintiff) said she had been barmaid to
Camera, who owed her £l5 wages, and gave her this
I 0 U in part payment.
Mr. Camera said that the defence set up as a preliminary
step by Mr. Buchanan was not altogether correct. Witness
had kept defendant for six months, and had lent him money.
Cross-examined—l did not advertise for a wife. A. friend
of mine did. 1 thought that the defendant was hard up for
a wife—(laughter)—and so I told him he could have the
lady.
His Honour—Why don't you pay plaintiff her £l5 P
Witness—l have been bankrupt.
His Honour—Did you advertise for a wife before or after
your bankruptcy ? (Roars of laughter.)
Witness—Before.
Mr. Buchanan then called defendant, who denied that
Camera had kept him or lent him money. Camera wrote
out the I 0 U himself. The facts were as stated by Mr.
Buchanan, and the only thing giving rise to the £27 bill
and the £5 I 0 U was the lady, who was sold to defendant.
(Laughter.)
Hia Honour considered that defendant had made out his
case, but it was rather hard upon Miss Bye. Miss Bye
had her remedy against Camera, but now there must be a
verdict for defendant, with costs.
Mr. Camera threatened to indict defendant for perjury.

POLICE-THIS DAY.