The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-10 00:00:00

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY-(THIS DAY.)
EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS.

Mr. Linklater, the solicitor to, the petitioning creditors
in the case of the R )yal British Bank, applied to his
Honour in consequence of Mr. Johnstone, the men
senger of Mr. Commissioner Holroyd's Court, hav-
a
ing been obstructed in the execution of his duty,
and forcibly ejected, on taking possession, under,
the warrant of his Honour, of the premises on the chief
office in Threadneedle-street. His assistants had also
been ejected from the branch offices, hut no groat vio-
lence had been abed ; but it was intended to raise a
question of law.

His Honour considered it a contempt of Court, and
had the case occurred in his own court he would have
at once ordered a commitment. As it was he would
issue a summons against Mr. Harding, the official mana
ger, returnable before Mr. Commissioner Holroyd. He-
did not approve of such lawless proceedingF.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE FRAUDO.

APPREHENSION OF ROBSON.

The active exertions of Mr. Lund, the superintendent of
the P division of police, who was especially engaged in the
investigation and pursuit, aided by the electric telegraph,
have led to the apprehension of William James Robson,
and that offender is at this moment in the hands of the
police. From the information which has been re-
ceived on the subject it appears that Robson, after a week's
concealment in London, made his way in a well-adapted
disguise to France, thence to Belgium, Germany, and Ha-
nover, and ultimately to Copenhagen. There he sojourned
at the principal hotel for a day and night, and then pro-
ceeded to Ilelsingborg, where he arrived on the sth inst.
From this place he proceeded to Elsinore, where he re-
mained until Sunday last, and on that day proceeded on
board a steamer to return to Helsingborg across the Sound.
On the steamer reaching her destination at Helsingborg
the attention of the authorities there was called to Robson
by the singular fac:s that his moans wore so straitened that
he had not money to pay his fare for the trip, and this led
to his detection and final apprehension. When questioned
he described himself as an Englishman, sail his name was
Edward Smith, and that he was travelling for pleasure.
When asked for his passport he was obliged to confess that
he had not got one, and was then toll that ho had violated
the Danish laws by travelling without a passport, and was
taken. to Copenhagen. On reaching that city it was at
once suspected that Mr. Elward Smith was no other
person than the Mr. William James Robson of whose of-
fence and a description of whose person they had some
days before had information, received from Mr. Lund in
London, and they forwarded a telegraphic message to Mr.
Lund informing him of their important discovery, and
stating that " Mr. Smith" should be taken care of until
they received that officer's instructions on the subject.
From other sources of information it appeared that Mr.
Lund had clearly traced Robson from Paris through his
long line of route to Copenhagen, and, feeling certain of
finding him there, or thereabouts, he on Friday evening
last procured a warrant for his apprehension. As no time
was to be lost, Mr. Lund at once started Sergeant Coppin,
one of his detective officers, with the warrant to Copen-
hagen, so that he must have reached that city on Tuesday
morning last. A message was also forwarded to the autho-
rities at Copenhagen apprising them of the fact of Coppin's
starting, and requesting that they would hold Smith,
alias Robson, in custody until Coppin arrived to take
charge of him.

LAMBETH POLICE COURT.
(THIS DAY.)
Examination of the Prisoner.

William James Robson, who lately hold a responsible
situation in the secretary's office at the Crystal Palace,
was brought up in custody of Superintendent Lund, of
the P division, and placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott,
charged with forging and uttering a number of Crystal
Palace shares.

The prisoner, who was dressed in a travelling poncho,
and bad a fur cap on, was accommodated with a seat.
Mr. Grove, the secretary, and other officers of the
company, were present.

Mr. Hawkins, instructed by Messrs. Johnson, Far-
quharson, and Co., for the prosecution, stated that
the prisoner in 1853 was principal clerk in the transfer
office, and had charge of the books and the scrip eel.-
tlficates of persons who had left shares for securiiy at the
office. Re continued in the company's service till 19th Sept.
when ho absconded and was subsequently apprehended
at Elsinore, where he was residing under the name
of Smith. On 19th September some irregularities were
brought to his notice, which he said were more ima-
ginary than real, and the learned gentleman having
stated the motive of the prisoner's absence, entered into
the particulars of the charge, one of a series of frauds,
which was that of having fraudulently disposed of 50
shares, the property of Mr. Robert Robertson, near
Leeds, deposited for safe keeping with the company,
which will be found in the following evidence

Mr. Grove, secretary to the company, deposed that
the prisoner was in the service of the company. He
entered into it in April, 1853, and continued in it until
the 19th September last. He was the chief clerk in the
transfer department, and had the custody of the transfer-
book and the registry of the shares. Certain
share certificates were in the office belonging to
individuals who bad not taken them away, and
they were in the prisoner's custody. Mr. R. Robertson
of Leeds was the owner of 51 preference shares. The
last time he saw the prisoner was on the 20th Septem-
ber, when he left with Mr. Fasson to investigate the
irregularities. . _ _

treasurer and registrar of the
Company3::3r9es'No. 199,499 to 199,500 deposed that Mr. Inbertson
Crystalwalownerr George
P aol ace s
of
5
inclu-
sive,l
share certifiaates had been prepared for them. On
the 20th of September he was present with Mr. Grolies,
when the prisoner was charged with irregularities,
and he left with prisoner to go to his resi-
dence at Kilburn to have the matter explained. Upon
their arrival at Kilburn he left the room as if to
procure the materials for the necessary explana-
tion, having first said something about lunch ; he
did not see him afterwards. Before leaving the room he
(prisoner) spoke to his wife about some transfers. Before
witness left the house a note was handed to him written
by the prisoner, stating that ho (witness) was not to be
under any alarm,tha,t prisone,', proper ty was over 30,0001.,
and that all would be right, but he admitted having dons
wronr, in letting Mr. Remington base shares that were
inhi
wasspos gonesession into the City d
formory hereacinuirel ; that be (pri-
soner) witness and pri-
soner's groom wa:s to follow him. lle then left and
consulted his solicitor.

