The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-19 00:00:00

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK

(This Day).

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, GUILDHALL,
(Sitting at Ni►i Prius, before Lord Campbell and a
Special Jury.)

THB QUEEN Y. BROWN AND OTHERS.

SIXTII DAY.

The trial of the information against the directors and
manager of the Royal British Bank for conspirimg by
false pretences to defraud the shareholders and cue-
tamers and the public, was this day resumed.
The same counsel appeared as before.
' The further inquiry into Mr. Cameron's debt to the
bank was proceeded with.
Mr. Anderson, examined by Mr. Welsby, said that in
Cameron's account in the green ledger there was a dis-
count of a note for 500/. in the bill register ; it was
entered as a promissory note of Esdaile's, endorsed by
Cameron. It was continued on as a continuing security
in the register of the 6th of February. On the
16th of January, 1854, there was entered in the
register an advance on convertible securities, a sum of
3,4781. 2s. 11d., which continued until the end of 1855.
It was taken out after the first balance that was struck
on 31st December, 1855. On that day Cameron gays a
bill drawn on the National Bank of Scotland in favour
of the Royal British Bank for 3,6001., 21 days' date. It
was discounted and the amount placed to the credit of
his drawing account, which would appear as an asset.
He received the bill from the accountant of the bank,
with instructions not to present it. It was not entered
in the past-due bills book, but it remained on the list
of country current bills till the close of the bank,
and to the debit of Cameron's discount account.
On the 31st December, 1854, Cameron's discount
account amounted to 15,396/. 14s. GI due from him
to the bank. On the 31st December, 1855, the amount
was 19,146/. 14s. 6d. Nothing had been received on
it from that time up to the stoppage of the bank.
Mr. Anderson, cross-examined by Mr. E. James—Tee
bills produced of Cameron's were not initialled in the
proper manner by the directors, to indicate they
had passed the directors, nor had they been
entered in the past duo bills book. Up to tbe,time
Mr. Relale became a director, the could only trace
on the books the payment of the money but not the
order for its payment. The 50C/. bill of Mr. Esdaile's
was paid without renewal. By the system of book-
keeping adopted by the bank, they showed the payment
of 1,500/. for the 5001., which the witness el:plaints:l, but
it was of so complicated a nature that few only could
understand it. The principal object appeared to be to
give the bank an advantage of interest and the saving of
the stamp.
By Mr. D. Seymour—Mr. Cameron's account was
kept in the usual manner as others of the same class ;
there was no mystery about it. The bid for 10,0001.
edd bad reference to the purchase cf some of the bank
shares.
A juryman asked if the "green-book" referred to was
a ledger or a memorandum-book fee. the use of the
directors ; because there might be a difference as to.,:he
actual state of the account in the ledger and imche
green-book.
Witness said that the "green-ledger" contained the
accounts that were more frequently referred to, and that
it answered all the purposes of a ledger.
Mr. Crawford, the accountant, said he remembered
finding, in 1853, seven promissory notes of Cameron's,
amounting to 10,600/. He charged interest on them,
as he understood they represented original shares of the
bank, and the dividends would go against them. There
was a cash and drawing account. In 1854 the debtor

balance of Cameron's drawings showen2o//.75:2;-;ce
balance of the cash credit account at the end of 1854 was
3,1731. 12,. Bd. against CAtneren. During Csmeron's
absence from illness, in 1855, Mr. Esdaile examined the
share register, and took a good deal of trouble with it.

Mr. Esdaile on one occasion said, "Surely Cameron's bills
represent a great many more strives than are standing in
his name. The amount would represent 212 shares,
but there were only 51 shares registered in Cameron's
name. In June, 1855, CAUIC:O3 said to witness the
directors were pressing him to give back 1,0001. of his
salary, but that he would take care to recompense
himself. Cameron afterwards gave a promi•sory note
fur 1,0001., which was placed to the "profit" of the bank.
During Cameron's illness witness furnished Mr. Es,laile
with a list of convertible securities. It contained
Cameron's for 3,478/.25. lid., and he called Mr. Esdaile's
particular attention to it by placing his finger on it ;
1151. ls. 2d. was charged for interest at the rate of 5
per cent. This occurred in March, 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

atoppsge of the bank was over 26,000 d.
Cross-examined by Mr. E. James—flu was unable to
say whether Mr. Eidaile nad seen the bills before
Cameron's illness. There was a diary kept sho wing the
bi:ls as they became due, but as Cameron's bills Were
never intended to become due, they were not entered as
such in the diary, though a list of them were entered at
the end of the hook.

The jury examined the book, and said the entries
showed that that was the case.

Witness continued—The bill of 500/. was given by
Mr. Esdaile for the legitimate purchase of shares of
Cameron, for the purpose cf doubling his qualification
at the board, in accordance with a resolution passed at
the board for that purpose. Mr. Esdaile paid the
amount with interest. That was the oniy accommoda-
tion he rt ceived from the bank. Mr. E,da•.ls and his

firm banked at the London Joint• Stock Bank.
By Mr. 1). Seymour—The price of R iyal British
Bank shares in 1855 ranged f?om 43/. to 501. Eli was
unable to say whether Mr. Cameron considered his aebt
of 3,500/. 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-book kept, but lee
was unable to state if it went before the jury.
Sir F. Thesiger said he should call wank sees 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 conse-
quence of Mr. Ewer's difficulties, & cash credit account
was opened at tre National Bank of Scotland. Mr. A.
Mattheson became security for 5,000/. but that was not
sufficient to pay off the ebts on the farm.
Lord Campbell—gave these matters come to the
knowledge of the defendants ?
Mr. Welsby—N
—O, it only refers to Cameron.
Lord Campbell suggested that the learned counsel
should not continue this art of the case.
Mr. Wehi:l will
Etnpson. I Etnpson. proceed with the case of

. -
By IYIr. 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. Weleby proceeded with Mr. Empson'a account.
solicitor ,M: f,' Henry Empson was called. He stated be was a
carrying
011 business in Moorgate-street, and
acted as agent for
Mersrs. Mullens and Paddison. He
never purchased shares in the Royal British Bank on
his own account In May, 1854, Mr. Gatherer the
share registrar called on him, and from what he stated
witness accepted and signed the transferof certain shares. His name was used as trustee of the bank ; in 1855
and in 1856 tho circumstance frequently
occurred. He
had no knowledge
that shares stood in his name till after
the stoppage of the bank. He did not know an account
was opened in his name,
these occasions
nMAr. James—He was only communicated wi h on
--- "sin" by Mr. Crawford and Mr. Gatherer. He
had no communication
a
with any of the directors till the failure of the bank.
By Mr. Seymour—The only purchase] of shares was
after Mr. Mullens' death.
Mr. Crawford was called—He deposed that in June,
1855, Mr. Cameron's private account was opened in the
name of Henry Ecopson ; 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, 1,500/. for 30 shares; and a fourth for
50/. 7s. 61. The money was
paid for theta out of the
bank.

Further evidence was taken in support of this part of
the case, and Sir F. Thesiger stated that he should next
enter on the past due bills book, and show the books
that were laid before the court meetings. After that
he should examine Mr. Paddison generally, as to his
knowledge of the transactions in connection with the
directors, and conclude with the] evidence of frauds by
naisrepresentati?n.
The oourt adjourned about 6 o'clock.