The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-01 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE,
WESTMINSTER COUNTY COURT, Feb. 29.
(Before D. C. MoYLAN, Esq., Judge.)
JODSON V. HANSARD.
In this case David Wemyss Jobson, a literary gentle.
man, was plaintiff, and Mr. Luke James Hansard, the
defendant, the action being brought to recover the sum of
81. Ss., for literary services on a journal called The Spirit
of the Times.
The plaintiff, in his examination on oath, stated that,
about twelve naenths ago, he saw an advertisement in the
public journals, inviting literary gentlemen to assist in
the establishment of a new weekly journal, to be called
The Spirit of the Times. Knowing the Messrs. Hansard
to be responsible parties, holding a high position in
the country, he thought the jouraal would be re-
spectably conducted, and therefore applied for an en-
gagement upon it. He addressed himself to Mr.
Luke James Hansard, and was asked what depart-
ment of the paper he would undertake ? He
told Mr. Hansard he would conduct the historical
department, and said he thought a fair remuneration
would he three guineas per week. Mr. Hansard said
that was too much, and at length a parole agreement
was entered into that he should receive 21. ss. per week,
i.ir. Hansard saying that, if the paper succeeded, he
would pay for extras. He thin entered on his enlage-
ment, but was forced to write in the waiting-room,
where a black man constantly sat, who described him-
self as a "runaway slave."—(Laughter.) Ile (the
plaintiff) told Mr. Hansard that he could not write any
longer in that room, as it was most derogatory for a
literary man to keep company with a black. Mr.
Hansard asked kira if he could undertake to report on
the state of the poor in one or two districts of the me-
tropolis, and on the " social impulses" and the " social
endurances" of the people." Plaintiff told him he 'did
sot understand what was meant, but subsequently under-
stood it to mean the subject of prostitution in its worst
form, and refused to have anything to do with it. The
first number of the paper appeared about the end of
March, and he (plaintiff) was disgusted with it.
The JUDGE—But you do not sue for wages. The
plaint is for supplying the defendant with articles for
publication.
The plaintiff—Yes, for a " Sketch of the House of
Lords," which I had prepared for a magazine, and which
I told Mr. Hansard he should have at magazine price,
because he thought it was suitable for his paper. The
next article was for a review of the " Philosophy of
History " and the " Philosophy of Literature," by
Schlegel. and a review of the works of the Rev. Robert
Hall. At the request of Mr. HanSard I wrote to the
publisher to send those books for review, but as he de-
clined to do so, Mr. Hansard told me to purchase the
books. I produced the " Sketch of the House of Lords"
in Mr. Hansard's presence by accident, and he said it
was just the thing ; lie wanted to get Mr. Spottisavoode
out of the printing for the House of Lords, and keep
Clowes, who was treading on his (Hansard's) heels, from
getting in—(Laughter)—and he would give three times
the magazine price for the article.
In answer to the Judge, the plaintiff said that, if a
gentleman wrote an article by order, it was the custom
of newspaper proprietors to pay for it whether it was
inserted or nut, lie could not say whether his articles
were inserted or not, as he ceased to have anything to do
with the Spirit of the Times after the first number.
Mr. Angus 13. Reach was called to proie the custom.
He said ho understood it was the custom for newspaper
proprietors, if they directed a gentleman to write an
article, to pay for it, whether insertion was given to it
or not. He had written many articles that had never
appeared, and had been paid all the same, but then he
was on a salary, and it did not matter to him if they
were not inserted. He did not speak from his own
experience, but merely from what he had heard from
others as to the custom.
The JUDGE said Mr. Reach's evidence went for no-
thing, and unless Mr. Jobson had some further evi-
dence with respect to the alleged contract, he must dis-
miss the case. The plaintiff could, if he liked, examine
Mr. Hansard in support of his case.
Mr. L. J. Hansard was sworn, and denied most posi-
tively that he gave any order to write the article upon
the "House of Lords," but that it was merely left with
him for his approbation. He still had the article, and
did not give it up when the plaintiff applied for it,
because of his impudence. With respect to the books
rend the reviews which the plaintiff claimed for, he had
never seen them.
The JUDGE was of opinion that plaintiff had failed in
proving any contract, and must dismiss the case.
The plaintiff complained of not having justice done
him. He had subpoenaed Mr. Thomas Piers Healy, the
proprietor of the Medical Times, to prove that it was
the custom of newspaper proprietors to pay for ar-
ticles whether inserted or not, if they written to order,
and called upon the Judge to punish Mr. Healy, by fine,
for non-attendance.

The JUDGE, after some consideration, said he was not
aware what adequate fine to inflict, the plaintiff having
failed in proving any contract, Mr. Healy, if present.
would have been of but little use to him.

After some further remarks, the case was ordered to
be adjourned for Mr. Healy's attendance to show cause
why he had not attended; and "If," observed the Judge,
" I am satisfied that his presence would have put you
in a better condition than you now are, I shall order
him to be fined accordingly; but I am sure his evidence
will not alter my decision."

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Feb. 2g.

(I3,fore Mr. Commissioner llARnis.)

A.DTRRTISINGI MONET' LENDERS.-IN RE CHARLES

I'OLLAAD.

