The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-22 00:00:00

LI LW INTELMGENCE.
COF RT OF BANKRUPTCY, Jan. 21.
,Before Mr. Commissioner FANS.)
11l 7 .11E BANKRUPTCY OF WILLIAM THOMAS.
d.
The bankrupt was a publisher and newspaper a
'vett' aTeglent agent in Catherine-street, Strand. The
'frit't was issued in August. This was a meeting for
the last examination.
Mr. Bagley appeared as counsel for the bankrupt ;
31r. Harrison for about 200 country newspaper pro-
prietors ' • and Mr. Shield for the assignees. Mr.
W ilson,M.Y., of the Economist, who is the creditors'
assignee, was also in attendance. Mr. Glover, of
Bncklersbury, prepared the balance sheet, of which
the following are the main items :—Sundry creditors,
3,7051. ; credtors holding security, 1,637/. ; liabili-
ties, 1,335/. ; profits on trade (which are thus esti-
si ed), business done, 59,314/. at 12i per cent.,
7,130/. t"-salary from the Court Jourual from January,
1844, to August 31, 1847, at 2/. per week, 380/. ;
amount received from lodgers, 15/. The credit side
has the following :—Good debts, 1,156/.; doubtful
ditto, 2,029/. ; bad ditto, 3,790.; securities in the
hands of creditors, 4,3861., of which it is estimated
that full 4 2,0001. will be available to the estate after
paying off the lien thereon ; trade expenses 2,7451. ;
personal and domestic expenses, 1,0001.; losses, 4,546/.
The creditors for the most part consisted of Lon-
don, provincial, Irish, and Scotch newspaper pro-
prietors.
Mr. HARRISON said he understood that it was the
desire of the solicitors for the assignees to strike off
10 per cent. of the sum claimed by the respective
newspaper proprietors upon the score of commission.
That curtailment he was instructed to resist, unless
in cases where it could be shown that there was a
oontract or a custom to that effect.
The first proof tendered was one for Messrs. Baines,
proprietoLs of the Leeds Mercury,
for 161. 3s.
The CODOLIESIONRx asked if there was any proof
that the Messrs. Baines had allowed 10 per cent. com-
mission to Mr. Thomas ? The Solicitor for the assig-
sees produced several previous accounts, as between
Mr. Thomas and the Messrs. Baines, in which the 10
per cent. was allowed. He added that the bankrupt,
as an advertisement agent, was a sort of middle-man,
standing between the newspapers and the public, and
the 10 per cent. was his legitimate reward.
The COMMISSIONBR would, after this evidence, allow
the 10 per cent. to be deducted.
The next case submitted was that of Mr. Gedge,
the proprietor of the Norwich and Bury Post.
In this case, too, the 10 per cent. was allowed.
The COMMISSIONEIL asked Mr. Harrison if he
would require proof in each case, for if so there were
no less than 200 separate causes to be tried.
Mr. HARRISON said he required evidence, because
the bankrupt never was what they termed an:adver-
tisement agent, and because he was instructed that
Mr. Thomas had not lasen regarded in such a light by
any of the creditors for whom he appeared. his
The bankrupt was accordingly asked by
HONOUR whether he was prepared to swear that in
every case where there was not an express contract
there was an implied understanding that he should
receive 10 per cent.
Bankrupt—ln every ease it is the custom of the
trade.
Mr. HARRISON then addressed the Court. He
wished to call the attention of his Honour to the
facts of this case, 'which were of rather an extraor-
dinary character. The bankrupt, according to his own
examination taken before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn,
commenced business in 1843 without any capital, as
an advertisement agent. In 1823 he had been a
,bankrupt, and: paid no dividend under that bank-
rulptcy. He had been, in the interim, the proprietor
of the Court Journal, which he sold to Mr. Edlin for
2,0001., but received none of its purchase money, as
it was barely sufficient to cover the debts upon the
journal, which Mr. Ediin took upon himself to dis-
charge. Mr. Edlin sold the Court Journal to the
Baroness Calabrella, whose clerk or servant Thomas
became, at a salary of 2/. per week in 1844. It
would appear from the bankrupt's own statement
that he, whilst a salaried servant in the employ of
this lady, lent to her, from time to time, no less a
sum than 2,490/., which was still due, and not one
farthing of which would in all likelihood he paid.
He left it to the Commissioner to judge either of the
probability of the statement, or of the conduct of the
bankrupt in thus advancing a sum of money which
was in point of fact the property of his creditors,
who had entrusted him with their money. The
bankrupt stated that he first became acquainted with
the Baroness Calabrella in 1844 ; she was then a
widow. The name of her deceased husband was
Jenks, and she derived her title from some small
Italian estates. It appeared that the Baroness was
now in Italy. She promised to pay him, and her
style of living was such, the bankrupt states, as to in-
duce him to think she could pay her debts. She
seemed to be an upright and courteous lady.
The COMMISSIONER asked if there was any reason
to expect that the Baroness would:pay ber debt ?
The official assignee said, he feared no such hope
could be entertained.
The COMMISSIONER said, that after all the question
Mr. Harrison had rained, at least as far as regarded
the Baroness Calabrella, was one of conduct, and
therefore most fit for the certificate meeting ; unless,
indeed, Mr. Harrison meant to assert that the whole
of those alleged transactions between the Baroness and
,the bankrupt were fictitious. He wished to know
what was the opinion of the official assignee upon this
head; and also if the several transactions were re-
gularly recorded in the bankrupt's books.
The official assignee said, he had every reason to
believe that these transactions were genuine.
?4r. SHIELDS replied to the same effect. He be-
lieved that the bankrupt had conducted himself justly
and fairly.
Mr. Hanaisox asked for a further adjournment to
investigate into several transactions in which the
bankrupt had been engaged.
Mr. BAGLEY resisted the application. The bank-
rupt had done all in his power to satisfy Mr. Harrison
and the assignees, not only by preparing voluminous
and elaborate accounts, but by expressing his perfect
readiness to wait upon Mr. Harrison and to give to
him all the explanation which could possibly be
required.
The Comsassionza said, that unless Mr. Harrison
should assign some specific reasons for an adjourn•
anent he would not grant one.
Haauisox said he was unable to do so, but
founded his application upon the general merits of the
ease.

