The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-23 00:00:00

LA W INTELLIGENCE—Jan. 22.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.

IN BE BITRROWES WILCOCKS ARTHUR SLEIGII.
The bankrupt is described as a newspaper pro-
prietor This was the certificate
of the Strand.
meeting.
Mr. Sargood opposed ; Mr. Norton supported.
Major Walker, examined, deposed that in the be-
ginning of 1854 he noticed an advertisement in the
Times. He applied to the reference given—" P. P.,
care of Mr. Steel, Spring-gardens." He was put in
communication with the bankrupt, who told him that
the advertisement referred to a first-class news-
paper. The bankrupt produced an estimate of which
the following is a copy :—" Average weekly circu-
lation of British Army Despatch and Nautical
Standard, as per stamp returns, 700—producing
201. Bs. 4d. Average amount of advertisements for
ditto, 8/. Issued above the average number esti-
mated for British Army Despatch to sundry orders,
last three months, 3,000 copies, 871." To this is
affixed a statement :—" Weekly expenses : viz.,
printing, including offices, clerks, gas, &c., 101.
4d. ; paper, 2/. 12s. 6d. ;
10s. ; stamps, 21. 18s.
machinery, ll. ; sundries, 1/. Total expenses, 181.
Os. lOd.; against 281. Bs. 4d. receipts, leaving a
clear profit of 101. 7s. 6d. per week." 800/. was
mentioned as the purchase-money. Witness was
put in connexion with Mr. Sandell, who acted as
the bankrupt's agent. He was inclined to make the
purchase. when he was told that he was too late.
The following morning, however, Sandell drove up
to his residence and said if he would give 9001. for
the property, and him (Sandell) something for
making the arrangement, the paper could be had.
He agreed to give 9001. accordingly, and it was in
consequence of the bankrupt's representations of the i
valuable nature of the property that ha did so. On
the 7th of February he gave the bankrupt the 900/.,
and the paper was duly transferred to him. Before
completing the purchase he made some inquiry of
the publisher, but was told by him that he could not
give him any information without Colonel Sleigh's
authority. He had no information beyond that which
the bankrupt gave. The paper died a natural death
in June, 1856. During the period the paper was in
his possession there had never been anything but loss.
Colonel Sleigh gave him a written undertaking to
manage the paper for two months, and he had done
so. He knew nothing of the newspaper business.
The bankrupt told him that there was an advertise-
ment of Messrs. Isaac and Campbell's, which would
be continued for twelve months certain. This was
a valuable advertisement. Isaac and Campbell,
however, on a fill being sent in refused to pay a
single shilling, giving, as a reason, that the in-
sertion of the advertisement had never been
ordered. His solicitor brought an action against
the bankrupt for 501., the amount of these ad-
vertisements, and obtained a verdict with costa.
He also brought au action, claiming 2,0001., part
being the 9001. paid for. the paper, and the remain-
der losses incidental to the bankrupt's alleged frau-
dulent representations. It was on a judgment
obtained on the latter action that he was now a
creditor. The bankrupt, upon his bringing this
action, commenced proceedings against him tor his
literary services. He made a claim of 1501., but
he afterwards abandoned the action and paid costs.
The bankrupt also brought an action in the Wool-
wich County Court for 501., when he was non-
suited. In all these actions the bankrupt had been
subjected to the payment of costs. He purchased
the paper inFebruary, 1854, but he did not sus-
pect lentil March, 1856, that anything was wrong.
He then brought this action.
Re-examined by Mr. Norton—elle did not recol-
lect saying to Mr. Sandell, two months after the
purchase, that he had been taken in, but he fre-
quently expressed himself disappointed. He did
this not very long after the purchase. He had
never stated to the bankrupt that the estimate was
false before he brought the action. He had written
a letter respecting the value of the paper, but this
waa at Colonel Sleigh's dictation. He had never
told any one that the paper was worth 5001. more
than he had given for it. A letter was here pro-
duced as alleged to have been writ ten by the witness
to the bankrupt in February, 1855, and setting
forth that the writer would be willing to treat for
the sale of the paper for 1,5004, and that a paper
of established and increasing influence was not
readily obtainable at so easy a price, but that under
the pressure of time he did not object to m ike some
sacrifice.
An objection was taken that the document as
signed by an Edinburgh official purported to be
only a copy, the original being filed in the Scotch
Sequestration Court.
The Court held the objection valid, and
The witness, in continuation of his re-examina-
tion, said the bankrupt suggested the price—viz.,
from 1,5001. to 2,oool.—and said that the paper
was worth the money. He (witness) would, how-
ever, have been glad to get out of the paper at a
loss, and he did not name any price. Another
batch of letters produced were in his (Major
Walker's) handwriting. The bankrupt did edit
and manage the paper for two months as under-
taken. He had further frequently, and for a long
period—about 18 months—written leading articles
for the paper. He (witness) did not pay the bank-
rupt anything for all this. He remained the pro-
prietor of the British Army Despatch up to the time
•f its death. Two or three advertisements had
been inserted by witness in the Times with a view
to sell the paper. The bankrupt, however, was the
writer of these advertisements. He (Major
Walker) never stated to any one that an established

paper of real influence and position was not readily
obtainable for 1, 500/. This was his (Major Walker's)
, first and last essay in the management of a news-
paper.

