The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-18 00:00:00

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK (This Day

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, GUILDHALL,

(Sitting at Nisi Prius, betore Lord Campbell and a
Special Jury.)
THE QUEEN V. BROWN AND OTHERS.
FIFTH DAT.

The trial of the information against the directors and
manager of the Royal British Bank for conspiring by
false pretences to defraud the shareholders and cus-
tomers and the public, was this day resumed.
The same counsel appeared as before,
Mr. Kennedy, on the part of Mr. Brown, asked his
lordship to strike off his notes the statement of Cameron
to Paddison, relative to Brown's falsehood in reference
to the freight of the Hornet. The statement was made
in Brown's absence, and could not be received in evi-
dence against him.
Sir F. Thesiger said he wished his lordship to strike
out of his notes everything that was not strictly legal
that might have got there by accident, owing to the
complicated nature of the case.
The evidence was accordingly expunged.
Sir F. Thesiger said that he had been in communica-
tion with the other fide relative to the remunera-
tion to abe given to the jury for their attendance on
this trial, and they were desirous his lordship at the
close of the case should decide what the jury ought to
receive.

Sir F. Kelly said he entirely concurred in the applica.
tion of Sir F. Thesiger, and hoped his lordship would
undertake the duty.
Lord Campbell said he was glad some arrangement
of this sort had been made, It was mo 4 unjust to call
on gentlemen whose time was so valuable to them to
attend on a trial of this magnitude for the public benefit.
The law had made no such provision for a case of this
kind, and he would willingly take upon himself the task
at the close of the case, which he hoped would some time
arrive,— (laughter)-- of stating what remuneration he
I thought ought to be given to the jury.
Mr. Anderson was recalled. He produced 10 bills of
Oliver's. In October, 1855, he handed the bills to Mr.
Crawford to take to Liverpool. The bills amounted
to 23,0001. On Mr. Crawford's return, the bills were
missed ; witness was called before the board to explain
the loss ; afterwards the hills were found, and on the
18th December he went before a court meeting attended
by the Governor, Deputy-Governor, Mr. Stapleton, Mr.
M`Oloud, Mr. L. M. Valiant, and the general manager,
when the latter reported the bills had been found and
bow they were found ; he produced the bills and Oliver's
discount pass book at that time.
By Sir F. Kelly—. The bills became due between the
7th November, 1854, and 24th April, 1855. Some pay-
ments were made on account in 1855 and 1856.
By Mr. James— Oliver was considered at one time
one of the largest shipowners in the kingdom ; he failed
for upwards of a million of money.
Mr. Crawford deposedthat he went to Liverpool with
the bills in October, 1855, and received a composition of
2s. 64. in the puud at the Bankruptcy Court there on
24,010/. 19s. 11d. On his return he gays the bills
stamped with the composition to Mr. Cameron, and he
told him at the same time that he calculated a further
dividend would be received of 2s. or 2s. 6d. in the
pound.

By Mr. James—Oliver's debt at the time of the
failure of the bank was 13,0001., having been reduced
;
by payments another dividend of 2e. in the pound had
been paid by the estate since the stoppage of the Royal
British Bank. In a deed of transfer to creditors
Mr. Oliver's ships were valued at 688,750/.
By Mr. Seymour—Mr. Cameron led him to believe
that Mr. Walton, the governor, was virtually respon-
sible, to a certain extent, on Oliver's dent. He could
not say if it was to the entent of 13,0001., the dis-
counts were always obtained through Mr. Walton, and
his account was opened by him.
Several deeds were put in relative to Oliver's
security, and evidence was taken with reference to
the dividends that had been received under the estates
of persons involved in these transactions.

Mr. Paddison recalled—Messrs. Owen, Esdaile, and
Richie were appointed in 1850 as the past due bids
committee, In 1855 Niessrs. Esdaile, M'Cloud, and
Valiant formed the committee.