Mr. BAGLEY said, that as many observations had
been made during the progress of the case calculated
to damage the reputation of his client, who had
been most undeservedly attacked, he hoped his
Honour would give such an expression of his opinion
as would enable the bankrupt to stand well before
the public.
The COMMISSIONER said he had no hesitation in
saying, that nothing had transpired up to this time
which in any degree affected the character of the bank-
rupt as an honest tradesman.
Mr. BAGLEY thanked his Honour for this expression
of his opinion.
The COMMISSIONER inquired if there were any
assets in hand ?
The official assignee replied, about 5291.
The bankrupt then passed his last examination, and
the certificate meeting was fixed for the 24th of
February,

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Before lA-r. •I P.
aLassr, Chairman, and a Bench of
Stew
George Magistrates.)
of articles fromaart was indicted for stealing a variety
erready furnished lodging, the pro-
perty of Charles
tmhpton.
It appeared that
squaree prosecutor resides in John-
street, Fitzroy-square, last the prisoner, that OR the 22d of De-
rend ho was accompanied by a
De-
w whom he represe'/::
hctod as being his wife, hired
furnished lodgings at his 1:,1e, which they continued
to occupy until the Bth of 7 Present month. On
that day, having had his sus
raised, the prose-
outor's wife asked him to l4ers
wearcrermission, and
The prisoner, however, refused her go into his room.
she left him. A short time after
Ills wife went out of the house, but never returned.
and
The apartments were subsequently
returned.
was found that a large portion of the furniture
it
re
been carried off. The prisoner was soon afterwards
met with and taken into custody, but his Wife Tiedds
not been secured. None of the property had been
discovered.
The prisoner, in his defence, said that, as far as he
could make out, the property had been taken by his
wife, and that he had not known anything about the
matter. Ho had offered to replace the whole of the
articles at the time.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty
The Learned CHAIRMAN sentenced the prisoner to
51 months' imprisonment and hard labour, remarking
that the system of robbing ready-furnished lodgings
must be put an end
peered toto. The prisoner, however ap-
be inafeeble state of health. That beingso, he would
intimatenielo him, that although his sen-
tence was accompanied of the prison
Would
hard labour, the sur-
geonhe should be put to take care that the labour
his health would permit would()r' not be more severe than
George Carter, a well-known
ow
of having stolen from the personn thief, was convicted
°f Mary Ann Nunn
a purse containing two sovereigns.
The evidence, and the information obtained subse-
quently to his conviction, went to. show that th
pri-
soner had been already several ;tunes convicted° of
similar offence.

The Learned CHAIRMAN therefore sentenced him
to ten years' transportation.

Charles Watkins, aged twenty-one, was indicted
for having stolen a pair of boots, the property of John
Ilornby.
It appeared that the prosecutor is a dealer in second-
hand boots and shoes, and that on the evening in
4peation boots which the prisoner was accused of