The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-16 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

PCOURT OF Bf.N U TCY, July 15.
(Before SirC. F. IVILL/Ams.)

EXTRAORDINARY FRAUD{.-IN THE MkkTER OF WILLIAM
IROMLEY.

The bankrupt in thisease, a solicitor of Gray's Inn,
appeared to hear the judcinent of the Learned Commis-
sioner pronounced, upoi his final examination, and the
Court was crowded will persons—some attracted by the
extraordinary diselosurts which had been made at the
previous examinations, ind others more immediately and
painfully interested in tie proceedings.
Mr. Humphrey, as btfore, attended for the assignees,
and Mr. Sturgeon repreiented the bankrupt.
The case had been Tpointed for twelve o'clock, but
owing to private business the Learned Commissioner did
not take his seat till nealy two.
Sir C. F. WiLmims—You wished, Mr. Sturgeon, at
the close of the last day': examination, to say something
in palliation of the bankrupt's conduct. I am willing to
hear anything you may nave to urge now.
Mr. STURGEON begged to state first, that, but little
time had been allowed bin to prepare anything like a
fair statement.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS—Then no injury can arise to any
one from kfurther postponement.
Mr. STURGEON said teat with the Learned Commis-
sioner's sanction, the kw words he had to advance
should be said now. II was a painful thing to stand
in that Court, under any circumstances, but doubly pain-
ful for a gentleman like his client of respectable stand-
ing, who transacted great and important business, and
through whose hands mere than a million and a half of
money had passed, in his capacity of solicitor for a Prime
Minister of the empire (Earl Grey).
Sir C. F. 'WILLIAMS —4 there any evidence of that?
Mr. STURGEON--Yes, is the banker's books.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS --Is Lord Grey a creditor or
debtor?

Mr. STURGEON—A creditor. In fact the extent of
the dealings of the bankrupt, not only as a solicitor but
as a speculator, was very great, and the Learned Com-
missioner was aware that when once this spirit entered
the mind of a person there was no knowing to what
extent in speculation that person would proceed; Now,
as far as the bankrupt's accounts showed, he had been
in receipt of from 3,000/. to 4,0001. by his profession,
and from his property he had an annual rental of
from 5,000/. to 6,000/. It was exceedingly difficult
to say. what might not be the bankrupt's reason-
able expectations of repaying any moneys he might
have speculated with ; and if on investigation of /;i..w.
his ifutiour ahoula Mid any extenuating cir-
cumstances, he (Mr. Sturgeon) felt convinced that the
Court would incline to give that leniency to. the, bank-
rupt of which he stood so much in med. That he had
striven manfully against his evil fortunes was -true, for,
for a long period of his life he had not gone to bed on
any one night till two in the morning, so anxious was he
to restore to _ all the properties he might have
taken the temporary use of. But would the creditors
greatly lose by this unfortunate gentleman? He held
securities on property which was valued at 120,0001.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS—I would compound for 120,000
halT•crowns, Mr. Sturgeon. I feel so much for you, on
account of the difficulty in which you are placed between
this Court and your client, that I will hear all you have
to say in mitigation ; but I will feel obliged If you will
state nothing but what is founded on facts, lest it should-
get to the public through the medium of the public press.
I cannot permit you to go on with these statements, be-
-cause it-I do I must reply to them
Mr. STURGEON was not aware that the_ amount of
property stated in the schedule was contrary to the fact.
Sir C. F. WILLIA)Is—There is no voucher for it.
You have no foundation for those statements but your
instructions, and a kind and generous feeling towards
the fallen. . _ •

Mr. STURGEON—What he was contending for was,
that the property in the balance-sheet was stated at
120,000/., which was proved from the banker's book and
other sources. Mr. Bromley, he was assured, would
amend his schedule. He would, however, suggest that
the creditors should meet to prevent the sacrifice of the
bankrupt's estate at a nominal value- He complained
that in the addresses of his Learned Friends on the pre-'
ceding examinations of the bankrupt, they had used lan-
guage which, to say the least of it, was greatly exagge-
rated, as when his Learned Friend, Mr. Humphrey, said
that he had twenty-three similar cases to those advanced
by Mr. Clarkson.
Mr. HUMPHREY—I have them now. •
Mr. STURGEON—Had written for the list of such cases,
and many of them he found (sixteen; no less), which
Mr. Bromley could not, after the must careful considera-
tion, charge himself with.
Sir C. F. lirti.mAsis--How can you prove that ?
Mr. STURGEON—WouId prove by the oath of the
bankrupt that on these sixteen cases no fraud had been
committed.
Sir C. F. WILLIAms—I am sure that I can cite from
the bankrupt's own books amounts to the value 'of
20.0001., where, and I am obliged to say it, this cold and
determined wrong has been committed.
Mr. STURGEON—No doubt ; but there seemed a
deeper and hidden motive on the part of the
learned gentleman retained by the assignees. There
might have been money appropriated in three or four
cases—a man might do so with the firm intention of
refunding it ; but then it was stated that an
amount of 90,0001. had been used in various acts
of speculation, and every one of them steeped in fraud,
that it would be painful to go into. Therefore, he
thought his Learned Friend Mr. Humphrey was bound,
in justice to the bankrupt, to prove these allegations.
Why, in the list he held, he found the name of Earl
Grey for an amount of cash to have been, invested in
stocks, but which the assignees alleged had been Misap-
propriated, and yet none of Lord Grey's family were
there to press their claims. None of the family of Mrs..
Hare were there, and her name was also in the list. He