Mr. Anderson was recalled, and, in answer to a ques-
tion from Sir F. Kelly, said Oliver's balance-sheet in
June, 1855, was 17,0001. It was reduoed from that
time to the failure of the bank. It was the opinion of
Cameron that, under all circumstances, the amount
would be liquidated. After giving credit for all that
had been paid, the balance in November, 1855, was
14,6001. against Oliver.
Mr. Paddison said he understood Mr. Walton was
virtually responsible for Olives debt, though his name
was not on the bills.
The prosecution then passed to Mr. John M‘Gregoee
account.
Mr. Atherton put in a letter from the late Mr. John
M‘Gregor, dated 24th Feb.. 1850, from Hyde Park. It
was addressed to Mr. Cameron, and stated that, as his
(Mr. M'Gregor's) time was much occupied by his atten-
dance in Parliament, and the discharge of other duties,
he wished to guard against pecuniary inconvenience
during the session of Parliament. Messrs. Drummond
had hitherto assisted him, but he was now differently
situated, and could not go to them nor his brother-in-
law, without its looking suspicious with reference to
the Royal British Bank. He required 5001. or 6001, in
addition to his wife's income to carry him over to the
end of the session. He could offer no other security
except his promissory note and a policy for 1,0001. It
would be hard if a director of the bank were placed
in a worse
_poaitien than their ordinary customers,
and be had made the application by letter rather than
it should be considered by the court in his presence.
Mr. Paddison was called, and said on the following day
a court was held, when the committee, comprising
Messsr. Esdaile, Gwyune, Owen, Hurst, and the general
manager granted an advance of 1,0001. In 1851 a sum
of 2,0001. was advanced to Mr. J. Macgregor. That
gentleman gave the bank in security stares in a great
number of companies, some Bank stock, and
policies of
insurance. The securities realised only 1,8001. ; 8001.
for the Bank stock, and 1,000/. policy, Amongst the
securities were shares and scrip in the Eastern Archi-
pelago Company, Irish Beet-root Sugar company, Irish
Peat Company, Chartered Australian Land and
Importing Com
Gold Company, Royal Australian Bask and Gold
In Februry, 1854, Mr. Macgregor retired from the
directory. Ills debt due to the bank at the end of June,
part y, and the Strand Bridge.
1855, amounted to between 6,000/, and 7,0001. Mr.
Macgregor's securities were kept sealed up till after that
time, when they were handed over by Mr. Cameron
to witness, who retained them till the failure of the
bank. The witness wag examined at considerable length
relative to the court meetings, &a ,
in reference to the
debt, and who were present at the. time. Letters were
read from Mr. Macgregor to the bank,
his straightened circumstances at the time.
By Mr. James—Mr, Macgregor was a matt of good
repute at the time. He bad been a secretary to the
Board of Trade at 2,000/, a-year, and was a member
of parliament. These circualstnoces gave a prestige_
which showed
to Mr. Macgregor who was supposed to be a "1"
respectable, most 'honourable, and reasonably resP"'
any doubts as to his responeibilit for the advances
made to him by the bank. It was discovered after
Bible man.
He (Mr. Paddison) never entertained
Mr. Mullens' death, that advances had been surrep-
tittourly obtained by
Mr. Macgregor,
initialling his bills for payment,-regor, by the former
without the knowledge
of the ectors. Mr. Esdaile frequently complained
of tbis, and was exceedingly angry about it when it
Was discovered after Mr. Mullens' death. Advances
were thus made to the extent of several thousands in
p 1 i
Be yt i
agreed the whole. Mr. Mullens had the entre confidence of
the bank ; be had been exonerated from any coin
eMAecluthitleo:tbOyu—To wards the close of the career
titianof
similar
nedthnueadtu.ct directorsA rteosoplruetvioenn t wtahge after-
wardsrepe-of the bank it was discovered that Ur. -Macgregor
was living partly by literary labour, and partly by
his connection with the company. His personal
liability was then spoken of as not being hopeful.
Mr. Anderson stated that Mr. M‘Greglee account at
the end of Jane, 1855, arn•muted t.. 7,734/.114. ltd.,
December, 1855, to 7,0481. 10e. 103 , and January,
1856, to 7,8621, 16,., the increase arose from accumula-
tion of interest.

Toe Court next proceeded with the advance 3 to Mr.
Cochrane.

[To be continued in our last edition.]

o,
8n2T814. urs
remainingd ay , the
BRIsTOL AND El
that
tee
tT
half-yearEt
ba e Rtsnti
er.
total
..
receipt,- - - --
amountedT I i en
rt
li s
to
port ,
4osf
5t h 1 e,
directors to be laid before the meeting
RailwAy, the
2nc osn ue" hnx tpi fle ne duringtd.
Past half-year
ns.htohTeshe expenditure within, the
and
bteheant
ethbeierfiefisfearcianseheebtmaleenntcein of
Exeter and Crediton Railway, and others—amounting to
450,9661., but iirespeotive of such investments, the net
South Devon Railway, the Cornwall
expenditure of the half-year on capital account has been
only 4,5461. Some progress has been made in the settle-
ment of shares in arrear of calls. The directors congra-
tulate themselves on the low average rate of interest,
41. 3s. 10d, per cent., on the total preferential capital
and debt, and trust before long to issue the four per
cent. preferential stock on advantageous terms. The
use of the Bridgewater coke ovens has been aban
doned, and their cost, 3,8971., charged to revenue.
The gross traffic; receipts (including those of the Exeter
and Crediton, and the Someiset Central Railways,)
amount to the sum of 171,4651. 94. 5d., Which is 8,1401.
6s. 2d. less than in the corresponding half of the year
1856. The working expenses charged to revenue amount
to 80,562/. 7s. 7J. This is equal to 46.42 per cent. on
the total gross receipts (173,2761. Bs. Bj. for traffic rents
and sundry sources of income), or 6441. in
-vs. per mile on
125 miles (calculating the Exeter and Crediton Railway,
as 7 miles), or 6511. Os. 2d. per mile on 1231 miles calcu-
lating the Exeter and Crediton Railway as 5,
t miles),
worked during the past half-year, nod shows a decrease
the expenee in
other3s undertakings—
the ea
of expenses of 1.67 per cent. on the total gross receipts,
the diminished
and a decrease of 671. 8s 4d. per mile, as Compared with
warrant the
the corresponding half-year in 1856. The actual cost
anrgytheexPlaesutefeollur yeare.
charged to re-
venue
amounto
the f m
correspondingainteeniannuctel exhibitsey fho ar
l f ;ye aenaereduction
p,eunaprnesdc to
belief that the company will henceforward derive the
full
va
luened ee
fr
thatth e
The Mayor of Ashton-under-Lyne and Mr. Alderman
Buckley, accompanied by Mr. Cheetham, M.P,, Mr.
A. Turnsr, M.P. Mr. Phillips, M.P,, and Mr. Woods,
M P., transacted'busin
ebxetaradodrduirni
business on Wednesday with the Board
of Inland Revenue. __.

, Wednesday,
CRYSTAiPATACE .—ONE SWILLING DAY
Feb. 17.—Adin1esions on payment, 715; ditto by
130A8U0 tickets, 283 ; total Tikitors, 1,003.