The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-08 00:00:00

Williams was an ideal personage, as that the name
Williamson, in which parcels of goods were sold, was
a name adopted for the occasion. The Learned
Counsel then recapitulated the main features of the
case, and contended that the whole account was just
such a one as a man inventing a plausible story would
relate. It was laid down in Blackstone, that a
general answer by a bankrupt that he lost, by selling
goods under prime cost, was perfectly unsatisfactory.
In his first item he specified goods sold to Moses and
Son of the value of 1,0401., but when closely pressed
he is forced to admit that he did not sell more than
7501. worth, thus saddling himself with a sum of
about 300/. Looking at the whole circumstances
under which the bankrupt stood before the Court, he
thought that his Honour would be but doing simple
justice between the creditors and the bankrupt by
ordering his committal into custody.
Mr. LUCAS, in replying for the bankrupt, contended
that some limit should be applied .to the term unsatis-
factory. It was well known that in the trade there
were goods known as "job goods," which were fre-
quently sold at half their value; and, according to the
bankrupt's own statement, he met this man Williams,
who assisted him to dispose of such. The bankrupt
had affirmed the truth of that transaction upon oath,
and his Learned Friend Mr. James could only assert
that it was fictitious.
Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN reminded the Learned
Counsel that he was not there to argue the question
of fact, but whether the answer of the bankrupt to a
certain question, or the whole tenor of his examina-
tion, was satisfactory.
Mr. LUCAS thought the very best test of the satis-
factory nature of the bankrupt's answer was its truth.
All that they were to inquire was, was there any-
thing inconsistent on the face of his statement with
what might have happened ? He thought that his
answers had been entirely consistent, and he thought
also that the Court would feel convinced that they
might have had their origin in the truth, and that
therefore it could not exercise the extreme jurisdic-
tion sought for by Mr. James.
Mr. Commissioner GOULDURN said that the case
had not occupied more time than its importance de-
served or demanded. The case was somewhat out of
the ordinary course in all its parts, and it would
therefore, he thought, be the proper course for him
briefly to review the whole proceedings. The facts
were these, and they were very extraordinary. It
appeared that he had commenced business with a
capital of 7221., and incredible as it might seem, he
in four :nonths— the period which elapsed from the
cotnmencement of his business till the date of his fiat—
had obtained goods to the amount of 17,033/. Os. 11d.,
and this, too, at a time when he was leading a most
infamous and profligate life; to use his own words—in
saloons, and theatres, and similar places—at a time
when he had depots in different parts of the country,
in Southampton, in Derby, and other places, for the
purpose of disposing of these goods to any person and
at any price. The bankrupt, it appeared, had but one
object from the first, namely, to get rid of these goods,
and then to enjoy in some foreign clime the amount
received in this fraudulent manner ; but by the
activity of his creditors—and especially was praise
due to Mr. Quilton—he was captured in the island of
Madeira, and brought back to this country. But the
question was, were the answers given by the bankrupt
sufficient to satisfy any reasonable person ? Was it
altogether, he-would ask, out of the range of probabi-
lity that this story of the bankrupt was true. He
met, it appeared by his own statement, this person,
whom he had formerly known, and his wicked pur •
pose—for it was nothing else—being uppermost in
his mind, he said at once to Williams, " Can you sell
some goods for me ?" He answered, " I can." He
(the Learned Commissioner) did not find the state-
ment so grossly improbable that he could commit the
bankrupt to prison, from which he could not perhaps
get free unless by perjuring himself—taking it for
granted that the present story were true. But then
this other question arose, what was to be done with
him ? He had kept no hooks, his accounts were made
up from memory, and wholly unsatisfactory. He
would, taking all circumstances into consioeration,
adjourn the further hearing of the case sine die.
Mr. REID, solicitor for the creditor under the fist,
in reference to the credit given so readily to the
bankrupt, said that the bankrupts were in very ex-
cellent repute in Derby, and their accounts were well
kept up with the highly respectable house of Phillips,
of Manchester, which recommended him to other
houses in the trade. It was impossible for them to
know of his irregular proceedings in London, and
therefore it was that credit was given to the amount
stated in these proceedings. He then maae an applica-
tion under the 32d and 35th section of the sth and 6th
Victoria, c. 120, which orders, that where the bankrupt
has removed, concealed, or embezzled goods to the
amount of 10/., he shall be prosecuted by the assignees
in the Criminal Court.

Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN—You may take the
order. I think this a most proper case in which to
put the Act of Parliament in force, and punish the
bankrupt.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Nov. 7.
IN RE EDWARD WEST.

In this case, which has been already reported in The
Sun, the insolvent, who was an extensive broker in the
City, had been before the Court about a month ago,
when his petition was adjourned in order that the in-
solvent should render an account of certain chattels
which he possessed in Portsmouth. Having complied
with the order of the Court, he was this day discharged
from custody.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
CLERKEIV WELL.

George Combes, living in Coram-street, _ was
charged with breaking the jaw cf an unfortunate girl,
named Anne Gorman.
The poor girl was standing quietly by the wayside
in Chalk-road, on Tuesday evening, when the pri-
soner came up and told her to accompany him.
knowing he was a violent character, she refnsed;
upon which, without further provocation, he dealt
her such a blow with his clenched fist as broke her
jaw, and felled her to the ground, where she lay in-
sensible for half an hour. Her head was terribly
swollen, and she articulated with pain and difficulty.
She was then conveyed to a surgeon. The prisoner,
far from showing any feeling for the poor creature,
walked off laughing.
The case for the prosecution having been con-
clusively established, the prisoner, in defence, endoa-
voured to set up an alibi, in which he completely
failed.
Mr. ComnE—Will you make the poor creature some
compensation for the grievous injury you have done
her? Prisoner—l won't give her a farthing.
Mr. CoMaE—Then you will pay 51., or go to the
House of Correction for two months.
Johanna Harrington was charged with cutting and
wounding Anne Connor.
The complainant, who is a poor woman living in
Baldwin's-place, Gray's Inn-lane, asked the prisoner,
on the 16th ult., for a debt she owed her, and Har-
rington, without making any reply, lifted an iron-
hooped can, and struck her on the forehead with the
iron rim of the vessel, producing a frightful wound,
from which she bled until she fainted. The prose-
cutrix was then conveyed to the hospital, where she
has remained up to this time, and at one period her
case was considered dangerous. She was still ex-
tremely weak, and was obliged to sit whilst giving
her evidence.
Mr. COMBE fined the prisoner 51., or two months'
imprisonment ; but the prosecutrix desiring a com-
promise, the Magistrate said, if reasonable compensa-
tion were made to the poor woman, he would mitigate
the fine.

Two persons named M'Gregor and Jones were charged
with passing bad coin. They were captured last night,
by police-conatable, 405 N, after passin a quantity of
bad coin on numerous shopkeepers. When the male
prisoner, M'Gregor, was arrested he swallowed some
bad money, and made so desperate a resistance that it
required the combined exertions of four constables to
take him to the station, several of whom he kicked and
knocked down. A large quantity of coppers and four-
penny pieces were found on M'Gregor, which he had
obtained as change for the bad sixpences.
M'Gregor said if he had a knife he would have stabbed
the constable who arrested them.—They were remanded.