prayed the Court to consider that the bankrupt was in
declining health, the result of his intense application
to business, which had induced an affection of the
heart ; his wife was also in the same condition,
and he had a family of eleven children. He felt
confident, that if the Court did not paralyse. the
bankrupt's energies, the creditors would reap the result
of his activity. Ile trusted that the future would not
only exhibit a gleam of hope for the unfortunate gentle-
man beside him, bat for those also who at present
seemed the, greater sufferers. He was deeply contrite
and penitent, and would do all in his power to give satis-
faction to the assignees.

Sir C. F. WILLIAMS said that the question before him
was, whether or not he would be satisfied with the ba-
lance-sheet sent in by Mr. Bromley. He would not
comment upon the figures quoted by Mr. Sturgeon, as
the whole endeavour of the Learned Counsel had been
to raise a feeling of compassion for his client. But be
(Sir C. F. Williams) had a duty to perform, not only to
the public but to the creditors, and not only to them but
to himself also and to the unfortunate bankrupt; and he
must say that he never, in the whole course of his lire,
saw a balance-sheet more calculated to excite the strongest
feelings of disappointment, and nut disappointment only,
than this sheet of Mr. Bromley's. Mr. Bromley's trans-
actions reached over a long period—those which were
blameable, and those which were much more than
blameable, had extended over ten and thirteen years.
If there was one avocation more than another which re-
quired honour and integrity in its professors that of an
attorney required them, for there was scarcely a family,
scarcely an individual, who, at some period or another,
were not obliged to consult an attorney. There-
fore, these transactions of Mr. Brumley not
only injured himself, but cast a blighting influence
over his profession. These transactions had not been
done on the impulse of the moment—on the spur of
necessity. No ; they had covered a course of years.
lie had dropped. on a previous occasion, an expression
that if part of those transactions was not obtaining
money under false pretences, he did not know what was,
and such, he felt convinced, would be the opinion
of all honest and all estimable men in the profession
of the law ; for would not such doings as these
be calculated to excite deep distrust andsuspicion? Would
not men quote the unfortunate man's name when they
wished to produce proof that their suspicions and that
their distrust was not a chimera? And now to the
balance-sheet. The bankrupt did not profess to show in
it that he had possessed one. single shilling when he
commenced those speculations, and yet, at the time of
the issuing of the fiat his liabilities amounted to
141,5221. ls. 11d. Out of this there were creditors
without security, without the shadow of a shade
of security, to the enormous amount of 86,791/.,
and of the whole names in his schedule
only those drawn for an amount of 4541. 15s. held secu-
rities. On examining the balance-sheet, and scruti-
nising the property valued at 120,0001., he was verily of
opinion that it would not realise 6,000 L The Learned
Commissioner then recapitulated in detail the bankrupt's
transactions with Archdeacon Brymer, respecting the
misapplication of various sums under the will of the late
Mr. T. Wilkinson ; and a further sum of 3,500/, also
appropriated to his own use, and other sums of greater
or lesser amount, appropriated in a similar manner.
Let them imagine four, five, or six families reduced,
through the means of the bankrupt, from opulence to
indigence ; from enough and to spare, to a loaf ; and
would the Learned Counsel, under these circumstances,
have them extend their sympathy to the creditors, or to
the bankrupt ? He thought that ere men commenced to
speculate, they should first examine their banker's book
to ascertain if they could do so upon their own
resources, without trenching upon property en-
trusted to their care. He never knew an instance
(perhaps be might except one) where ruin did not sooner
or later overtake the speculator without capital. The
present was a sad instance—the speculator without a shil-
ling, the bankrupt in 141,000 L Such a case had never
till then come before him, and never would, he.
trusted, again. He would, therefore, adjourn the further
examination of the bankrupt, to give time for the
amending of his balance-sheet, and he trusted that when
he next came up he would be prepared to show the real
nature of his property, for he might rest assured that
pass he would not until the Court and his creditors
were fully satisfied.
After some further remarks and some discussion be-
tween counsel, as to whether the bankrupt should still
receive his allowance from the estate, the further hear-,
ing was adjourned till the 29th of October, at ten o'clock.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, July 15.
IN RE EDWARD CAS)IENT.
This case, which excited considerable interest, °eon-
pied the Court during the entire day. The insolvent
had been a person of indepewnadsenotppporsoopder
bt , y
a o
person r w a
laitis pleaestti,tiroenprteo be
sentdedisctohabregesdo,; and, upon appearing on
named Williams who was the detaining creditor, on the
ground of having contracted debts fraudulently. It
appeared by the evidence that the insolvent had em-
149yed two builders to erect houses for him upon some
ground which he had purchased at Bermondsey—one of
whom was the opposing creditor. In consequencethoresults of
aa
disreetmheenitnsboetivwenete,n
and,tbtm,' action was brought
againt
verdict, he petitioned the Court of Bankruptcy, -under