The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-11 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

RAILWAYS AND THEIR CREDITORS.—In the matter of
the Cambrian Railway Company a motion was made before
Vice-Chancellor Wood for an injunctit.n to restrain suits
against the company by landowners (whose purchase was
unpaid) and others. The landowners pleaded that it
was unfair that they, who were bound to give up their
land to the company, should be restrained from pressing
for their money. They contended that where the Act
gave the court the power to restrain suits by creditors, the
creditors were those who had voluntarily placed them-
selves in that position. His Honour thought this to be
so, but said that though the creditors might bring actions
the court must stay execution.
ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A POLICE CONSTABLE.—At the Taun-
ton Assizes, before Mr. Justice Mellor, Frederick Hunt,
a labourer, was indicted for feloniously attempting to dis-
charge a loaded pistol at John Chamberlain, a policeman,
with intent to murder him. The affray took place in an
attempt on the part of prisoner to release a man from
custody. The jury threw out the intent to murder, and
found him guilty of attempting to do grievous bodily
harm. Sentence, twelve years' penal servitude.

DAMAGES FOR THE Loss OF A HUSBAND.—The endow
of a boat-captain named Shoebottom has brought an
action at the Manchester Assizes against the trustees of
the Bridgewater Canal for the loss of her husband. It
appeared that on the 12th December last year the deceased
was returning to his boat late at night, and, having
just parted with a friend, was crossing a bridge of the
canal near Liverpool-road, Manchester, when he fell
through a hole in the centre. His friend, hearing the
splash of the deceased falling into the water, ran to him
shouting for help. Assistance arrived, and the deceased
was found stuck fast in the mud at the bottom of the
canal, the water up to his eyes, and quite dead. The
bridge was in a rotten and dilapidated state, and several
witnesses deposed to having narrowly escaped falling
through it into the water. The defence chiefly rested on
the allegations that the bridge was private property, that
the deceased had no business crossing it, and that he was
drunk at the time. The jury found for the plaintiff ;
damages, £4OO.

STRANGE FREAKS OF A LAWYER'S CLERK.—Richard
Wright, a lawyer's clerk, was charged before the Liverpool
magistrates with burglary. Early on Monday morning
the prisoner was seen passing along the roof of a public-
house kept by a Miss Shakeshaft, and enter the window
of Mr. Cotton's office (solicitor), in Adelphi Bank-build-
ings, which adjoins the public-house. An alarm was given,
and a police officer, having entered Mr. Cotton's office, dis-
covered the prisoner sitting at a table, surrounded by beer
and whisky bottles,with his face blacked , andwearing a-volun-
teer uniform. In a basket which was lying on the floor were
several things belonging to the public-house, and which
Miss Shakeshaft identified. Wright, when questioned by
the officer, said that he had been working in the office
since Saturday night, and that he had gone to the public-
house to sleep. He could not tell how his face had be-
come blacked. Mr. Cotton, who was present, said the
prisoner was not required in the office after three o'clock
on Saturday afternoon. Wright was committed to tho
assizes.

TIIE ATTEMPT TO MURDER AT CHESTERFIELD. —At the.
Derbyshire Assizes Richard Lee, a clerk, was indicted on
a charge of attempting to murder his daughter, at Chester-
field, in October last. The priaoner and his wife were
having a dispute, when the daughter interfered, and so
received the injuries. After committing the offence the
prisoner cut his own throat very severely. He was
permitted to plead guilty to unlawfully wounding, and
was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard
labour.

THE SALE OF REVERSIONS.—On Tuesday an Act
was printed to amend the law with respect to sale of rever-
sions. No purchase made bond fide, and without fraud or
unfair dealing, of any reversionary interest in real or per-
sonal estate is to be hereafter opened or set aside merely on
the ground of under value. The word "purchase" is to in-
clude every kind of contract, conveyance, or assignment
under or by which any beneficial interest in any kind of
property may be acquired. The Act is to come into force
on the first day of next month, and is not to apply to any
purchase concerning which a suit shall be then de.
peudinz.