The Sun.
London, England, 1833-02-01 00:00:00

PREROGATIVE COURT, JAN. 31.

RIND V. DAVIES.
This was an extraordinary case. It was a suit by the
administratrix de bonis non (Mrs. Ann Rind) of the
estate of Mr. Thomas Jones, of Llantisilio-hall, Llangol-
len, in the coun'y of Denbigh, North Wales, a gentleman
of fortune, a barrister, and formerly High Sheriff el Den-
bighshire, against Joseph Davies, who alleged himself to
be sole executor, legatee, and devisee, of the real and per-
sonal estate of the deceased, under a will executed on the
12th of September, 1816. The case set up by Mr.
Davies, who defended the suit in forma pouperis, was as
follows :—He was a native of Cardiganshire, a carpenter
by trade, was formerly employed in Deptford dockyard,
but is now a labourer in the London Docks. In 1816 he
went into Wales for the benefit of his health, and in Sep-
tember of that year, while on his way from Welshpool to
Shrewsbury, on horseback, he overtook an old gentleman,
with whom he entered into conversation, and the gentle-
man, upon learning his name and genealogy, declared he
was one of his nearest relations. He accompanied the
gentleman to the White Lion, in Shrewsbury, and break-
fasted with him the next morning, and while walking
with him in the town, the gentleman was taken ill in the
street, and was conducted to the inn by Davies. In the after-
noon the gentleman, who proved to be Mr. Jones, the tea-
, tator, had a will drawn up (Davies being directed to leave
the room) by a Mr. Geo. Wilson, wherein he bequeathed to
Davies, his whole property, the estate Llantisilio, worth
1,5001. a year, and personal property to the amount of
from 16,0001. to 18,0001. This will was attested by
three witnesses, Wilson, the drawer, a man named Dur-
ham, and a porter belonging to the yard of the inn, named
Peel. Since that period, it was stated by Davies he had
received several letters from Mr. Jones, desiring him to
take care of the will, as it was important, all which let-
ters, however, had unfortunately been rubbed to pieces
in his pocket, excepting one, dated September 18, 1820,
which was not however, in Mr. Jones's handwriting, the
letter stating that he was too unwell to write himself.
These were the principal facts as detailed in the evidence
of Ebenezer Jenkins, the brother-in-law of Davies, who
stated that they were so represented to him by the latter.
Ot the subscribing witnesses one only survived, Peel, who
deposed that he had been called in to attest the will of a
gentleman whom he did not know, and who identified the
paper propounded as that will. Wilson, the drawer,
could not be found or heard of, and Durham, who had
been a sergeant in the Coldstream Guards, was dead. A
waiter at the inn, who was in the room at the time of the
execution, was also examined, and deposed that the per-
son who executed the will was Mr. Jones, of Llantisilio-
hall The evidence as to the handwriting was, as usual,
confiTting.
Dr. CU RTEIS) for the pauper, contended, on his behalf,
that the handwriting of the deceased was established by
persons who knew him, and had seen him write, one of
whom, Mr. Capper, was a barrister, and had been Attor-
ney-General at Tobago.
Dr. LU SHINGTON (with whom was Dr. HAGGARD),
for the ex. cutrix de bonis non, characterised this as an
attempt at the grossest imposition, and a conspiracy to
set up a suppositious will by subornation of perjury.
Sir J. Ntenott thought it his duty, in order to mark
the Court's sense of the whole character and complexion
of the ca'e—ooe of the most extraordinary he had. ever
recollected, and founded on the grossest itnprobabilittea-7
to condemn the pauper in costs, though it was a matter in
the discretion of the Court to direct a compulsory, to issue.
The pauper gave notice personally of his intention to
appeal.
••••••••-••••• •

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, JAN. 31.

MESSRS. STARKEY, THE BREWERS.

Messrs. Starkey for many years carried on the business
of brewers in Puiteney street, St. James's. They be-
came bankrupts in 1826. and the debts preyed against
them amounted to about 100.0001. Toe partners in the
hou-e were Mr. William S arkey, Mr. William White-
side, and Mr John Cross Starkey. The whole of the
debts claimed under the private estate of the former gen-
tleman have been paid. The private creditors of Mr.
Whiteside have received 14a. in the pound, and a meeting
was this day summoned before Mr. Commissioner NIEIII•
VALE to declare a dividend on the private estate of Mr.
John Cross Starkey. After the accounts bad been audited
and-submitted to the examination of the Commissioner, a
dividend of Sc. in the pound was declared.
Dividend, to the amount of So. 6d. in the pound have

been paid on the joint estate, and it ie expected that in
the course of three weeks a further dividend will be paid.

OLD COMMISSIONS.

The Commissioners having directed that inquiries
should he made into all the old commissions of bankruptcy
that appear to be in an unsettled state, solicitors are in at-
tendance almost every day with proceedings. Many of
these inquiries have been attended with great benefit to
the creditors, and large sums have frequently been disco-
vered that but for this inquiry would never have reached
the individuals entitled to them.

