The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-27 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Szpr. 26.
Mr. Commissioner LAW sat on Tuesday night until nine
o'clock.

NEGLIGENCE OF CREDITORS—IN RE THOMAS JONES.
Mr. CooKE applied in this case, on the part of an attorney,
for the assigneeship ; two creditors bad been named and ono
had declined, the other sought the office.
Mr. Commissioner LAW said this case afforded an instance
among the many, of the negligence of creditors. The insol-
vent was heard before him at Cardigan. No creditors appeared.
He found he had fraudulently made over a bane, and he ad-
journed the case until the property was given up. Two credi-
tors were at the time named assignees. Some time after-
wards 481. was paid into Court, and the man discharged. On
the money being found in Court, then an application came
from an attorney. He should refuse the prayer. In a few days
he should, under the new Bill, have the power to appoint a
person who was not a creditor. The provisional assignee
would divide the money, which would pay a good dividend, as
the debts were only 771. The case was one among the many
in which creditors might be benefited if they gave themselves
a little trouble.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

A north of England woman named Ann Read, was charged
with having pillaged the trunk of a French woman, named
Harriet Manning. The details of this case pretty clearly ex-
posed the extensive system of smuggling carried on by women,
between France and England.
The complainant had, according to the account given by
Childs, a constable, been several months ago apprehended
upon a charge of smuggling, and sentenced to a fine of 100/.
or imprisonment for twelve months. Sbe was, however, after
repeated applications to the Board of Customs, discharged
from prison after six months' confinement, and payment of 25/.
penalty. She had been taken into custody at Blackwall, on
board the Grand Turk, and the contraband goods were found
upon ber person. Her trunk was taken in the steamer to the
Custom House, and after she became aninmate of the prison
she requested her friend the prisoner to clear it out of the
stores. The prisoner, however, took advantage of her situation,
and applied to her own purpose the contents of the trunk,
and it was fer this robbery the prisoner was put to the bar.
The LORD MAYOR—Do you know the complainant and the
prisoner? Childs—Very well, my Lord. They are most no-
torious smugglers.
Prisoner—l get my hying in as honest a way as anybody
can, by hard labour.
The LORD MAYOR—You don't seem to think anything about
smuggling. Prisoner—There is no question about smuggling
here, my Lord—be good enough to take that into consider-
ation.

Childs—When I went to the prisoner's house I found three
gallons of smuggled spirits in the bed, covered up with the
bed clothes. Prisoner—Well, suppose you did, you did not
find me with it, did you?
The LORD MAYOR—You seem perfectly to understand what
evidence is necessary to produce conviction. Prisoner—My
Lord, I am a good deal backwards and forwards between this
and the Continen,, and my husband being unable to work, I am
obliged to maintain the family.
A Custom House officer, named Jordan, said that the pri-
soner was perfectly right in stating that she was often on
visits to the Continent. She and the complainant, in fact,
belonged to a gang of the most active and successful smug-
glers in the metropolis. They had articles fitted to their
bodies, by which they were enabled to convey contraband
goods in inconceivably large quantities. They were in the
habit of landing at Greenwich or its neighbourhood, because
they were afraid to meet with the female searchers of London,
and the officers, who knew their practices, durst not attempt
to search them•
Pri3ooCr--.VVe do the best we can for our families, my Lord,
between the two countries.
The LORD MAYOR—Arc there not regulations amongst the
smugglers to maintain those who are subjected to imprison-
ment, in consequence of illicit dealings? Jordan—They are
all in excellent circumstances,my Lord, and live most com-
fortably. These two aridtheir
husbands are constantly at the
business ; and when anything disagreeable occurs they go off
to a FreIiCITI3R in this town, who is in the wholesale contra.
band trade.
The complainant said it was peculiarly bard upon her that
while she was suffering in prison her friend should dispose of
the goods in her trunk.
The prisoner had supplied the complainant with money
amounting to more than the value of the property in the
trunk, which the complainant had requested her to take the
trouble to " clear out.
The LORD MAYOR said, "you have taken the trouble to
clear it out off. ctually, I think."
The prisoner—But she has had the value. However, if
your Lordship thinks the property ought to be restored to her,
why I'll see what I can do in my next trip.—( A laugh.)
The LORD MAYOR--I cannot detain you, for the evidence
is not sufficient ; but I tell you that you are bound in honour
to restore the property of which you possessed yourself in so
ugly a manner.
Prisoner—Very well, my Lord, she shall be all right when
I have luck.
The LORD MATOR.--You seem to have a perfect command
of the English language ; pray do you understand the French ?
Prisons—Oh dear yes, any Lord. To do business properly
people must understand it.—(A laugh. )
Jordan—She is perfectly well acquainted with it, my Lord.
They are both as well know trders as are to be found.
The LORD MATOR--Welln , I a
trust they will be propf.rly
watched. This exposure must surely check them ; but they
reem (particularly the prisoner) to be regardless of the exer-
tions of the revenue officers.