The Sun.
London, England, 1834-11-21 00:00:00

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—Nov 18.

(Before Mr. Commissioner MERIVALL)
JAMES LE COUTEAR'S BANICRUPTCY.—PRIVILEGES

CLAIMED BY RESIDENTS OF GUERNSEY.

A meeting of the creditors of Mr. J. Le Coatear, trader
of Guernsey, was held to-day for the purpose of an audit of
accounts. The proceedings under this bankruptcy have at-
tracted a good deal of attention among the mercantile in-
terests, in consequence of the privileges claimed by the
Guernsey creditors of the bankrupt to distribute the assets
of the estate in liquidation of their own claims in preference
to those of the London creditors. The question of privilege
has been raised by the London creditors, and the opinion
of Dr. Lushington has been taken upon the subject, who
has given a very strong and decided answer, that under
the 64th section of the 6th of George IV., cap. 16, the
Court of Bankruptcy has jurisdiction over the property of
persons who may become bankrupt, although resident in
Guernsey, to liquidate the claims of creditors in England,
as well as of creditors residing in Guernsey. The creditors
in Guernsey, however, continue to dispute the jurisdiction
of the Court of Bankruptcy, and were proceeding to distri-
bute the assets of the Bankrupt's, estate, which amount to
between 7,0001. and 8,0001., when an appeal was promoted
to the Privy Council, and by an interlocutory decree the
proceeds have been arrested, and will await the decision of
the Privy Council on the important point in issue.
The bankrupt has expressed a desire to acknowledge the
jurisdiction of the Court of Bankruptcy, and to obtain a re-
versal of the outlawry which has been proclaimed against
him ; but the main question relative to the privileges of the
creditors resident in Guernsey, to apply the funds of the
estate in liquidation of their own claims, will still remain
open until decided by the appeal promoted by the Privy
Council.
The assigness appointed at the first meeting of creditors
after the fiat was issued against the bankrupt attended to-
day for the purpose of rendering their accounts of receipts
and disbursements, and stated to the Commissioner that no
property of any kind had come into their hands, and conse-
quently they had no accounts to render. The whole of the
property to which the London creditors have claims
against, the bankrupt's estate had been forwarded to
Guernsey before the fiat issued, and forms part of the
assets of the bankrupt's estate in Guernsey, which the in-
terlocutory decree has restrained the representatives of the

appropriating to liquidate the
‘,...za5,,,.....
Guernsey creditors f:.°111 aPP
Aliat place.
claims of the resident creditors at' -
.
The assignees having signed their deposit'Zn; the further
f)fticeedings *ere, adjourned,
........_ _ ._.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Nov. 26.

Mr. Commissioner BoWEN, whose health seemed to have
suffered considerably from his late indisposition, took his
seat at eleven o'clock, and proceeded to hear the unopposed
cases of Wednesday, and the opposed 'of Monday. The
other cases stand for Friday ad Saturday.
Judah George Somers, a general dealer, *base case was
before the Court on a former occasion, wome up to-day for
Judgments He was opposed by Mr. Lewis, a bookseller,
and other creditors. .

Mr. Commissioner BOWEN sentenced him to six months'
imprisonment from the date of his filing his petition.
An insolvent named Henry Green was opposed by Mr.
Cooke for a creditor named Dun, and was supported by Mr.
Woodville.

The insolvent, it appeared, had since his incarceration
lost a child, and his wife was not expected to live. The
Learned Counsel (Mr. Cooke) said he- should not oppose,
in consideration of the calamity he had suffered. Hi,
client wished a statement in the schedule to be altered.
Mr. WOODROFFE consented to the alteration, and hoped
the Court would allow the discharge to issue to-day.
The Learned COMMISSIONER granted the application.
The poor insolvent appeared nearly broken-hearted. He
was discharged without delay.

L'OLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

A case was heard before the LORD MAYOR yesterday,
which excited some surprise, and some amusement too.
A young man of respectable appearance, named William
Jones, and a decent young woman, named Edwina Taylor,
were brought before the LORD MAYOR, charged by Mr.
George Taylor, the husband of the female prisoner.
The complainant stated that he was cellarman to a mer-
chant, and had married Edwina about a year and a half
ago, A settlement had been drawn up before the mar-
riage, as his wife wag entitled by inheritance from her
father to a small farm, which was to descend to her after
the death of her mother. That settlement, however, bad
not been signed by him, and he now found that his wife
had sold the property, with the assistance of the male pri-
soner for a sum considerably beldw the real value, and he
was thus done out of what he had a just claim to. lie
believed that Jones had forged his name to the deed by
virtue of which the sale had been made. The farm was
worth about 201. a year.

The LORD MAYOR—You say that the property was
settled upon your wife ? Complainant—Yes, but I had
not signed the deed, and of course it was of no use.
Mr. Hobler, jun. Obi the defendant Jones)—No. You
wanted to become master of the property yourself. You
were too cunning to sign it.
Complainant—l have a right to it, and this here man I
think has forged my name to the deed.
The' LORD MA.voa—How do you know that this man
is not a trustee ? Complainant—lle is no such a thing. I
know how it is. Her mother was against the match, for
she thought my wife was my betters ; but I knowed that
she wasn't, and this man has forged my name.
Tire LORD MAYOR—No man could be so great a fool as
to buy a property without a title.
Mr. Hobler, jun.—Certainly not. The professional man
who drew up the deed of settlement is the very person who
drew up the deed by which the sale was effected, Mr.
White, a respectable solicitor, who resides near Totten-
ham-court-road, and this man wanted the property for
himself.

Complainant—Aye, but I am a very injured young man.
Mr. Hobler (the chief clerk). But what made you put
your wife into prison ?
Complainant—Why not? She was implicated. I gave
her in charge for that.
The LORD MAYOR—And do you mean to live happily
with her when you get her home again ? Complainant—
Never. I'll never have anything to do with her more.
The fact is (here the complainant spoke in a low tone of
voice), between you and I, I want to get rid of her.
Alderman FAREBROTHER, who sat with the Lord Mayor
—Oh very well. Then in order to get rid of her you wish
to bang her ?—(Great laughter.)
Complainant—l am a very ill-used man.
Alderman FAREBROTHER—You mean that you wanted
the property and not the wife, and you have missed your
mark ?

Complainant—lt's quite wrong. Ido not want neither,
but I wish to have done with her altogether.
The LORD MAYOR—Yeti are a very respectable and
affectionate partner for life, certainly--(Laughter)—but
you have not come to the right place for relief. Com-
plainant—Where am I to go ?
The LORD MAYOR—Anywhere, so that you quit my
presence as soon as possible.
Complainant—Here's treatment ! I'll appeal to the
public.—(Turning round to the crowd of paupers and
friends of the prisoners) A'nt this bad usage ?—(Laughter.)
The LORD MAYOR—Let the two prisoners at the bar
be discharged. There is not a tittle against them.
Complainant—But, my Lord, she has pledged my watch.
How am I to get that ere ?
The LORD MAYOR—When you married her you en-
dowed her with all your goods and chattels. Officer, show
the gentleman out.
Complainant—Well, all as I can say is, that I know I
am a very abused body by everybody.—(Laughter.)