The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-12 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, July 11.
(Before Commissioner Sir C. F. WILLIAMS.)
EXTRAORDLNARY FRAUDS.—WILLIAM BROMLEY'S
BANKRUPTCY.
The bankrupt carried on business as a solicitor iu Gray's
Inn, and has been frequently before the court. He this day
appeared to pass his final adjourned examination, and the
court was crowded to excess with the suffering victims of his
fraudulent breaches of trust.
The Right Honourable Dr. Lushington, and the Rev.
Archdeacon Brynier (of Bath), were present on the bench,
they having in their capacity of co-trustees with the bank-
rupt, in re Wilkinson, been defrauded of no less a sum than
29,0001.
Mr. Clarkson attended on the part of Archdeacon Brymer
and Dr. Lushington ; Mr. Humphrey for the assignees ; and
Mr. Sturgeon for the bankrupt.
The debts and liabilities amount, in round numbers, to
about 140,0004 principally through breaches of trust, and
some of them appeared to have extended as far back as 1824,
but the bankrupt still continues to state that he has large
available securities and bills of costs in various settled and
unsettled suits, but which the derangement produced by his
difficulties had hitherto prevented his making out, a'llr
therefore, not enabling the official assignee to value them
f Mr. CLARKSON said that he had the honour of appea
aor the Venerable Archdeacon of Bath, the Rev. Dr. firye.sl
nd also for Dr. Lushington, who were now creditors for tt
sum of 29,0001., and who had to complain that this amount,
rather the greater portion of it, was unsecured, notwithstand-
ing the repeated assurances of the bankrupt, by letter and
otherwise, that it wag not upon good security; and the in.-
tsfist, therefore, having been paid up to the period of the
.t 4 i; they were lulled into a false security. Most of the sums
composing this 29,0001. had originally been out upon good
security, wii!ch, however, being subsequently released, the
bankrupt had applied to his own purposes, instead of lending
it upon mortgage, as lie had induced his co-trustees to be-
lieve that he had ayne. At the time of the death of the tes-
tator (Mr. Wilkinson) the bankrupt was indebted to that
gentleman in the sum of 9,009/., and for which he deposited
at the testator's bankers (Messrs. Childes) in a tin box, the
deeds of two estates at Kensington and Clapton as security
fur, that amount. This tin box, however, he had shortly
after obtained from the bankers by fraudulent representa-
tions, and under the promise of its being returned. This was
never done, and the result showed that these estates were
sold by the bankrupt, and that the trustees had no other
security than the bankrupt's bond. The Learned .Counsel
here entered into a lengthened detail upon the various items
of this amount, and the mode in which the bankrupt had
dealt with them, and upon the part especially of Mr. Bel-
lenden Ker (a most respectable conveyancer), whose name
had been stated by the bankrupt to his co-trustees as having
borrowed 3,000/., whereas, in point of fact, he now :sad in
his harid the affidavit of Mr. Ker, denying in the most ressi-
tive terms that he had ever borrowed any such sum.
Sir C. F. WILLIAMS—Does the bankrupt's balance-sheet
give any intimation of these dreadful facts? The official
assignee (Mr. Turquand)—None, Sir—none.
Sir C WiLustars--Why, then, it is a complete blank.
Mr. CLARKSON—The balance-sheet gives no dates, and
upon that fact alone he could not be now permitted to pass
his last examination. The Learned Counsel then read a
letter addressed by the bankrupt to Archdeacon Brymer,
giving an account of how the moneys were invested, the
greater part of which had turned out to be untrue. He pre-
tended to have effected mortgages with parties, including
names of the highest respectability; but instead of doing so,
he received the moneys as they were paid off, and made use
of it himself. The Learned Counsel recapitulated a long list
of names, and the particulars of mortgages said to have been,
concluded.