• Mr. Yonge examined, deposed that he is a solicitor in
• the Strand, and that he had acted for Major Walker.
His evidence went princ;pally to confirm that of Major
Walker—that upon suing the bankrupt for 2,0001. the

bankrupt, on the case being called on, proposed an ar-
rangement, and consented to a verdict of 5001., to be
turned into a judgment of 9001. if the 5001. were not
paid within a given time ; that instead of paying the
amount the bankrupt had petitioned this Court, under
the private arrangement clause, and that in the end hie
client had only received from the bankrupt 2501., and
which, if they were all fully paid, would not more than
suffice to pay his client's costs in the matter. The
bankrupt, he had been informed, was arrested on the
judgment of his client, but he was not lodged in custody,
the bankrupt having on 16th Jan. presented a petition
to this Court for private arrangement and obtained its
protection. The bankrupt subsequently presented a
petition in the Sc)tch Sequestration Court, in which he
was described as a merchant of Edinburgh. Ile (Mr.
Tongs) thereupon presented a petition on behalf of
• Major Walker for the recal of the sequestration, and it
was recalled.
The Bankrupt, examined by Mr. Sargood, deposed
that his first bankruptcy was in 1850, as a newspaper
proprietor. He had previously been a lieutenant in the
army. He sold out as lieutenant, and ha? not been in
the regular service since. le received a second-class
certificate under his first bankruptcy. He was bankrupt
on that occasion as the proprietor of the British. Army
Despatch=the same paper that he sublequently repur-
chased and sold to Major Watker. It was aboct four or
five months after his repurcha.e of the paper that he sold
it to Major Walker. AL er receiving his certificate he
remained about six months in Llndon. During those
. six months he might have gained his living as Mr.
Sargood gained his. Ha Lad rola-ions ; they assisted
him. He was a deputy-chairman of a railway company,
but ho gained nothing by that. On the contrary, it
-entailed upon him some losses. lie was also engaged in
forming a military college in North America. During
the six months he daresay he earned something. He
appealed to the Court to protect him from the insolence
of counsel.

; - The Commissioner said he did not consider it material
• what the bankrupt was doing during the six months.
• • Faxamination continued—During the six months he
__ received, Who did not earn, about 1,0001. Perhaps he
•-e, i i Aid aot_earrt aaything.
• Mr. Sargood called attention to some statements on
a former occasion.
Bankrupt—Mr. Sargood is misstating things. He
does not know wi:at he is talking about. -
The Cominiss'oner (appeased to -m
r. ii.,,, r ton)
said
•by
be did nod see any practical good that could arise from
- the objectionable statem=nt or question,
- Binarupt's examination continued—On returning
from abroad early in 1853 be again became tee
:"-tbe British, Army Despatch. lie purchased it from fir.
of
.L -Mortimer for 80/. About four months after this per.
• • chase he sold it in conjunction with the Noutzca/ Stan-
- . dard for 9001. He bad not the Nautical Standard in et,
posessiun at the tirnA ti.at be inserte:l in the Times the
• • advertisement of the British Army Despatch, but he had
a verbal although not binding contract that be might
become itspurchaser fcr the sun of 100/. Mr. Silver
• lock was proprietor of the Nautical ,Ftanclarct. lie
could not say whether the divide•nd paid un,d• r ilig finis
bankruptcy was 1,. OV. in the pound. 1:)e 11'.itisk
Army Despatch and the Nautical Standard ,v,l.s pro-
posed to be putli-h,r_ii c>r joint v—t'i Le incorporated.
The papers for ,which 80/ aid 1001. oars the pr, :es were
the two Paper. bo !ell fur 900/. When I.tilej-,r Walker
brought his action for 501 , the amount of the adverb e-
• ments, he thought it a very
claim, uilustifiable and in :pitons
and that as M4,r Welker attackee, him he would
have a shy at him in retnra—and right t)o
_ Mr. Sargood—True mittary tactics. (I.: hter )
The witness hell proceeded tc, state tahuagt, finding
.
Major Valker was acting unhandsomely to him, be felt
that' he was justified in malting claimingforhave made
his services.
Bat for the demand of 501. he would made no claim
- for his services.
Mr. Sargood—That wai very kind of you.
The Bankrupt—lt was.
Examination continued—Since he presented his peitir
tion to this Court for private arrangement he had paid
3,000/. This applied to his connexion with the Dui/its,
2eiegraph, of which he was at one time the sole pro.
prietor. He sold his half share in tht paper to Mr.
Joseph Moses Levi Li. '2,0001. He might have after-