It wag staled in the room that upwards of 1,000 old
commissions have been investigated under this inquiry.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Richard Coster was brought before the LORD Mayoa
yesterday for re-examination, on the charge of having
forged the name of " Mitchell" to a bill of exchange for
151. Crowds of merchants and others attended during
the examination, the case having excited the greatest in-
terest.
Mitchell, whom Coster states to be the acceptor, is in
Whitecross-street prison, and the Lord Mayor sent the bill
to him by Forrester, the officer, who stated that Mitchell
denied that the writing was his.
Mr. Barrett, the Governor of Whi:ecross-street prison,
stated, that he was present when Mitchell disavowed the
signature.
The following conversation then took place :
Coster—My Lord, all I want is fair play, which you
don't seem disposed to give me. The writing is Mitchell's.
The LORD MAYOR-The man denies it, and if he per-
sists in denying it in my presence, I shall send the case
before another tribunal.

Coster—Will you be good enough to let me know what
sort of evidence will satisfy you ? He may deny his sig-
nature, in order to get rid of the liability ; but I can pro-
duce several persons to swear that it is his writing. Will
you be content if I bring forward his own clerk, his fac-
totum, to swear that it is his handwriting ?
The LORD MAYOR—You know well enough, Mr.
Coster, what evidence will he necessary. You are too
clever a fellow not to know what to do.
_

Coster—Will you hear me, my Lord? I can produce
the person who used to do his business, who used to take
his bills on 'Change to sell them.—(Laughter•.) Surely
he ought to know whether the writing is or is nut his.
The Lon') MAYoR—I know that you are a very clever
fellow, and the public know it too.
Coster—Oh ! never mind the public ; they are able to
take care of themselves.—(Laughter.) Why don't you
bring up Mitchell? I shall stand the expense of a habeas
corpus myself to produce him here, and show that the
transaction is a genuine one. But you won't give me fair
play.
The LORD MAYOR—You shall have all the latitude you
require, but I won't easily part with you. If you can
procure a habeas you may ; and if you cannot, I shall go
to Whitecross• street prison, and take the examination there.
Coster—l shall be punctual to the appointment.
The LORD MAYOR-Ah, Mr. Coster, you have baffled
many a man.

Coster—And depend upon it, my Lord, I'll baffle you
that will be no difficult matter.—(Laughter.)

Custer was then reman,led.

A man named Sir John Ladd, the foreman of Mr.
Ganthony, the chronornet-r-maker, in Chctpside, was
brought up, charged with having robbed his master of a
great deal of valuable propert .
Mr. Ganthony said that the prisoner had lived with
him sever 'I years ago, and left him to go into business for
himself, bur, having provt d unsuccessful, was taken hack
into the service ag.tin. The sy-tem of robbery which the
prisoner had adopted was extensive and ingeni-us, and it
was by mere accident he was detected. Watches which
cool I not he replaced for 40 or 50 guincas each had dis-
appeared, and at het it was ascertained that the prisoner
had oawned them at the shops of a great number of pawn
broke's, who attended at the justice-room, and at once
knew him to he their customer.
One pawnbroker stated that the prisoner was intro-
duced to him by his predecessor as a Mr. Thompson, a
respectable watchmaker, who had dealt there for a con-
siderable time. _ . _

The Loan Marcia—l perceive that a great many ar-
ticles have been pledged by him. How did you happen to
lend so much ? Pawnbroker—Because I believed him to
be a respectable master, and I know that many masters
are obliged to pawn to pay their men, and defray their
expenses, the distress is so urgent.
The prisoner, who wept bitterly, was then rentan.led.
Mr. Gantbony said it often occurred that he asked for
a watch which the prisoner had p iwned, and soon received
it, for the prisoner had only to take one equally •aluable
to the pawnbroker's.
Ford, a Methodistical fellow, who was a few days ago
charged with having robbed a servant girl of a shawl and
other articles of dress, was again brought up. He stated
that he would conduct hina.elf, if the Lord Mayor would
allow him to depart, and would endeavour to sell hi. tracts
and other good works.
The Loan MAYORI shall send you for two months
to Bridewell, you hypocrite.
Ford endeavoared to screw a tear out of his face, and
distorted it so much in the attempt that every body who
saw him laughed heartily. "Oh ! don't you do it ; don't

you be so cruel," said he.
The Loan MAYOR—Bridewell for two months, bard
work, and bread and water, shall be your portiun !
(Laughter.)
Ford—Oh, dear ! oh, dear ! don't you do so, pray.—
(Loud laughter.)
G UILDHALL.

Yesterday William Rose, of Charles-street, Westmin-
ster-road, dealer in dogs' meat, and Elizabeth, his wife,
were brought up in custody of Thomas Herdsfield, the
Guildhall officer, on suspicion of having conspired with
Murray and Perkins (who have already been examined)
unjustly to convict William Low, an old bird-catcher, of
having counterfeit coin in his possession, with the view of
obtaining by such conspiracy a portion of the 8,000/. per
annum voted by Parliament (2 and 3 William IV., cap.
126) for "extraordinary expenses" incurred in prosecu•
tions relating to the coin, in addition to 15,000/. to defray
law charges."
Mt. Alderman Wool) remanded the prisoners for further
examination.