The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

OBilUttY 14VSWING,_VESIATARY iti

LAW INVELLTGENCE—(TMs Day.),

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY'.
.(Before Mr. Commissioner Evans.)
IN RE 81E ROBERT PRICE, BART.

This bankrupt was described as of Stratton-place, Pic-
cadilly, and of Foxley, Herefordshire, ironwaster, and
dealer in iron, and to-day was appointed for his last

examination.

The balance sheet, prep red by Messrs. Harding and
Butler, extending from Oct., 1843, to Oct., 1855,

shows :

Dr. to creditors
To ditto holding security
Mortgage oreditors
Value of securities

£37,998 8 1
23,733 9 3

_
£221,389 16 3
196,003 0 0

- 25,389 16 3
Surplus, Oct., 1848
Moneys received during the a Bove period
by way of gift from Lady Price, settled
upon her
Rentals of estate in Herefordshire .
Liabilities

19,982 3 10
26,665 9 6
910 0 0

£288,207 2 7

By cash
Property
Debtors ................................
Property iu hands of cre(litars
Personal and private expenses
L055e5...........................
Expen5e5...................... .
Liabilities
Expenses on Foxley property

£217 6 4
1,191 0 0

22 7 3
21,150 12 6
30,121 16 8
104,582 3 10
112,699 13 10

910 0 0
17,311 17 2

£288,207 2 7

The mortgage account shows, amongst other creditors,
the Earl of Fitz william for 92,0001., Masers. Cox Bid-
dulph, 8,0001.

Mr. Lawrence appeared for the assignees, and there
was no opposition. The bankrupt passed, and the 4th
of Much was appointed for the certificate meeting.
Very few crediOra attended.

CRIMINAL COURT.—{This

Day.)

OLD COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)

Thomas Stevenson, 40, was indicted for forging and
uttering a bill of exchange for 351. with intent to de-
fraud.

The cireumstancai of this case were of rather an un-
usual character. It appeared that the prisoner had re-
sided with a highly respectable family in Leicestershire,
and two of the brothers of his wife were farmers in that
county, but it appeared that latterly the prisoner and the
members 'of his wife's family were not on very friendly
terms. On the Ist of December the prisoner went to
Mr. Duckworth, an extensive moat salesman in New-
gate-market, who was acquainted with his wife's family,
and handed him a letter, which he opened and found it
to contain a bill of exchange for 351., which was drawn
by the prisoner, and purported to bear the acceptance of
two of his wife's brothers, and it was made payable at
Messrs lints, bankers is Smithfield. Mr. Duck-
worth, not having any suspicion of the genuine.
ness of the instrument, gave the prisoner cash
for it, and upon its arrival at maturity, it
was discovered to be a forgery. The gentlemen
whose names appeared as acceptors of the bill, were
called as witnesses, and they stated that their signatures
were forgeries, and that they never gave the prisoner
any authority to make use of their names in such a
manner. In answer to questions that were put to the
witnesses by Mr. Ballantine, the counsel for the priso-
ner, it was stated that the names of the acceptors to
the bill appeared to be in the handwriting of the
prisoner's wife, and it appeared that her brother had
frequently assisted her with cash. It was stated, also,
that when the bill became due the friends of the
prisoner provided the money to take it up, and it ap-
peared that neither Mr. Duckworth nor the prisoner's
relative were the promoters of the present prosecution.
Mr. Ballantine, at the close of the ease for the prose-
cution, submitted that there was no evidence to go to
the jury, as there was no proof that the prisoner knew
the bills were forged, or that the acceptance was not a
genuine one.
The Recorder said he thought the evidence certainly
was not conclusive. The bill was in an enclosed letter
in the handwriting of the prisoner's wife, and for all that
appeared to the contrary she might have told him that
her brother had accepted the bill at her request, in order
that she might raise money upon it.
The jury, therefore, under his lordship's direction, re,
turned a verdict of not guilty.

btrla Vabition

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(This Evening.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR to his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a petition
from Hintonparva against opening the British Museum
and Crystal Palace on Sundays.

LE:iSES AND SETTLED ESTATES BILL.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the second
reading of this bill. The noble lord said the present
measure was somewhat similar to that of last year, with
the exception of some alterations which were calculated
to render the bill much more effectual in its operation.
Lord CAMPBELL complained of some of the details
of the bill.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his approval of the
bi

Bad.
After a short conversation, in which Lord Colchester,
;he Earl of D,,rby, and Lord Campbell took part, the bill
was read a second time.

LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Lord BERNERS inquired it it was the intention of
her Majesty's Government to bring in any, or if so, what
measures for the abolition of the laws of settlement and
removal of the poor iu England, Scotland, or Ireland,
or for any alteration of the present system of local taxa-
tion ? The noble lord proceeded at some length to com-
ment upon the course that had been pursued by the Go-
vernment with respect to this measure.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said it was not
the intention of the Government to introduce any men-
sure for the abolition of the English laws of settlement ;
but it was their intention to carry out the recommenda-
tions of the committee that had sat on the subject with
respect to the Irish and Scotch poor.
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION BILL.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved for leave to
bring in a bill to permit the Court of Queen's Beach to
order certain offences to be tried in the Central Criminal
Court. 13y;th's;bill important trials affecting life and death
may be removed front any county to the above court.
The bill had the entire sanction of the Lord Chief
Justice.
After some remarks from Lord DERBY, the bill was
brought in and read a first time.
The house adjournei at 6 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(This Evening.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter before four
o'clock.