The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-20 00:00:00

[PRIG:E., 40. STAMPED 5

forl,ooo/., which was placed to the "profit" of the bank.
During Cameron's illness witness fureished Mr. Es ?ails‘
with a list of convertible securities. It contained
Cameron's for 3,475/. 21. 111., and he called Mr. Esdaile's
particular attention to it by placing his finger on it ;
1151. ls. 2.1. was charged for interest at the rate of 5
per cent, This occurred in Marcie, 1855. The witness
was examined at considerable length with reference to
the details of Mr. Cameron's account, tracing the items
through the books of the bank. Cameron's debt at the'
stoppage of the bank was over 26,0001.
Cross-examined by Mr. E. James—He was unable to
gay whether Mr. Esdaile tract seen the bills before
Cameron's Mutes.. There was a diary kept sho wing the
bills as they became due, but as Cameron's bilis were
never intended to become due, they were not entered as
such in the diary, though a Let of them were entered at
the end of the book.
The jury examined the book, and said the entries
showed that that was the case.
Witness continued—The bill of 5001. was given by
Mr. Esdaile for the legitimate purchase of shares of
Cameron, for the peepose of doubling his qualification
at the board, in aesorrfatice with a resolution passed at
the board for that purpose. Mr. Esdaile paid the
amount with interest. That was the only accommoda-
tion be received from the bank. Mr. E ;dale and his
firm banked at the London Joint-Stock Bank.
By Mr. D. Seymour—The price of Royal British
Bank shares in 1855 ranged from 481. to 501. 110 was,
unable to say whether Mr. Cameron considered his debt
of 3,5001. had been liquidated by the sale of 70 shares
which he had given the bank authority to dispose of. A
sum of 1751. had been received from Cameron's estate
since he left the bank which had not been placed to his
credit. The balances of the Royal British Bank at the
Bank of England sometimes fell short.
By the Jury—There was a debtor-boo's kept, but he
was unable to state if it went before the jury.
Sir F. Thesiger said he should call witnesses to prove
what books went before the weekly meetings of the
directors.
Mr. John Finlayson was called. He said he went
into Mr. Cameron's service as clerk at Dingwall, in
1842. Mr. Cameron farmed some land there, with a
Mr. Ewer, but the latter got Into difficulties, and Mr.
Cameron took the farm liabilities on himself. In cause-
quence of Mr. E rect.'s difficulties, a cash credit account
was opened at tie National Bank of Scotland. Mr. A.
Mattheson became security for 5,0001. but that was not
sufficient to pay off the nebts on the farm.
Lord Campbell—Have these matters come to the
knowledge of the defendants ?
Mr. Welsby—No, it only refers to Cameron.
Lord Campbell suggested that the learned counsel
should not continue this part of the case.
Mr. Weleby—Then I will proceed with the case of
Empson.
By Mr. D. Seymour—Mr. Cameron held many highly
responsible offices in Scotland in connection with the
Crown, and was looked upon as a man of good repute.
He still was Clerk of the Peace of Dingwall, and also
Clerk of Supply and Chamberlain or factor of Crown
rents. He was also a very large sheep farmer.
The Court then adjourned for a short time.
On the re-assembling of the Court,
Mr. Welsby proceeded with Mr. Ernpson's account.
Mr. Henry Ernpson was called. He stated ho was a
solicitor, carrying on business in Moorgate-street, and
acted as agent for Meoire. Muilens and Paddison. He
never purchased shares in the Royal British Bank on
his own accost:it. In May, 1854, Mr. Gatherer the
share registrar called on him, and from what he stated
witness accepted and signed the transfer of certain shales.
His name was need as trustee of the bank ; in 1855
and in 1856 the circumstance frequently occurred, Ile
had no knowledge that shares stood in his name till after
the stoppage el the bank. He did not know an account
was opened in his name.
By Mr. James—He was only communicated wi h on
these occasions by Mr. Crawford and Mr. Gatherer, He
bad no communication with any of the directors till
after the failure of the bank.
By Mr. Seymour—The only purchase of shares was
after Mr. Mullens' death.
Mr. Crawford was called—Ho deposed that in Tune,
1855, Mr. Cameron's private account was opened in the
name of Henry Emupson ; in that account he was
debited with money paid for shares. The first
entry that was made was for seven shares purchased
by Lady Adair for 3501 ; the second, 2,0001. for 40
shares ; the third, 1,5001. for 30 shares; and a fourth for
501. 7s. 6d. Tee money was paid for them out of the
bank,
Sir F. Thesiger said he now proposed to go into evi-
dence relative to the past-due bills book, and the other
books which were regularly presented to the courts of
directors and the different boards and committees.
Lord Campbell—And what then !
Sir F. Thesiger—After that Mr. Paddison will go
generally let the whole case with regard to the know-
ledge of the directors in the different matters.
Lord Campbell—And next ?
Sir F. Thesiger—The representations which were made
to the shareholders.
Lord Campbell—And that will be the whole ?
Sir F. Thesiger—Yee
Sir F. Kelly—Am I to understand that the case as to
Mr. Carmen:Hi:is debt and securities is closed ?
Sir F. Thesiger—Yes.
Mr. Crawford was again put into the box to give
additional evidence as to the purchase of British Bank
shares by the bank before the other branch of evidence
was proceeded with. In the course of his exitninatioo,
Mr. James objected to the admissibility of a portion
of this testimony.
Lord Campbell—l am of opinion that it is admissible.
Mr. James said he would beg leave to tender a bill of
exceptions to his lordship's decision.
Lord Campbell—l shall not grant a bill of exceptior
in a criminal trial.
Mr. James said he had the authority of his lordship ii
a particular ca,c for his -application.
Lard Campbell—l formerly said that a bill of excel).
flocs would lie in a criminal case, but I very sincerely
regret that I did so, for, on consideration and on con-
sultation with my learned brethern, I am now clearly
of opinion that I was wrong.
Mr. James--The question can be decided hereafter.
Lord Campbell—l think the evidence is admissible.
Mr. Jaynes—Will your lordship take a note of my
objection ?
Lord Campbell—Go on,
Mr. James—l think lam entitled to have a note
taken.