After a few words of objection from Mr. Sturgeon as to the
intended examination of the bankrupt, who did not at pre-
sent ask for his certificate, the bankrupt was then called, when
Mr. HU3IPIIREY said—l appear, Sir, on the behalf of the
assignees, and bad and sorrowful as the case may be which
has been brought before your Honour's attention by my
Learned Friend Mr. Clarkson, it is only one out of twenty-
three cases which I represent, and each one of which I un.
dertake to prove to the satisfaction of every reasonable being
to be cases in which the most heartless frauds have been per-
petrated by the bankrupt, amounting in the whole to no less
a sum than 92,000/. There is one unfortunate person whom
the bankrupt has defrauded of 3,0001. so far back as the year
1824, when the money was deposited in his hands to place
out aeon good security, and as the interest was regularly
paid up to the time of the fiat, the contrary was not known;
but in consequence of their being no security this poor
lady last week received parish relief, and she is now
about retiring to the workhouse.—(Sensation.) There is
also, your Honour, a person now in Court whose mother had
been pillaged in an amount of 8,000/. in like manner, and
this lady had a few days since been obliged to sell articles of
furniture in order to pay her rent.—(Several voices, " Shock-
ing.") The assignees feel it their unavoidable duty to go
fully into these cases, which will show a degree of heartless-
ness unequalled in any case brought before a court of justice.
To the extent of 92,000/. I shall be able to prove fraud as bad,
or worse, than the case which my Learned Friend has just
stated, and the desire of the assignees is to show to the world
the extent of these terrible frauds. I have the representa-
tive, now sitting by my side, of a lady who deposited 25,000/.
in the hands of the bankrupt, to be advanced upon security,
the whole of which is lost, although a statement had been
sent by the bankrupt to her, in which the time, ciesumstance,
and place of the various securities in which her money had
been placed was detailed, the whole of which statement pow
appears to be a fabrication from beginning to end.
The bankrupt was here sworn, and examined by Mrs
CLanissosr—The letters referred to, and addressed to Dr.
Lushington, are in my handwriting, but before I answer fur-
ther questions, I merely wish to state, that when this unfor-
tunate occurrence took place I wrote to Mr. Lewis, offering
to give him every information that he required. Ido not
attempt to deny that I have acted improperly, but in moat
instances there are circumstances of great palliation. After
having given every information, am I bound to psoceed in
answering?
The Court intimated that he was bound to answer every'
question put to him by his creditors.
Examination resumed—l was acquainted with Mr.
Wil-
kinson, who, I believe, died in 1827, and Archdeacon Brymer,
Dr. Lushington and myself were co-executors under his
will. At the time of his death, I believe, there was a
mortgage of 3,500/. on the property of a person named
Clubb, which was afterwards released by Dr. Lushington
in order to release it in the name of R. G. Troughton.
Mr. CLARK,SON—What didyou do with the 3,500/. ?—I cane
not recollect.
Was it advanced to Mr. Troughton ?—lt was not. It went
into my general fund. [Here the bankrupt, who appeared in
a very weak state, burst into tears].
Mr. CistnissoN—Do you mean by that answer that yea
applied it to your own purposes ?—Yes, before Dr. Lush-
ington released Clubb's mortgage the interest was paid into
the Bank in the name of Clubb, and after that date, and up
to the fiat, it was paid in the name of Troughton.
What was your object in keeping up the payments of inte-
rest in the name of Troughton when that gentleman had
nothing to do with it ? The bankrupt (in tears)—It ought
not to have been done.
Sir Cs F. WILLIAMS—YOU need not press for an answer to
that question, Mr. Clarkson; the reason is almost obvious.
Mr. CLARKSON—Now, in reference to Park's mortgage of
3,0001., is the letter dated the 16th of September, in which
you state that the money is to be lent on an estate in Mid-
dlesex and Hampshire, to pay interest 4i per cent. ? The
bankrupt—lt is my writing. The money never was advanced
to him. The same course as to payment of interest was pur-
sued as in the case of Troughton.
Mr. CLARKSON—Now, as to Fry's mortgage of 3,5001.?
The bankrupt—There was a 'mortgage of 3,500/. to Mr. Fry,
which was also released, and supposed by Dr. Brymer to have
been secured upon another estate in the same name. I paid
the interest up to the time of the fiat, but it was never
transferred to any estate in Hampshire, or anywhere else.
The money has gone into my general funds, but not for my
necessaries. I have no doubt but that at the time there was
some contemplated security, though I admit it was never
completed.
Mr. CLARKSON—Was there any title approved of by Mr.
