The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-26 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

The court sat in banco to-day, and disposed of three
demurrers, neither of which, however, presented any
feature of general interest.
(Sittings at Nisi Prius before Mr. Baron Platt and

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common juries.)
CREED AND WIFE V. RIGBY.-NEGLIGENCE.

Mr. Edwin James and Mr. Charles Pollock were
counsel for the plaintiffs ; Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Mil-
ward represented the defendants.
This was an action to recover compensation for in-
juries inflicted on the female plaintiff by reason of the
negligence of the defendants. It appeared that the
plaintiffs were tenants of a house in America-square,
Minories, which they had taken from the Black wall
Railway Company, who had employed the defendants,
the well-known contractors at Millbank, to whitewash
and plaster the ceilings. One of the workmen thus
employed removed from its position a gas bracket, and
the result was that on Mrs. Creed entering the room
with a lighted candle an explosion of the escaped gas
took place, by which she was seriously injured, having
been much burnt in the face and also in the right hand,
the use of which she has not since recovered, so that she
was compelled to keep her bed for six weeks. The
defence relied upon was the defendants were not liable,
as they had not done the work, but it had been done by
the servant of a party who had contracted under them,
and that it was not the duty of that perssn to have
executed the repairs as they had done.
. .

Several witnesses on both sides having been examined,
Mr. Baron Platt summed up, and
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs—da-
mages, 2501.
The learned judge then gave leave to the defendant to
enter a nonsuit subject to the opinion of the court above
on a point of law.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN BE HENSLEY-MINING SPECULATIONS.

The bankrupt, F. J. Hensley, was described as an
apothecary of Montagu-place, Russell-square. This was
the meeting for the last examination.
Mr. Pennell, the official assignee, reported that the
bankrupt commenced his account on 31st December,
1849, with a balance in his favour of 1,740/. He now
owed to unsecured creditors, 4,043/. ; to those holding
security, 6,4941. (the securities being valued at 3,2511.);
liabilities on bills of exchange, 1,003/. His profits as an
apothecary had been 1,289/. ; dividends received on
mining shares, 224/. The assets, consisting of debts and
mining shares, were returned at 1,068/. ; property settled
on his wife in September, 1850, 1,3501. The expenses
of various kinds, including 9971. for interest and discount,
amounted to 3,267/. ; losses from speculations in mining
shares, 4,7251. ; ditto from bad debts, 121/. ; liabilities
for which no consideration had been received, 1,003/.
The bankrupt's present position watrentirely attributable
to his speculations in mining shares. His transactions
in them had been very extensive, amounting to the sum
of 33,150/., and resulting in a clear loss of 4,7241. His
professional accounts had been kept with great accuracy;
the.expenses were corroborated by the books ; the share
accounts, law costs, interest, discount, and commission
accounts, were to a great extent corroborated by the
banker's book. There were no trade creditors. It was
difficult to form any opinion as to the amount of assets,
the property consisting, with the exception of book debts,
entirely of mining shares, the value of which was very
uncertain.

Mr. Cooper, for the assignees, offered no opposition,
and the bankrupt passed.

IN RE SEAGRIH. -- CASE OF THE LATE UNDER-SHERIFF

FOR HAMPSHIRE.

There was a dividend meeting in the case of Charles
Seagrim, solicitor, (made bankrupt as a gas manufac-
turer) of Winchester. The accounts have not been filed,
but the liabilities are understood to be large. A number
of proofs and claims to prove were tendered by various
parties, represented by counsel and attorneys, but the
majority of them were adjourned for further considera-
tion. None of them involved any point of interest, ex-
cept a claim preferred by Mr. Woodhams, a former part-
ner of the bankrupt, who had acted as steward and re-
ceiver of rents for Lady Mildmay, and who sought to
prove for upwards of 9001., which it was alleged the
bankrupt had received on Lady Mildmay's account, and
which had been paid to her ladyship by Mr. Woodhams.
From the examination of the bankrupt it appeared that
there were disputed accounts between himself and his
late partner, who he asserted, was not a creditor, but a
debtor for between 2,0001. and 3,0001.

His Honour said it was clear the proof could not be
admitted, nor did he think he could admit a claim, the
account of Mr. Woodhams having only been tendered
at the last moment, five o'clock on the preceding after-
noon. He was unwilling to reject the claim altogether,
but would adjourn the dividend meeting, at the cost of
the claimant, for the purpose of investigation.
Mr. Cooke, Mr. Bagley, and Mr. Lawrance repre-
sented the different parties in the case.

(Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.)
IN RE JAMES PALMER.

The bankrupt, a builder at Hove, Brighton, applied
for his certificate. The accounts, prepared by Mr.
Pettis, commence in January, 1852, with a capital of
2931., and terminate in August, 1853, with unsecured
debts, 3,965/. ; secured ditto, 8,0651. ; liabilities,
1,116 g. The assets were returned in good debts, 591.;
property given up, 1451. ; ditto held by creditors,
12,9601. The profits had been 2,757/. ; trade and per.
sonal expenses, about 9061.
Mr. Bagley supported ; there was no opposition.
His Honour granted a second class certificate.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.
IN BE MATTHEW NOTTINGHAM.

This insolvent, agent to the Caledonian Tube Com-
pany, whose case was reported on Tuesday, again came
up. The accounts were stated to be satisfactory, and
an immediate discharge was pronounced.