Lord Campbell—Go on, (Laughter.)
Mr. Crawford, examined by Sir Fitzroy Kelly--To the
best of his belief and recollection the account originated
in this way. &noon's name was given as the purchas,r
of the shares, and witness had asked Cameron if he
should charge the account in Empson's name. There
were shares in the name of Miss Clarkson who married
Sir RubertAdair, and it was understood at the bank that
she wished to self her shares, and a purchaser was found
in Empson. The account of Empson was 12,7731.
Witness was perfectly aware Empson was only a
trustee fur the bank, for Cameron had told hire so.
Mr. Robert Beveridge was then called—l entered the
service of the bank as bill clerk in October, 1350. It I
was part of my duty to make an entry of the bids drawn
on the bank for discount. The past-due bills book was
kept by me from Feb. 1851, to Feb. 1852. Tree book
contains an account of all past-due bills, the names of I
the parties, and the date at which they became overdue.
I took the particulars from the bills so delivered to me
for the purpose.
The witness was asked what was tie amount outstand-
ing on the 20th Feb. 1851 of past-due bills.
Sir F. Kelly objected until proof was given as to
which of the defendants were members of the committee
at the time.
Lord Campbell said cone of the defendants Oen be
affected by the witness stating what the amount was. It
is the only mode in which justice can be administered.
Sir. F, Kelly—l assure your lordship there is a very
simple mode—
Lord Campbell—l, sitting here as j edge, rule that the
question is perfectly regular.
S:r F. Thesiger—We will do hereafter what Sir Fitz.
roy Kelly asks, and I hope he will give us credit for a
desire to do all that fairness and justice demands.
Sir F. Kelly—l will give you credit for the bat in.
tentions throughout the whole of this case, but befure the '
evidence is given it should be shown if one or more of
the defendants was a member of the past-due bills com
mittee.

Sir F. Theslger—l will undertake to do that by and
by, but if you cannot give me credit for it I will at once
call Mr. Paddison and prove it.
Lord Campbell--I should have thought it better for
all parties if the objection had not been taken. If Sir
Frederick Thesiger had pressed it, I would have ad-
mitted the evidence.
Mr. PaddiSon was then recalled, his evidence being
directed to proving the presence of the defendants at
numerous meetings of the past-due s committee from
May, 1850 to 1856, which he did by reading the minutes
of those meetings. He also proved that when a list of
the past-due bills was made out there were various
remarks by Esdaiie, 0 wen, and Cameron, such as "
" bankrupt," &c.

The cold in Transylvania
persons have perished in theia appears this year to be ex-
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assizes for North Lancashire commenced befcre Mr.
Baron Martin, at Preston, on Thursday. The court
was crowded at an early hour, as it was generally be-
lieved that the first case would be the trial of Thomas
Monk, late surgeon at Preston, a deputy lieutenant of
the county, and ex-mayor of that borough, for forging
the will of Edward Turner, reed maker, at Preston.
The evidence was then gone into ; the chief features of
which having already appeared in the reports of the
previous examination before the magistrates, it is
scarcely necessary to repeat it upon the present occa-
sion. The judge having summed up, the jury, after a
few moments' consid,ration, returned a verdict of
guilty. His lordship sentenced the prisoner to penal
servitude for the rest of his life. The prisoner heard
the sentence without evincing the least emotion ; he
stood and looked the judge fall in Vie face during its
delivery, and at its conclusion he stepped down from
the front of the dock with a firm step.