This insolvent, whose name was before the public a
few mouths hack on an examinanion at the Mansion-
house respecting some bills obtained from Prince Louis
Napoleon, under the new Act.
Mr. Dowsm opposed for a creditor named Farmer, and
Mr. Nichols supported.
It appeared that the insolvent had been a general
dealer ut Birmingham. He afterwards came to London,
where he was a betting character on races. He was
also a commission agent, raising money for gentlemen.
He admitted that there had been a public investigation
about two bills of Prince Louis Napoleon, which had
been given up. It was expected that an indictment
would nave bran preferred. He had lately been assis-
tant to Mrs. Burford, licensed victualler, in Wellington-
street North. He had been out of town with her, but he
denied that they were married. He had the proprietors
of a law publication in his schedule for advertisements
respecting " advances to noblemen and gentle.uen."
Eventually the case was adjourned for amendments.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.— IVinchetter, Feb. 28.

The spring assizes for Ilants commenced this day,
Baron Platt sitting on the Crown side, and the lion. Sir
William Wight:ean on the Nisi Prius side. At ten
o'clock the Learned Judges arrived, and took their seats
in the respective Courts.
There are more than sixty prisoners for trial, a great
number, considering there were sixty• one tried last week
in this city at an adjourned sessions.
In the Nisi Prius Court there are twenty-one cases
set down for trial, six of which are Special Jury ones.
The Learned Junes: addressed the jury very briefly.
The first prisoners placed at the bar were James Mai tin
and John Love, who were found guilty of stealing two
oak poles, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
li' ;Lam ford, aged 34, was charged with having, on
the 25th day of December last, at the parish of Alver-
stoke, unlawfully and maliciously stabbed Nelson lIoo•
per, with intent to do him grevious bodily harm.
After hearing the case, the Learned JUDGE summed
up, telling the jury it was a serious case. If the prisoner
had the knife in his hand at the time, it would only
amount to an assault, yet they (the jury) were bound to
do justice. He therefore left the case in their hands.
After twenty minutes' deliberation the jury returned
a verdict of Guilty, with an intent to do grievous bodily
harm.
The Learned JUDGE then addressed the prisoner, and
stated that the jury, after great patience, had found him
(the prisoner) guilty. It was a great mercy that the
wound had not been fatal, and that he had not cut short
the days of a fellow-creature. This was a gross viola-
tion of tha laws to use a deadly weapon, and that, too,
by a British subject. The jury found him guilty with
an intent to do this mischief. He might have been
transported for the term of his natural life, but be (the
"udge) would mitigate the sentence to twelve calendar
ci,lls .

Feb. 29.

The court was opened this day at nine o'clock, before
the Honourable Sir W. Wightman, Knt.
The first case called was that of Edward Owen Bishop,
aged 35, who stood charged with having, at various
times, in the parish o' Christchurch, in this county, fe-
loniously embezzled 1;1091.- Bs. 6d., the property of the
Wilts and Dorset Banking
the Company,tiineel e
rclerk
and the
servantsaid o
t
Edward
the
said company, a true bill havingth been found at the ses-
sions held in Winchester fortis °musty. The accused
had the trial removed by a virt
of certiorari, issued
from the Queen's Bench,empoweringtheu
rCourt.
Theprisoner,
to have the trial heard in the NisrPriirnu; co
court was exceedingly crowded.
Mr. Saunders, with Mr. Sewell, were for the
prosecu-
ti. n, the prisoner being defended by Mr.Cockburn,
with him Mr. Poulden.
Mr. SBNTELL opened the case, giving a brief
outline
of the particulars of the charge against the prisoner.
Mr. Saunders afterwards stated more fully the whole
ease ; first stating that he had been removed by
a writ
of certiorari, issued from the Court of Queen's Bench.
Mr. Saunders stated that the prisoner was charged with
having embezzled, he being in the employ of the Wilts
and Dorset Banking Company, the held officii of the
said bank being in the city of S.4lisiNiry, having a
branch at Christchurch, where the prisoner was the prin-
cipal clerk or marager, where they kept three books at
the branch at Chrtsichurch, viz., a log- book, a cash-
book, and a cash balance-beok. The last-named book
shower; at nigni what money they had in the house. The
prisoner was the chief :manager at Christchurch, al-
though he now stood in the melancholy situation before
them—melancholy to bin:, n• doubt, as it endangered his
future prospects, cud, withal, his future hopes and cha-
racter blighted.
A letter was here read, written by the prisoner to
the under clerk, a 'Mr Kin dated the It of Sep-
tember, 1847, to which fi
r. King replied onthe
following day, stating that he would do what the
nrisoner rkquested. An I 0 U was enclosed in that
TAitel4.9reilsihr:-aKnid ,
Mr,-King, to be drawn on Messrs.
. cankers, of Christchurch. On
,r.r.,„!ir the 3 \of Slateinbe... the prisoner sent for Mr. King,
.. ..:.7--Jin:;:.- whe n• tf-ie prisonerou
e otohld
~gheidea
The prisoner then
Ci"l tick thattiik-eett ii
ie-;;-2.- cif t,:_ hart -To Mr. King a list of names,e.
. 01.-1 posits to. each narae, all customers (4--
0 ts,- , ."-------•*, wertleast thirty names.
\\.,,....
• 1.1---:__': i 'd
------_ . vane_ rem 3/. up to 2,0001.
to thatle
leave.
mattersam u\‘n,
.stt. were rttoeh. web
eus
sums
worse, and
ragole d
lbieantko.talTbhei'rze
1'p:7:1:Ie.:heel; told Mr. Kingn.-
8,47-7/. and acme odd shillingsTt.oh
-",'" to enter those sums to the different credits of thosepar-
tie3. An I 0 U was filled up for the large sum of

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