Mr. Clement, stock broker, of Lothbury, deposed
that he sold the eight shares referred to in Septembr,
and handed the money over to the prisoner.

IVice.sergeant Clvin depwed tha.t he apprehervied

the prisoner at Copenhagen on Tuesday lad, where he
was residing under the name of Edward Smith. He
said to him, "Mr. Robson, lam come about the affair
of the' Crystal Palace." He replied, " I an) very
sorry. I know I have done wrong, and I must suffer
the law." Witness asked him if be had any objection
to accompany him to London, and he said "No ; he
should he very glad to get back." Witness
told him to prepare for leaving. Ou him
was fcuid 35 dollars in Danish money, and other small
Danish coins, and a gold watch and chain ; in his box
witness found some silver spoons, forks, a diamond ring,
and other articles. He also found on him his passport
and passport book. Prisoner's sis►er was at
Copenhagen with him, and travelled in the name of
Agnes Smith.

Mr. Fuson proved the handwriting, "E. T. Smith,"
on the passport produced was the prisoner's.
Superintendent Lund deposed that on the prisoner
being brought this morning to the police station he said
to him, "Mr. Robson, this is a bad job." Prisoner said,
"Ye; I'm miserably guilty. I'll make all the repara-
tion I can before I go. I hope they won't confine me
for life solitary, but I don't mind being transported,
for I deserve it. I carried a ring about me at least
three months with prussic acid in it, and I intended to
destroy myself, but something came across my mind as
though it were ,from the Almighty, and the rea-
son I did not do it was not to make my
poor unhappy wife's latter days miserable, and
I threw the ring into the sea ;" he went on to say,
" I give over all my property to the Crystal Palace
Company ;" and he said Mr. Remington owes me 1,0001.
for money lent; Mr. E. T. Smith, lessee of Drury-lane,
1,000/. ; Mr. Leech, 801 ; Mr. Wallack, 3001., and there
is the lease of my house, Kilburn Priory, in a safe at the
Crystal Palace, which is worth alp.
This was the whole of the evidence adduced, on
which

Mr. Hawkins asked fcr a committal.
Mr. Elliott said he thought tho case was not com.
plated, and should adjourn it.
Mr. Mount, solicitor, who was present, addressed his
worship, and said that a fiat in bankruptcy had been
issued against the prisoner, and as a messenger from
the Bankruptcy Court was in attendance, and the
articles produced by Sergeant Coppin were not the pro-
duce of the fraud complained of, he asked that they
might be handed over to that officer.

Mr. Hawkins said he hoped the hon. magistrate would
not make the order that day.

Mr. Elliott accordingly declined.

The prisoner, who was enveloped in his poncho dur-
ing the whole of the time of the examination, and.held
white pocket handkerchief to his face, on the advice of
his solicitor, Mr. Lane, who watched the case for him,
declined saying anything.

The further hearing of the case was adjourned to
Monday, and the prisoner was removed in custody of
Mr. Superintendent Lund.

LONDON GAZETTE—(This Evening.)

COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT.
Westmorland and Cumberland Corps of Yeomanry Ca-
valry.—John James Spedding, Gent., to be Cornet, vice
Han icon,. resigned.
Artillery Battalion of the Royal Sussex Militia—Doctor
Lewis Smythe to be Surgeon, vice Newham, resigned.
Royal Glamoremn Light Infantry William
Henry Bennett, Esq., Adjutant, to serve with the rank of
Captain.

REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT.
The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury
having certified to the Commissioners for the reduction of
the National Debt, that there was no surplus of actual
revenue over the actual expenditure of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, for the year ended the
30th Juue, 1856,
The Commissioners for the reduction of the National
Debt, hereby give notice, that no sum will be applied by
them on account of the Sinking Fund, under the provisions
of the Act, 10 Geo. IV., cap. 27, between the Ist day of
Oct., 1856, and the 31st day of Dec., 1856.
A. Y. SPEARMAN, Comptroller-General.
National Debt 0:ILo, 10th October, 1856.

NOTICE OF INTENDED DISTRIEUTION OF THE UNCLAIMED

WARES OF AN AWARD FOR SALVAGE.
Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy,
. .

- Admiralty, Somerset-house, Oct. 9.
Notice is hereby given to the officers, seamen, and ma-
rines interested therein, that the distribution of certain un-
claimed shares of an award for salvage services rendered to
a Portuguese lorcha by her Majesty's ship Rattler, on
the 11th of May, 1853,. will commence on Thursday, the
2 d Oct., 1856, in the Prize Branch of the Department
of the " Accountant• General of the Navy, Admiralty,
Somerset-house."