The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-28 00:00:00

Mr. Walter Butler, of Tooley-street, for the plaintiff,
said the plaintiff was the assignee of a bankrupt named
Fancourt, the defendant holding certain goods, which, of
course, was, upon the bankruptcy, vested in the assignee.
It would be proved that Arthur had sold the goods and
pocketed the money. The goods consisted of some very
valuable cases of insects, which the bankrupt had been
many years in collecting, and which he had parted with to
the defendant (under certain circumstances) at a time when
ho well knew he had no right to do so. It was by the
merest chance that the knowledge of these goods came to
the plaintiff, and in fact the bankruptcy was nearly if not
quite over when tho facts came out. He (Mr. Butler)
would read to the court certain passages from the examina-
tion taken at the Bankruptcy Court, and than prove the
case generally.

After hearing the document read, the learned Secondary
directed the jury, who assessed the damages at £45.

POLICE-THIS DAY.

BOW-STREET, Tins DAY;

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR..—A,
gentlemanly-dressed man named John O'Brien was brought
up on a warrant charging him with having, on the 23d of
May inst., written and published a false, malicious, and
scandalous libel against James Graham Lewis, of the firm
of Lewis and Lewis, 3, Ely-place, Holborn.
Mr. Giffard appeared for the prosecution, and the defen-
dant conducted his own cause, although a solicitor was in
attendance on his behalf.

Mr. Giffard, in opening the case, said that in November,
1861, the prisoner filed a bill in Chancery, in which he com-
plained of a variety of transactions between himself, as
client, and the Messrs. Lewis, as his attorneys, stating that
they had kept back moneys which they ought to have paid
him, they putting in an answer which extended to a great
length, after which the defendant obtained leave to with-
draw and amend his bill of complaint, and struck out all
the charges in the first bill except one which related to a
sum of £3OO. The proceedings in the Chancery Court were
still pending, and the defendant, instead of carrying on as
he had a perfect right to do, adopted the course o. writing
libellous letters charging the Messrs. Lewis with perjury
and embezzlement, and sending those letters to many per-
sons which was calculated to do them serious damage in their
profession as solicitors. On the 23d of May the defendant
wrote to Mr. James Phenoas Davis, solicitor, of Clifford-
street, Bond-street, the letter contained charges against
the Messrs. Lewis, and on the following day he also
wrote Mr. William Bishop, the gunsmith of New Bond-
street—directing the letter to the Archbishop of Bond •
street—a letter of the same injurious description. It had
also come to the knowledge of the Messrs. Lewis that
letters of a similar description had been transmitted to Mr.
Abraham, a solicitor, of Bloomsbury-square, who was now
present, but who was unwilling to give those letters up,
though probably he would do so under magisterial pres-
sure. Of course it was of the grra est importance to the
Messrs. Lewis that the system should at once be put a stop
to, and the present proceedings were instituted for that
purpose. The learned gentleman then called,
Mr. William Bishop, who said—l am a gunsmith, carry.
ing on business in New Bond-street. A few days ago I re-
ceived a letter addressed to the Archbishop of Bond-street.
It was written by the defendant, lam enabled to say so
because I am familiar with his handwriting.
The letter was handed in and read. It contained a num-
ber of offensive observations applicable to the Messrs.
Lewis, charging perjury and embezzlement, and threaten-
ing them with revenge.

Mr. William Frederick Hobrow said-1 am managing
clerk to. Mr. James Phineas Davis, solicitor, who resides
at 15, Clifford-street, Bond-street. I was present when Mr.
Lewis opened the letter I produce. It is signed John
0' Brien.

The letter, after being identified by Mr. Bishop as being
in the handwriting of the defendant, was then read. It
contained similar charges to those mentioned in the letter
produced by the first witness.

Mr. Samuel Benjamin Abrahams, solicitor, of No. 7,
Bloomsbury-square, said—l hava in my possession many
letters from the prisoner; but I have been subpoenaed to
produce two letters by the Messrs. Lewis. I have a great
disinclination to producing them. However, lam entirely
in your worship's hands. •
Mr. Henry—l think you had better produce them.
The letters were then handed in.

Mr. Davis—l showed the letters to Messrs. Lewis. I
did so as I thought it was the wish of the defendant I
should do so. If I had thought they would have been
made use of in this manner, it is but fair to say I should
not have done so.

One of the letters handed in was read. It was similar in
effect to the two mentioned above. It contained imputa-
tions of perjury.

Defendant—Did you ever speak to me about making a
compromise with Messrs. Lewis ?

Mr. Abrahams—The subject of a compromise was dis-
cussed.

Mr. Giffard—Lot's have it all out, Mr. Abrahams.
Mr. Abrahams—As a mutual friend of both parties I
thought it best the litigation should end. I found that
Mr. O'Brien was not opposed to such a course, but Messrs.
Lewis were resolutely determined against such a proceed.
ing.

Defendant—Did I ever authorizo you to offer any terms?
Mr. Abrahams—No ; certainly not. I acted simply as
a volunteer. I don't say for a moment that you did.
Mr. Giffard—Mr. Lewis is now in court. He was not
at the commencement of the hearing.
Mr. Henri—Do you wish to call him P
Mr. Giffard—l do not; but if the defendant wishes I will
put him into the witness-box.

Dafendant—l wish to cross-examine Mr. Lewis.

Mr. James Graham Lewis, of Ely-place, was then sworn,
and the prisoner put a series of questions to him relative to
the action pending in Chancery between himself and the
defendant.

Mr. Henry—l don't wish to stop the cross-examination,
but I may as well inform you that the present investigation
has nothing to do with the proceedings in Chamery. The,
only question I have to deal with is whether you have
published a defamatory libel.
_ _

The defendant having put a'few more questions,:took the
advice of the magistrate, and desisted.
Sergeant Robinson of the Detective force, said—l appre-
hended the prisoner last evening in the Strand. I asked
him if his name was Mr. James O'Brien. Ho said it wasl
I then told him that I was a police-officer, that I held a
warrant for his apprehension on a charge of libel. I then
took him to the station.

Mr. Henry—l shall send this case for trial, but I will
accept bail, viz., two sureties for £2OO, and your own recog-
nisance for £4OO for his appearance at the sessions.
Tho defendant said he would be ready with the required
bail as soon as possible.