The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-29 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(TILIS DAY.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCIL
Nisi rnius.
(Before the Lard Chief-Justice and a Common Jury.)
COLMAN V. BEADLE.
This was an action to recover 301., as the price of
62 trees of oak wood ; and the question was whether
the wood was sold for ready money or on three months
credit.

The plaintiff was examined as a witness to prove that
the wood was sold for ready money.
The defendant and several witnesses were examined
to prove that the wood was sold on three months' credit.
Mr. Chambers, Q.C., addressed the jury for the

Mr. Serjeant Wilkins addressed the jury for the de-

etidant.

The Lord Chief Justice said that the jury would con-
sider the whole evidence; and if they believed the plain-
tiff, that the wood was ;old for ready money, their ver-
dict would be for the plaintiff ; but if they believed the
defendant and his witnesses, they would find a verdist
for the defendant.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.)
FAILURE LIVERPOOL MERCHANTS-IN RE GRIFFITHS,

NEWCOMBN, AND CO.

These bankrupts were described as of Gracechurch-
street, and Liverpool, shipowners, and to-day was ap-
pointed for the consideration of their certificates.
Mr. Lawrance applied for an adjournment till the
14th January next, for the assignees to wind up the
affairs ; and as the assignees were affording all possible
assistance, there was no objection to a continuance of
their allowances.

An adjournment to the 14th January was taken by

consent.

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.

(Before Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Baron Martin.)

Dr. Thomas gurney Ferguson, a Roman Catholic
priest, surrendered to take his trial for felony, in hating
unlawfully solemnised a marriage in a manner contrary
to the provisions of the statute.
_ ....

Mr. Rodkin, Mr. Ballantine, Mr. Parry, and Mr.
Salter appeared for the prosecution ; Serjeant Shea, Mr.
Clarkson, and Mr. 3Luddlestone were counael for the

prisoner.

From the opening speech of the learned oeunsel for
the prosecution, it appeared that the prisoner was the
officiating minister of a Roman Catholic chapel, known
as St. Thomas'■ Chapel, Fulham, and the offence
imputed to hint was that he had solemnised a marriage
between two persons named Hannah Sarah Steele and
Thomas Crotty at this chapel contrary to the provisions
of the Dissenters' Marriage Act in two particulars. It
appeared that the certificate of the superintending re-
gistrar of the district upon which the authority for the
marriage was erected directed that it should be cele-
brated at another Roman Catholic place of worship
called Holland-street Chapel, whereas the defendant per-
formed the ceremony at his own chapel ; and it also
appeared that no persons were present at the time,
except the father of Crotty, the act of Parlia-
ment requiring that the Deputy-Registrar sheuld be
present when a marriage of this kind was celebrated.
It appeared that immediately after the ceremony, the
man Crotty deserted his wife, she being in the family .way,
and she was compelled to apply to the parish authorities,
and the question of the legality of the marriage having
thus been brought into discussion, the present prosecu-
tion was instituted with a ♦iew to decide the question as
to whether the defendant had infringed the Act of Par-
liament or not.

The facts having been admitted,
Sergeant Shee proceeded to address a long legal argu-
ment to the Court, the effect of which appeared to be,
that the defendant had merely, in accordance with the
doctrines of his Church, gone through the ceremony of a
sacrament, and that he had not infringed tie provisions
of the statute under whick the indictment was preferred.
The Judges, however, unanimously expressed their
opinion that the defendant had brought himself within
the scope of the law, and that he had no answer to make
to it in point of law.

With their lordship' direction, therefore, the jury re-
turned ft verdict of guilty.

Mr. Bodkin intimated that the only object of the pro•
secution was to have the law settled.

Maron Alderson said the court imagined that there
was no desire to press for punishment, and it was per-
fectly clear that the defendant had in fringed the law,
and he trusted he would abstain from d Ping so in future.
He them ordered hint to enter into recoguisances in the
sum of 500/. to appear and receive the judgment of the
court if he should be required to do so.