The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-30 00:00:00

JUDGMENT.

The Rev. Heaton Champion de Crespiyny, son of
the late Sir William de Crespigny, whose case was heard
and reported on a former day, was this :day brought
before the Court to be adjudicated upon.
At the conclusion of the examination on the former day,
the insolvent's case was adjourned, in order that certain
abstracts of annuities granted by him on his livings at
Stoke Thyle and Neatshead, in Northamptonshire, should
be produced, together with his marriage settlement on
Mrs. de Crespigny, on which he also raised a sum of
money, and some further accounts connected with his pe-
cuniary affairs.
After some observations between the Court anti the
Learned Counsel for the insolvent, respecting the value of
some trifling fixtures at the living at Stoke Doyle, which
the latter hoped would not be required to be paid into
Court, but which Mr. Commissioner Lkw insisted upon,
the case, he observed, being no more entitled to lenity than
that of any other person.
The CIIIEF COMMISSIONER, with the concurrence of
his Learned Colleague (Mr. Commissioner Law), could
not but adjudgs him (the insolvent), under the discre-
tionary clause of the Act, to an imprisonment of, at least,
six calendar months, from the date of filing his petition ;
in addition to which, the insolvent will be bound to pay
about 301. into Court before he can obtain his dis-
charge, to be applied towards liquidating the claims of his
creditors.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MAN SI ON-H 0 USE.

Yesterday Richard Coster, who has been engaged in
such numerous bill transactions, was brought before the
LORD MAYOR, under the following circumstances :
Mr. Baynton, who stated himself to be a silk-merchant,
produced a bill for 151., purporting to be the acceptance
of a person of the name o' Mitchell. That bill was given
to him for goods in May last by the prisoner, who said he
was a partner in the house of Benvolie and Co., of Great St.
Helens, ship-owners ; the prisoner, who had had dealings
with him before, and paid money to him, was never
known to him as Richard Coster until now that the bil
was dishonoured, and Mr. Mitchell, whose name was on
it, declared that it was a forgery ; witness could get no
information from Coster as to the other persons whose
names were on the bill, and only could learn that the
house of Benvolie and Co. was now on the Continent ;
the alleged acceptor was in Whitecross street Prison, and
most positively denied that the acceptance was genuine.
Coster—l can prove by twenty witnesses that the writ-
ing is his, although you say he denies it; but the fact is,
I never gave it to this man.
The Loan MAYOR wished to see those who were ready
to swear that the writing was Mitchell's; but expressed
his belief that Mr. Coster could produce nume-
rous witnesses to swear that or any thing else.—(A laugh.)
A Sheriff's assistant stated that the writing was Mitchell's,
whom he had frequently seen signing bail bonds and other
documents.

William Lewis, who said he was clerk to Benvolie and
Co., stated the writing was Mitchell's, and that he
(witness) it NV;;S who paid the bill away to the complainant.
The LORD MAYOR—I'II not dismiss this case so easily.
I'll have the evidence from Mitchell's own lips.
Custer—lt is no evidence if Mitchell swears that it is
not his writing. Many men would swear i❑ the same
way to get rid of the responsibility.
The Loma MAY You are wrong in your law, clever
as you are. If he swears it is not his writing, I shall send
the ease to a Jury, and let them decide upon the conflicting
testimony.

Coster—l entreat to be heard. All 1 ask for is common
justice. This man owes me money, and I have a case
against hint in the Exchequer. I call upon you, my Lord
Mayor, to look at this matter without prejudice. If
Mitchell swears the writing is not his I can produce num-
bers to prove that it is. The complainant and I have
had a variety of transactions, and he knows me well,
although he says he does not ; and this very morning he
offered to sell me the hill for 41. 10s.
The Complainant—Never—'tis false. I took the bill
from you I positively swear, and I never offered to sell it.
A female voice in the crowd-7 Yes, to be sure you did.

Benvolie and Co.'s clerk declared, that the statement of
Coster as to the offer of sale of the bill was quite correct.
Mr. Hobler, jun., who appeared for Coster, submitted
that there was no case against his client to justify a
remand.

The LOAD MA YOR..—I certainly shall not allow a man
who has done so much desperate mischief to slip through
my hands.

Coster—My Lord, you are prejudiced against me; you
don't give me fair play—you won't hear what I have
to say.

The LORD MAYOR—Go on, speak as much as you
please ; I shall listen to you.
Coster—Then I say you have not the shadow of a case
against me. This Mitchell is an old man—this is hi►
writing ; I have witnesses here who are ready to swear to
it ; and what would be the consequence of preferring the
evidence of the acceptor himself, to such solid substantia I
proof? Why, that men would deny their own writing
to avoid paying their debts.
The Loan MAroa—Oh, the❑ you expect that he will
deny his writing? Coster—l can only judge from what
I am told he has already said, and hive no other reason
to suspect. him. But 1 see, my Lord, that you are deeply
prejudiced against me.
Complainant—Why, my Lord, Mr. Coster brought a
Sheriff's officer to arrest me for 401., which I never knew
anything of, and the party who swore to the debt was
never to be found. _

Coster—lv had nothing to do with the arrest. I merely
happened to be present when the Sheriff 'a officer came
in. My Lord, you will be so good as not to allow the
gentleman next you to ear-wig you. He's whispering you
to my injury.
The LORD MAYOR—You appear to be greatly alarmed
about your reputation.—(Laughter.) I assure you the
gentleman did not open his lips about you. I suppose you
have no objection to let me know where the drawer lives ?
Coster—ln Clement's Inn.
The LORD MAYOR—Is Mr. Benvolie here ? Mr.
Lewis—No; he is on the Continent.
The Loan MAYOR—What sort of a gentleman is he ;
and is his concern flourishing? Mr. Lewis—He is a
foreigner, about forty years of age; and the concern is now
closed.

The Loan MAYOR-01), it's closed is it ? Well, I
must send you back until to-morrow, i❑ justice to the
public.
Coster--I am very badly treated. There is no fair
play here. I'd thank:you, Mr. Brown, (the Marshal) not
to be whispering the Lord Mayor against me.
The Loan MAYOR—There is another tribunal, Mr.
Coster, to which it may be necessary to send you.
Coster—l am glad there is another tribunal ; for, by
such mcn as you, a man stands a chance of being com-
pletely sacrificed, if there was no appeal from your in.
justice.