The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-23 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

THE CHARGE OF FRAUD AGAINST A FRENCH BANKER.—
Victor Wideman, lately the manager of a bank at Gueb-
wilter, in France, was again brought before Sir Thomas
Henry, the chief magistrate, charged with absconding from
his creditors, and taking with him a large amount of
money, their property.
The proceedings commenced with the reading of the de-
position made in France by the official assignee, M. Adolph
Picard. It occupied a considerable time, and contained no
facts other than those published in the brief account pub-
lished in The Sun yesterday. After the interpreter had
gone on for some time,
Sir Thomas Henry asked Mr. Williams whether there
was any use in continuing the reading of the document, as
it appeared to him to contain nothing but explanations as
to the circumstances that led to the prisoner's flight, which
had been occasioned, as they all knew, by his improperly
discounting bills for a person named Stocker. The amount
of money alleged to have been taken being 150,000 francs.
Mr. Williams said, as the reading had gone on so far he
should like to hear it to the end.
This was done, and at its conclusion,

Inspector Williamson of the detective force said—l ap-
prehended the prisone on Saturday at a house in High-
street, Peckham. I asked him his name, he said it was
Bourgeos. I then asked M. Picard in, and he identified
him as Widemann. I told him I was an inspector of
police, and showed him my warrant for his arrest. He
made no reply. Sergeant Druscovitch, who was with me,
then went out of the room, and returned with a travelling
bag and portmanteau. Prisoner was asked if they be-
longed to him, and he replied " yes." We tken conveyed
the prisoner t• Bow-street, and examined the contents of
the bag, which contained a large amount of French money,
which would amount in English to about £2,400, and bills
and bonds.
This being the whole of the case,

Mr. Montague Williams asked for a remand on the
ground that he had stated that he should be able to prove
that certain of the statements of Mr. Beard was not quite
correct, and also that he should be able to prove a partner-
ship ; and if ho did that, he apprehended that he could
not be denominated a fraudulent bankrupt.
Sir T. Henry said the prisoner had, throughout the
whole of the proceedings, never mentioned anything about
a partnership ; he had all through spoken of certain per-
sons as his creditors. He had removed more than £lO,
and therefore he had brought himself within the denomi-
nation of a fraudulent bankrupt as laid down in the treaty.
He did not think the prisoner comprehended exactly the
position he was in. He might think his case was being
finally decided upon, instead of its being merely an inves-
tigation to ascertain whether there was sufficient to go be-
fore a jury. He thought there was ample evidence, and
therefore the matter had better be explained to the pri-
soner.

This having been done,
Mr. M. Williams said the prisoner, he believed, properly
understood his position, yet notwitkstanding that, he
wished to "appeal." The prisoner was told there was no
appeal, bnt that he could apply to the Court of Queen's
BenoL fn. rt.

habeas.

Sir T. Henry said all he could do was to sign the war-
rant to commit the prisoner to the House of Correction, and
that fact would be communicated to the Secretary of State,
and he would fix the time for the prisoner's being given up.
There would be certainly hurry in the matter.
The prisoner said that wished to be afforded time to
prove he was a partner.

Sir F. Henry said he was quite willing to grant a re•
mand for such a purpose.

The prisoner said he could prove by witnesses from
Colmar that he was only a partner in the bank, and Sir F.
Henry then remanded him for a week to enable him to
produce his witnesses.