The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-26 00:00:00

THE MERCHANTS COMPANI.

ANOTHER ALLEGED COMMERCIAL FRAUD.
Mr. Richard Stuart Lane, Mr. Horace Edward Chip-
man, and Mr. Frederick John Holbert 'Holbert, late
directors of the Merchants Company (Limited), at-
tended again this morning before the Lord Mayor, at
the Mansion House, to undergo further examination
upon the charge of conspiring together to defraud the
public of large sums of money, by making false statements
with regard to the position and aflAirs of the above corn-

party.
Mr. G. A. Capes, the provisional liquidator appointed
by the Court of Chancory to wind up the Merchants
Company, proved that he ex:unined the books and
papers, and all the documents relating to the company,
but he was unable to get possession of those relating to
the firm of Lane, Hankey, and Co., although be
made application for permission to do so, and
iustructed his solicitors to do the same. The
defendants were all upon the list of contribu-
tories to the Merchants' Company. The company
was wolmd up upon
.the petitions of Mr. Henry Moore
and Mr. John Somerville, two of the shareholders,
and a creditor of the company. There ware
7,229 shares allotted to the public. The number
of shares applied for by the public was 9,034,
but only 7,229 shares wore allotted upon these appli-
cations. The secretary of the compan, Mr. John Lang-
ton Butcher, applied for 200 shares, and only 100
were allotted to him. Mr. Horace Chapman, one of the
defendants, applied for 500 shares, and ho was allotted
450. Colonel Daubeney applied for 250 shares, and that
number was eventually allotted to him.
Mr. G. Lewis objected to this evidence, and contended
that it really had nothing whatever to do with the case
and did not in the slightest degree show any criminality
on their part.
Mr. Humphreys said that Colonel Daubeney was a
relative of one of the defendants, and his object was to
show that the shares had been fraudulently dealt with,
and had been transferred when a call became necessary.
The Lord Mayor said, if it was proved that when
the company was in danger the shares were transferred
from a solvent person to some one else who was unable
to pay the calls, he considered the evidence was admis-
sible.
Mr. Capes then stated that, in May, 1866, Colonel
Daubency transferred the whole of his shares to Mr.
Helbert, one of the defendants. A call Lad been made
in the previous month of December, but the call had not
been paid.
Mr. Humphreys observed that, according to the articles
of association, shares could not be transferred upon which
calls were in arrear.
Mr. Capes was then examined as to the money that had
been received: from Mr. Lane in compromise of calls, and
stated that he had received £6OO in cash and a promissory
note for £9OO, which was now overdue, but had not been
paid. Mr. Lane, it appeared from the papers of the Mer-
chant's Company, on the 28th of Feb. received £129 16s.
as director's fees, and on tFe sth of April the sum of £lO6
The examination of this witness on this point occupied
the Court until its rising,

MARKE7 8-IMS DAY.

BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS.

At these markets to-day there is a large supply of nearly
all descriptions of potatoes (home and abroad), with a fair
demand.

SMITHFIELD HAY MARKET.

Shere is a rather large supply of hay stuffs ou sale this
morning, with a fair trade doing at former quotations.
COLONIAL.

Sugar.—The inquiry is not quite so active 13 last week,
but prices remain very firm. The market is firm, with a
steady demand, and as there is but little offering 44s has
been paid for common dried goods.
Coffee.—Few transactions are reported, but prices are
firmly maintained, and there is inquiry for some quali-
ties of Ceylon.

LIVERPOOL COTTON.
January N.—Sales probably 8,000 bales. The market

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Amanita and New Zealand, via Southamptoa.....Jan. 30
Ditto, via Yr amines ........... —........ . Ja a
Ditto, via NA. ama
Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video Feb. 3.
Ditto, by French packet
Cape Verds. by Brazil packet ...... . Feb. 3.
Cape of Good 11,pe. Ascension, and St. nelena Jan. 27.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Jan..3o.
Litbraltar, via Southampton .. Jan 30
[ndia,via Southampton
Otto, via Marseilles Feb. 1.
Malta, Egypt, Jzo. Jan. 30
Ditto, Marseilles Jan. 27
Mauritius, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal, via
Sc uthamston
' "

Ditto, Marvellies Feb. 15
`:ewfoundla Ld ...... ....... Ftb .0

Vortugal Feb. 3.
Uuited States. t anach, GAlifornia, &Q., by British

packet
Ditto, by Canadian packet ..• • ..... •
Ditto, by 1. tiled States packet Jan 27
Ditto ditt( (Baltimore)
West Coast 01 Africa, Madeira, and Tenet-In Fob. 3

QUEENSTOWN, JAN. 25.—The National Steam-
ship Company's steamship England, from New York, ar-
rived off here at 10.30 p.m. to-day, and having landed her
passenge; s she proceeded for Liverpool. All well.—Reu-
tcr's Telegram.
DARING BURGLAP.Y.—On Friday afternoon, at
six p.m., the residence of a respectable family in Leam-
ington-road-villas, Westbourne-park, was entered from an
adjoining vacant house, and a quantity of valuables, wear-
ing apparel, and other property stolen. The burglars
forced open the front door of the empty house with a
crowbar, went upstairs, and effected an entrance next door
by the front windows, from one balcony to another, on the
first floor, and escaped before an alarm could be given.