The Sun.
London, England, 1835-11-16 00:00:00

same

BAKER V. BATT.

In this case Susannah Baker died on the 21st of April,
1834, and the question arose as to the validity of a will
propounded by her husband, with whom she intermarried
on the 19th of July, 1833, being at that time the widow of
a person of the name of Phillips, who had kept a public
house in Blandford-street, which, after his death, was car-
ried on by the second husband, Mr. Baker. The whole
property was 5,0001., one-half of which was reserved to the
wife by a deed Qf settlement executed on her second mar-
riage ; and the only next of kin was Mr. James Batt, the
opposing party in this case, who was the Only legitimate
nephew of the deceased.
Dr. ADDAMS on behalf of Mr. Baker, the husband, con-
tended, from the evidence both on the one side and the
other, that this will was proved by the testimony of two wit-
nesses of the most unimpeachable credit, that the deceased
at the time of its execution was of perfectly sound mind ;
-that she was fully aware and cognizant of its contents ; and
that there was every probability, from her proved dislike of
dying intestate, in favour of the paper propounded.
The KING'S ADVOCATE trusted that the Court, instead
of pronouncing for the will and condemning his party in
costs, would pronounce against the will and condemn Mr.
Baker in costs.
Dr. Nicholl will be heard next Court day.

INSOLVENT CO URT.-SATURDAY.

Augustus Samuel Gougenhei►n, an interpreter and trans-
lator of languages, was heard upon his petition to be dis-
charged. An opposition had been entered by a creditor
named Lane, but he did not make his appearance.
The insolvent, an intelligent Frenchman, afforded much
amusement to the Court by his volubility of tongue, his
politeness, and smattering of law. He had no sooner been
called, than he began by expressing his regret that the cre-
ditor did not oppose him ; he declared he had used every
means to bring him to Court.
CHIEF COMMISSIONER—Indeed ! your's is a very un-
usual regret.—( A laugh.)
The Insolvent assured his Lordship such was the fact ;
he had been oppressively treated, and had been an inmate
of Horsemonger-lane gaol 12 months that very day.

CHIEF Co➢iulISSIONER—Shall we send for him ?
(Laughter.) The Insolvent had no objection. He then
broke out into a long list of grievances : he had taken a
house, paid rent, but not to the lawful owner, as he after-
wards discovered.

CIIIEF CIJNIMISSIONER—Pray keep your anxious spirit
still.—(Loud laughter.) .
The Insolvent, however, proceeded with a description of
his wrongs ; he bad remained in prison three Terms before
the party declared against him, who gave notice of trial,
and then countermanded the notice.

Ah! remarked the Learned Commissioner, I see you are
a bit of a lawyer.—(-Laughter.)
Mr. Gougenheim—My Lord, your Honour, justice is
very near to law.—(Roars of laughter.)
CHIEF COMMISSIONER—You are perfectly right there.
—(Continued laughter.)
The Frenchman mentioned several law terms. The
Commissioner again told him " he was a bit of a lawyer,"
and advised him to keep his ardent spirit down. He con-
tinued, and whenever be came to a technical phrase he said
" You will now call me a bit of a lawyer."
The COMMISSIONER told him he might have been dis-
charged ten months ago had he not been such a litigant
spirit.
The poor Frenchman urged his poverty and the adjourn-
ment of the Court.

The COMMISSIONER proved to him that the Court had
been open to him nearly all the year. No man need be a
day in prison without making his applicati:in. The Learned
Commissioner good naturedly told him he was glad to dis-
charge him, but would have had more pleasure in doing so
ten months ago. He strongly advised him to eschew being
a bit of a lawyer.
The Frenchman- was all thanks, and made a Simpsonian
bow. The case ended as it began—in laughter.

POLICE IN TELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

Ann Sparks, Caroline Ballam, and Ann Collins, the first-
servant to Mr. Barber, and the last two servants of Mr.
Levine, of Bishopsgate-street, were brought up to be re-
examined.

Mr. Osborne, the next-door neighbour of Mr. Levine,
stated, in addition to his former evidence, that after the exa-
mination at the Justice Room a piece of burnt match was
found in the room next to that in which the fire bad been
on Wednsday night, near the foot of the bed, and that
a hole was burnt in the coverlid and one of the blankets
of the bed.

Mr. Joseph A. Barber slept in the house. In conse-
quence of the two fires happening in the house he did not
go to bed on the Wednesday night. He found upon exa-
mining the room next to that in which the bed was disco-
vered on fire, the burnt match. Ann Sparks had free
access to the room.

Mrs. Cripps had no idea of exciting a prejudice against
Ann Collins, but she, to the best of her recollection, saw
that prisoner near the room before she called Mr. Levine,
or saw the policeman. Witness was herself greatly flurried.
The LORD MAYOR said that no doubt the most deter-
mined efforts were made to destroy the house, but the evi-
dence was not of such a character as to justify him in com-
mitting either of the prisoners for trial. He should be
ready 'to hear any evidence which might, on a future day,
be brought forward in this most atrocious business. His
Lordship asked the mistresses of the two girls in what
manner they had conducted themselves, and was answered
that there had been nothing to censure in their conduct.
Both prisoners were discharged.

A Mr. Bradfield complained to the Lord Mayor that
the conduct of the coal-factors, in keeping the colliers in
the Thames without unloading them, was the cause of the
most tremendous obstruction, at the same time that it was
a great prejudice to the consumers of coals, by keeping up
the price of that important article. There were at present
150 colliers in the pool, waiting for the meters, and he
hoped the Lord Mayor would exercise his authority on the
subject, and direct that the bye-laws made by the Court of
Aldermen should be attended to. The price of coals had
been kept up three shillings a ton more than they ought to
have been during the whole summer, on account of this
course pursued by the factors.

The loan Mivoa advised Mr. Bradfield to memorialise
the Court of Aldermen, and his Lordship said that he would
himself introduce the memorial to the Court.

BOW-STREET.

Thomas Robinson, a decent-looking young man, was
charged with stealing three landscape paintings from the
shop of Mr. Reynolds, in Mount-street, Grosvenor-square.
He declined offering any defence, and was committed
for trial.