The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-01 00:00:00

I) THE BANKRUPTCY OF THOMAS MASTERSON.

The bankrupt was a warehouseman and commission
agent, in Cheapside. This was the certificate meeting.
Mr. Lawrence, of the firm of Lawrence and Reed,
supported ; Mr. Cooke opposed.
The grounds of opposition were—reckless trading,
excessive expenditure, improperly contracting a debt,
and going on in trade when in a state of insolvency. To
support the first,
Mr. CooKE referred to the balance-sheet, which
showed that the debts and liabilities amounted to I,OOOL,
whilst the property only amounted to 741. The second
charge, the Learned Counsel said, was maintained by
the figures also, the expenditure amounting to 1,4081.,
whilst the profits were much less. The third charge
rested upon the fact that the bankrupt bad borrowed
2001. from his (Mr. Cooke's) client, not for the purpose
of using it in the legitimate purpose of trade, but in
order to speculate upon the purchase of some articles
that were in pawn. The whole aspect of the case
established the foarth charge. The bankrupt went on
until he could go no further, and had now nothing for
his creditors.

Mr. LAWRENCE denied that any of these charges had
been established. His client had been ruined by the
pressure of the times and by adverse circumstances. If
the bankrupt had at any period of his trading been paid
what was due to him, he could have paid 20s. in the
pound; but he had allowed a tradesman, named Good-
eve, who had since tailed for 13,0001., to get largely into
his debt, which was the immediate cause of his ruin.
For this Masterson was not blameable, for everybody
thought Goodeve was a solvent man. The expenditure,
it was true, seemed large, but the bankrupt, besides a
highly rented place of business in Cheapside, was obliged
to keep a country house for his family, who had been
for a long time in bad health. The bankrupt had been
led to believe that he would make a large profit by buy-
ing the articles which were in pawn, but had been
cruelly imposed upon in consequence of a collusion be-
tween the pawnbroker and the depositor, the articles
having been pledged for much more than their value.
There were no accommodation bill transactions, no
fraud of any kind, the bankrupt had given up all his
property, his accounts were satisfactory, only one credi-
tor opposed, and he hoped his Honour would at once
grant the certificate.

His HONOUR considered the charges urged by the
Learned Counsel for the most part,established, and would
suspend the certificate for nine months.

kr. LAWRENCE hoped the suspension would date from
the passing of the last examination.
His HONOUR acceded to this request.
Mr. Lawrence applied for protection.
The COMMISSIONER granted it.
(Before Mr. Commissioner EVANS.)
IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF W. T. GROVES.

The bankrupt was a wholesale dealer in sugar, re-
siding in Arthur-street West.

Mi. Cooke appeared for the bankrupt's father, a large
creditor.

It appeared from the statement of the Learned Coun-
sel, that in August last the bankrupt, finding himself in
difficulty, called together a meeting of his creditors and
offered them twenty shillings in the pound, in instal-
ments of ten shillings in three months, five shillingsin
four months, and five shillings in five months. His
father became security for the payment of the first and
last. The first instalment became due in November
last, and the bankrupt being unable to meet it his
father advanced the money, 2,5611. Mr. Groves, sen.,
also advanced the money to pay the third instalment,
1,280/.; and yet after receiving fifteen shillings in the
pound Messrs. Hale and Boyd, creditors who had been
paid 3721. out of 4961., forced the bankrupt into the
Gazelle. Mr. Groves, sen., who had held security
upon the stock and furniture for the money advanced,
now gave up that security fir the benefit of the creditors.
The Costausstorma. said, that Mr. Groves, sen., had
acted in a very honourable manner.
This was the meeting for the choice of assignees, who
were accordingly appointed, Mr. Groves, sen., having
been allowed to prove for the full amount of his claim.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Alay 31.
(Before Mr. Commissioner LAW.)
IN RE REV. C. WETHERELL.

Mr. Nrcrtom moved, on behalf of the provisional as-
signee of this court, for a rule, calling on the Bishop of
Peterborough to show cause why he should not make a
return of the proceeds of a sequestration of the insol-
vent's living, dated June 14, 1846, and why he should
not pay the same into this court. The insolvent was
the rector of Byfield, Northamptonshire, and a vestry
order had been obtained against him upon a creditor's
petition, and it was deemed a case where it was expe-
dient to apply for a sequestration, which was accord-
ingly issued in June, 1846. Some time after, in the
year 1847, a creditor named Smith got a judgmen

against the insolvent, and also issued a sequestration ;
and then endeavoured to set aside the prior sequestra-
tion of the provisional assignee. For that purpose he
obtained a rule in the Court of Queen's Bench,
which was argued in November last and discharged.
There being a sum of money in the hands of the
sequestrator, application was made to him to state the
amount and to pay it to this court, but he declined to do
se, on the ground that another creditor named Pritchard
had lodged a demand similar to that of Smith. Pritchard
had not given any notice to the provisional assignee of
his intention to dispute his title, and under these circum-
stances the present application was made.
Mr. Commissioner Law directed the papers to be
handed into court, and said, that before giving any deci-
sion he should see the provisional assignee with respect
to the matter.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
William Charles Trowbridge, and John Cousins, his
partner, who were described as commission agents, oc-
cupying premises at the Swan Chambers, Gresham-
street, were brought up before Alderman Copeland for
final examination, on suspicion of breaking into the pre-
mises of Messrs. Sleigh and Woolley, and stealing cash
and goods to the amount of about 1001.. There was a
second charge of stealing a board.
Alderman COPELAND said, there was quite sufficient
evidence to send them for trial; and they were accord-
ingly committed to Newgate on the charge of stealing
from Messrs. Sleigh and Woolley. •
MARYLEB ONE.
W
butler to Lady Elizabeth Repton,
re-
sidingillm Lyeaiat27;
Norfolk-street,' Park-lane, attended at this
court in consequence of a summons having been served
upon her Ladyship, charging her with having, on the
10th ult., caused a carriage and pair of horses to be
driven up near to the turnpike called Gibbs's-gate, in
h ad
ey 51.
Repton)
the Finchley-rou.d, and given to her footman a letter
with which he passed through the said gate, thereby
evading the payment of to
amountingr
rendered elrse"d and
herselffr
which offence
oa
(Lad
shepenalty not
exceeding
The butler, prior to any evidence being gone into,
said he was instructed by her Ladyship to admit her
refusal to pay, considering that she was not compelled
liable
to do so, inasmuch as she had not passed through the
gate.
Mr. BROUGLITON called upon Rulton, the toll collector,
who stated that the horses were pulled up within 20 or
30 yards of the turnpike, when the footman alighted,
and, going to the carriage door, received from her Lady-
ship a letter; he went through the gate with it, and
after some time returned, upon which he took his seat
on the vehicle, which was then turned round and driven
off. He had previously demanded the toll of her
Ladyship, but she objected to pay it, and gave him
her card.

Mr. Johnson, solicitor, who appeared on the part of
the lessee of the road, said that, under all the circum-
stances, he was not at all desirous of pressing for a
heavy penalty.
The MAGISTRATE ultimately decided the case by or-
dering that her Lsdyship should pay ss. for the offence
for which she was summoned, with 2s. costs, as also ss.
for the expense which the lessee had incurred in em-
ploying a man to take the place of the toll collector,
who had come forward to give evidence.
These sums, together with Is. toll, were immediately
paid.