H. B Ker, as you stated in your letter to Dr. Lushington ?
I have no doubt but there was, but ib is so long since that I
cannot say. I never told the trustees that the transslg was
not completed,.
The bankrupt was next examined with reference to the
transfer of a mortgage of 4,0001. Ito a Mr. J. P. Burnaid,
when it appeared that the transfer of that particular sum
had never been made, although Barnard (as stated by the
bankrupt) was then indebted to him in a larger sum. This
sum had gone in the same manner (i. e., been made away
with) as all the others, although he had paid interest into
the bank in Burnard's name. In respect of the bankrupt's
obtaining the tin box from Messrs. Childes, he stated that
Mr. Wilkinson had allowed him the use of the 9,0001., and
that he had deposited the deeds of his Kensington and
Clapton estates with them as security. The box was after-
wards obtained from them by letter from me, and I never
returned it. I believe I did not ask the executors for leave
to remove it. (In much agitation)—l can 'say no more.
Mr. CLaiussox—Have these gentlemen any security for
the sums of 17,0001. and 9,000/. ?—None whatever.
By Mr. HUMPHREY—I was concerned for Mrs. Blair, who
died in 1841.
Were there any securities given for her money ?—Theis
were securities in nearly every instance.
Was theme ever such a deed as Fry's in existence fur 2,3004,
and that it was ever executed ?-1 believe there was, but I
do not recollect. Fry was a timber merchant, and now lives
at St. John's-wood. His name is William Fry. I will not
swear I had securities for that money, but by a reference to
certain papers I should be able to explain all this. The
greater portion of Mrs. Blair's 6,0001. was paid
use off.
went
Did you not appropriate it to your ow ?—lt
into my own accounts.
That is, you misappropriated it, as you did all the other
moneys ?—Yes, it was so.
Did you not represent to Mrs. Blair that all this money'
was advanced to Mrs. Seabrook ?—lt was so stated, I be-
lieve, and 4,500/. was, I admit, out of that money, appro-
priated to my own use. I was concerned for a person of the
name of Trott, in which a sum of 3,250/. was absorbed, and
in consequence of which one of the co-legatees was now cows
pelted to seek shelter in a union workhouse.
Mr. timeliness—The representatives of Captain Blair lost
upwards of 15,758/., and on the part of all the other sufferers.
it would be unnecessary for him to repeat a tale of such gross
and fraudulent circumstances.
Sir C. F. WiLuAtis—This is not an every day case, and
the bankrupt should have time to explain.
Mr. HustennEr—We have no objection to delay in favour
of the bankrupt, and we shall furnish him with a list of all
the cases which we charge against him to have been of a
most fraudulent character.
Mr. STURGEON—The case, Sir, is very complicated—
Sir C. F. Wriaaatis—Why, Sir, it is one, unfortunately,OC
the clearest cases of fraud that ever came before the Court.
Mr. HUMPHREY suggested an adjournment of the case to
Monday next.
A long conversation here took place, in the course of which
The bankrupt said, he was ready to give his creditors
every information. He had never denied his unfortunate
situation—he knew he could not ; all he could do was to
throw himself on the kind consideration of those whom he
had injured.
It was eventually agreed by all parties that a short at.
journment should take place to hear anything the bankrupt
might wish to say in palliation or explanation, and subs&
quently receive the judgment of the Court on his last eX.as'
urination.

ADVERTISEMENT.—A MAN'S HAND SMASHED Br
MACHINERY CURED BY HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AN/11
PlLLS.—James Watkin, an engineer, residing in Castle.
street, Borough, had his hand and wrist broken by a,
steam-engine, was eight months at the hospital, where
they proposed to amputate- it, which the patient would,
not submit to. Several pieces of bone cattle away. be.
sides the formation of three abscesses on the back of the
hand. The wrist was perfectly useless, as likewise the
elbow joint, which had become quite contracted. IM
this deplorable state he commenced the use of these ex.
traordinary medicines, which effected a perfect cure in
about nine weeks. Sold at Professor Holloway's Est*.
blishment, 244, Strand (where advice may be hell
gratis), and by almost all vendors of medicine through.
out the civilised world.