The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-28 00:00:00

AUGU.ST 281 1857

consider may enable them to put the management on a
satisfactory footing.
Mr. Fleming—Your honour has just stated the course
that wi I be most agreeable to the shareholders for whom
I appear.
The C immissioner —To obtain a winding-up order is
practically rushing into bankruptcy —it is bankruptcy in
name, if not in fact.

Mr, Chitties Jeffreys, of 21, Soho-square, wished to
put one question to Mr. Fleming.
Mr. Fleming—How many shares are you the holder
of?

Mr. Jeffreys—One share. (Laughter.) I wish to
know whether the two gentlemen for whom Mr. Fletn'ng
appears (11r. Beale and M. Jullien) were not direct ,rs
at the time the dividend of 10 per cent. wai declared?

Mr. Fleming—M. 'Millen never was a director, and
Mr. Beale sent in his resignation some months ago.
Mr. Coppock, on the part of the directors, who were
the holders of
,more than one-half the ebares of the
company, wished to say a few words. 1,612 shares were
held by the directors and their friends. (A. voice, "And
their friends.") The directors, -it appeared, were the
holders of very nearly cne- half of the shares of the com-
pany.
The Commissioner—Which directors 1
. Mr. Jones—The names already given in.
Mr. Coppock—l will give them again—Mr. Coppock,
Mr. Bailie, Mr. Holmes, and Mr Webster.
After a short interruption, Mr. Coppock resumed :
He (Mr. Coppock) was the holder of 1,100 shares ;
his brother held 100 ; Mr. Baine, 50 ; Mr. Holmes,
25 ; Mr. Beale, 25 ; Mr. Wyld, M.P. for Bodmin, 25 ;
and Mr. Henry B Hidington Webster (who j )ined the
company only last Christmas), 50 shares. Charges had
been made against himself (gr. C )ppock) which had
given him the greatest pain. Be bad never received so
much as a shilling of the company's money. Not any
one of the directors had received so much as a shilling,
and none had gone for any other purposes than those of
the company. He repudiated every charge made against
him, and he challenged the fullest inquiry. Charges
had been made by persons who ought to blush for their
conduct—by persons from whom be could read letters
suggesting cooked accounts and the managernefft •of
places. Allusion had even been made to criminal pro-
ceedings—criminal proceedings for what ? The circum-
stance would be a lesson to him. He had advanced
money beyond the amount of his shares. He had never
sold or trafficked in the company'e shares ; he had never
parted with one share. The tact was tbat, from certain
c,reumstances, the receipts of the gardens during the
present season had been 12,0001 less than might have
been expected. He and the other directors had done
their duty fairly and honestly, and he had no other
object in view. He believed that the property was a
valuable property. ,He thought that a winding-up order
would be the best course to take for making the best of
the property ; but he was quite willing to agree to any
course that the Court might approve, He would not,
however, allow his character to be assailed and his re-
putation damned, when the only error he had fallen into
was an error in judgment. (applause.)
- The COMMISSIONER —The best course is for the share-
holders to consider the matter. If the majority should
then say, "Let us have a windii g-up order," I can
have no objection. The creditors, I should think, are
quite safe.
Mr. Fleming—Yes. Creditors to the amount of
10,0001. have sanctioned the course which I apeear to
siper:lrk •
Mr. Jones—No,
Mr. Coppock—How many shares do the 63 holders
represent ?

Mr. Fleming —T cannot say.
M. Jullien—l am the tidier of shares t, the amount
of 2,0001,,,a larger amount thZn that held by the whcle
of the directors except one.
After some di.cu,sion, Mr. Coombe suggested that
the directors should cab a meeting.
The Commissioner—Suppose that they should then
request the directors to resign will they do so I—No
answer.
The Commissioner asked whether the solicitor for the
company could state the terms contained in the dee 1 ?
Mr. Chappell--I drew the deed, but I really do not
recollect its terms.
Mr. Coppock paid one of its provisions was that. there
must not be less than 4 directors who were the holders
of not less than 25 shares each. This number c .uld
not be found among the entire body of shareholders if
the present directors were to withdraw.
Mr. FleMing said that if a winding-up order were
granted the shareholders wished to know where their
property would go to, acd bow they were to obtain the
information that they desired.
The Commissioner—An official liquidator would be
appointed under any winding-up order, and be could get
at everything.
Mr. Coppock said he and the other directors asked for
a winding-up order in this c curt as the best mode of in-
stitutini; due inquiry and protecting their characters.
Mr. Coombe said the afllavit be had made contained
facts which were most extfaordinary. He wanted time,
that was all.
The Commissioner—You shall have that.
Mr. Jones—The directors ore wiling that any gentle-
man shall be put in nomination to act aR j int
The Commissioner—l have no power to appoint more
than one liquidator. The best coerce is to order an al-

jonrnment.
Mr. Jones applied, under the 84th clause, for an order
restralniug actions; also for an order appointing a re-

ceiver.
The C immissioner met) 'ed.
Mr. George applied Ix an or:ler thAt
might be permiAe to.investigate the company's Re-
co u n ts, so far' ai• they referred to the receipts of a benefit
on Mrs. Seqcole's behalf. She wanted :o go to India,
but was prevented by the position of her affairs with the
cornpariy.
_ _

Mr. Coppock—Mav I ask for whom you appear I
Mr. George--For Mrs. Seacole„
Mr. Coppock said tbe directors had never taken the
slightest part in the transaction referred to. So many
false representation's and scandalous imputations had been
made in reference to the matter that he might say the
secretary hid been directed to furnish Mrs. Seacule with
every inf,rmation ,-ho required, and that her claim would
be satisfied.
Mr. George—Mrs. Seacole told me only yesterday
that no accouil had ho-n receirea.
The Comtnissiener ordered an adjournment to Satur-
day, the 17,h of October.
M. Jullien said he noel I have wished,-before the pro-
ceedings bad closed, to say a few words that wadi throw
a light on the whole aff IT. He would, however, for the
present remain silent.
A crowded and somewhat angry and disorderly meet-
ing then separated.

magistrates, but were ultimately discharged for
want of evidence. Mr. Beadon had remanded them I
for a week.

Mr. Superintendent Clernan now stated there
had been a burglary effected at the Maine Hotel
sbout the time alluded to, upon which the ptison-
ers had been before the magistrate, but discharged
for want of sufficient proof. He added hit the land-
lady of that hotel, a widow, being.rather timid and
not wishing it be known a robbery bad taken pine
there, had not. put forward the degree of corrobo-
ratory proof necess.a,ry to support the charge. He
had now, upon his warrant, to request his worship
to deliver up the prisoners into his custody upon
the charges alleged.
The superintendent was wcompanied to the
court by Inspector Parke, to whom the confession
of the prisoners had been made.

Mr..Beadon direct-'d that they should be given
into the superin,e) custody.
They will, therefore, undergo a further ex ,mina-
tion before the mlgistrates of ilythe this dAy
(Friday). It is undersiooi that a considenb'e
portion of the pi operty stolen has been traced.