The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-30 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
JUDGES' CHAMBERS, June 29.
(Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.)

MISS BURDETT C OUTTS AND RICHARD DUNN, THE BARRISTER.

To-day was appointed for Mr. Bodkin and the other parties
engaged in the above prosecution to show cause why a writ
of certiorari should not issue to remove the indictment for
perjury against Richard Dunn, from the Central Criminal
Court to the Queen's Bench.
Mr. Dunn appeared in person, and Mr. Bodkin with Mr.
Humphreys attended the Judge on behalf of Miss Burdett
Cou tts. _

The Learned JUDGE inquired if Mr. Bodkin had any
affidavit to put in?
Mr. BODKIN replied in the negative.
Mr. Dunn, with extreme volubility then argued that he
had received letters purporting to bear the initials of the
defendant; that he had replied to them, and taken the best
means of ascertaining their authenticity; that by appealing
to the bankruptcy laws he had adopted what he thought
was the shortest course to justice; and if the authority was
not genuine, why did not the bankers impound the cheque,
and adopt such rigid measures as bankers generally would
do if a false cheque were presented to them ! On the con-
trary, Mr. Marjoribanks had only stated, on seeing the
authority, that he had no orders to pay the 100,0001. de-
manded. He (Mr. Dunn) believed that the influence of the
bankers was so great upon the citizens of London, that if he
were tried by an Old Bailey jury he could not expect to
receive fair play as an English subject who had always
borne allegiance to the Queen. He had been watched from
house to house by the police—he had had his papers taken
from him—no attorney or barrister would act on his Iphalt—
his very food was interfered with through the agency of this
woman.

Mr. Justice PATTEsox said, that two of the Judges would
preside at the Central Criminal Court, and therefore the de-
fendant would have as substantial justice done him as in the
Queen's Bench.
Mr. Dunn said that he could not obtain the assistance of
Queen's counsel without paying a fee of fifty or one hundred
guineas. A major in the army, who was also a witness, was
absent from London, and he (defendant) required time to
arrange his evidence. Forty-two magistrates had on a former
occasion decided against him, and but for the interposition of
the Queen's Bench, he should have been sacrificed to as base
and diabolical a conspiracy as the present.
Mr. BODKIN said he was instructed to leave the matter
entirely in his Lordship's own hands. The lady, however,
who was the object of the defendant's persecution, was en-
titled to some consideration. if the case was removed to the
Queen's Bench it would only entail heavier security on the
defendant ; and, without going into the pretended authority
to draw upon Coutts' bank for 100,0001., he (Mr. Bodkin)
would state that the indictment for perjury assigned that
there was no debt due or owing to the extent of one farthing
by Miss Coutts. The Learned Counsel then called the at-
tention of the Learned Judge to the following lines, and
which defendant had sworn was his authority for drawing
the cheque, and for non• payment of which he sought to make
the firm of Coutts and Co., bankrupts :
" Send to Coutts's your bill,
There are lots in the till,
I'll give the clerks orders to do it ;
Then get your discharge,
Your dear body enlarge,
And in Stratton-street do let me view it.
And, by the by, love, my affection to prove,
For your long cruel incarceration,
Tell a good round sum,
As I've plenty of tin
To make you a fair compensation.—A.B.C."
He (Mr. Bodkin) would put it to the Judge, whether any
sane man would pretend to rely upon such a poetical effusion
as the production of a lady, and as authorising him to draw
100,0001. ?
The Learned JUDGE said there were many statements in
the affidavit quite beside the question, but he thought it
would be more satisfactory to all parties to allow the writ of
certiorari to issue, and to increase the bail.
The defendant was then ordered to find bail, himself in
200 L, and two sureties of 60/. each, to take his trial on the
charge of perjury at the Court of Queen's Bench.