The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-21 00:00:00

MR. DOULTON IN A FOREIGN COURT.

At the time of the Doulton trial, it was stated that the
Procureur• General had no intention of dropping action in
the case, notwithstanding his defeat, as it were, on the very
threshold—the power of the court to try the matter. He
has appealed. The appeal was heard on Friday, at the
Court of Appeal, Brussels. It maintained that the
offence came within the provisions of the Belgian penal
code.

The president of the ccurt was M. Scaufflaire ; and his
assessors were four counsel—M. Grenier, M. Mockel, M.
de Hennin, and M. Holvoet.
M. Mention, the contractor, was recalled and re-exa-
mined. He stated that it was a fact that he offered to do
the work for twelve and a half millions of francs, and that
he made it fifteen millions with the company at Doulton's
desire, Doulton saying that he had to provide for paying
something to Mr. Clench with the £lOO,OOO, and if the
witness made this double contract he (Doulton) would
afterwards reimburse the witness the amount of
an error he had made in his calculations. The witness
said several of the late directors of the Belgian Public
Works Company knew of the existence of the double con.
tract. And witness said he could name Albert Grant and
Heritage among others who knew of the contract.
John Smith, the engineer, whose name was so often
Drought into question at the trial, was now called. In
answer to questions, he said lie had been interrogated by
the Jute d'lnstruction, as it was believed he was incul-
pated with the defendant Doulton in criminal actions. In
respect to the history of the contract, he said that several
contractors had "put in" to tender besides Mention.
Mention, the witness said, offered to do the work at
12,500,000 f., and at the demand of Doulton made the
tender 15,000,000 f., Doulton wanting the extra 2,500,000 f.
to pay for the costs of obtaining the concession. One of
the other contractors who tendered was, witness said,
Brassey, the London contractor, and the terms .of his
tender amounted to £625,000. Doulton offered £615,000,
and this was accepted on behalf of Brassey by Mr.
Brassey's representative, under the reserve that the con-
tract should be approved by the principal, who, however,
would not accept the contract. The contract was then
made with Mention for £600,000 (15,000,000 f.), thus pro-
viding for the pot-de-vin to Doulton of £lOO,OOO (2,500,0001.)
The contract was made with Mention on the base of
£600,000 ; but this was 16i per cent. better than the first
contract, and the difference was to be remitted through
my hands to Doulton. It did so pass through my hands
to Doulton. Being questioned as to the reason of the
difference in price offered for the works by Brassey as
'against Mention, the witness said the Belgian contractors
could afford to do the work for less, as they would not
be exposed to the cost and trouble arising from carrying
on works abroad ; and besides, they had a reputation to
make, while the Englishman had achieved that. The
witness said he wrote the 21 million pot-de-vin contract in
Doulton's office at Doulton's request, and the contract
made by Mention with the company was also written at
Doulton's place in Brussels.
The Procureur-General then addressed the court on the
evidence given that day and at the trial. In proceeding
to give a history of the case, be dwelt upon the facts
which had been proved as to the manner in which
Doulton had all through avoided coming face to face with
justice. In May last, when called upon to appear, a state-
ment was made on Doulton's behalf that he was at the
point of death ; yet a few days after that date he was in
his seat in Parliament. At the date of the court re-
assembling, the 9th of July, the report of a physician
was given in, stating that Doulton had a grave
liver complaint ; but he had been seen by witnesses
'who knew him well to be in good health, walk-
ing about the streets of London, and it seemed as if
the physician had been shewn some sick Englishman
who was not Doulton. Then it was requested that the
case should be adjourned still longer, as its hearing might
prejudice Doulton's position as a member of Parliament,
and it was adjourned on condition that he appeared on the
22nd of October. The condition was made, and still
Doulton did not come ;and he did not even present him-
self to this court when he had the greatest interest in
defending himself. The Procureur-General concluded by
declaring that the charge of swindling had been made out
against Doulton, who had offended against both the old
and new penal codes of the kingdom, and called for the
punishment of the offender.
The presiding judge said the court would take time to
deliberate.

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT TO SHOOT AN ENGINE-
DRIVER AND STOKER.-A telegram from Holyhead says
that whilst Saturday's Irish mail, which leaves London
at 7.15 am., was passing near Mostyn, in North Wales,
at 9.30 a.m. from Holyhead at full-speed, Elias Williams,
the up-train driver, noticed a hand with a pistol
stretching from the Irish mail towards the up-train.
Immediately after passing, the driver and stoker heard a
pistol shot, and witnessed smoke. It is supposed that the
shot was aimed at the up-train driver and stoker, as several
empty trucks followed the engine. 'lie engine-driver
reported the ease at Chester. The carriage coupler reports
hearing a passenger defending Fenianism before the train
started.

THE WEST OF ENGLAND AND THE LAWYERS.—
It will be seen, says the Doily Noes, commenting upon
the elections, that both the law officers of the Crown in
the present Government represent Devonshire con-
stituencies. The preference of West of England electors
for members of the bar has been marked from the time
when Falmouth returned the late Lord Cranworth,
and Exeter sent to Parliament Sir William Follett.
The present Master of the Rolls sat for Devonport, Air.
Justice Montague Smith for Truro, and Mr. Justice
Brett for Helston. For several years Sir Roundell Palmer
represented Plymouth, Chief Justice Cockburn sat for
Southampton, and Sir John Rolt for the western division
of Gloucester. Devonport now returns Mr. Montague
Chambers. and Tiverton the Hen. C+, Denman.