The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-14 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Sept. 13.
(Before Mr. Commissioner GOULI3IJIIN.)
C. J. BANNISTERS BANKRUPTCY.

The bankrupt in this case was a draper, carrying
on business at Derby. He has failed for about
4,0001., and his assets are said to be under 2,0001.
He was originally connected in business with his
brother, Robert Bannister, of Portsea, who, it will
be recollected, decamped with between 2,000/. and
3,0001., but was captured at Maderia. The fiat
against C. J. Bannister was, in the first instance,
issued in Birmingham, but removed to London, in
order to work the two bankruptcies together, and
thus thorpughly investigate the state of their affairs.
The sitting to-day was for the choice of assignees,
and the only proof upon which any discussion arose
was one tendered by the trustees of the wives of the
bankrupts, they having married two sisters, for
1,1201., cash advanced to enable them to commence
trade.

Mr. M. Chambers supported the trustees, Mr.
Young appeared for the bankrupt, and Mr. Reed,
as solicitor for several creditors, opposed the proof.
An examination of witnesses was entered into,
to show the bona fides of the proof; at the conclusion
of which,
Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN said he was satisfied
that the money was advanced, and therefore he should
admit the debt. The only question was whether it
was necessary, under the terms of the settlement, for
the bankrupt to join in the proof. As, however, the
wives had joined with the trustees, he did not think
it requisite for the bankrupt to do so.
Mr. REED then stated that the number of creditors
for whom he appeared carried the choice of assignees
in favour of Mr. G. Hitchcock, of St. Paul's-church-
yard, and Mr. D. Ainsworth, of Manchester, both
warehousemen ; and added that they would require
the bankrupt to give a minute and detailed statement
of his affairs in his balance-sheet. Mr. Reed parti-
cularly referred to the deficiency which appeared in
the bankrupt's stock and bank account between Ja-
nuary last and August, the latter the date of his
failure.

The bankrupt said his books would explain all, and
give, he was sure, satisfactory information of the state
of his accounts.

Mr. Commissioner GouLatntx urged the bankrupt
to be assiduous and attentive to his estate, and distin-
guish his conduct from that of his brother, which had
been exceedingly faulty.
The bankrupt promised attention to the request of
the Court, and the proceedings were adjourned till the
28th of September, when the two brothers will come
up for their last examination.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Before Mr. WALEsev.)
Yesterday an ill-looking man, about 35 years of
age, named Wm. Patten, and a female named "Inn
Webb, were indicted for assaulting and cruelly ill-
treating Wm. Patten, aged seven years, the son of the
former prisoner.
The prosecution, which was instituted at the in-
stance of the parish authorities, disclosed as heartless
a case of cruelty towards an unfortunate and helpless
child as was perhaps ever brought under public notice.
The facts of the case have been recently published
under the head of our Lambeth-street police report.
The Deputy-Assistant JUDGE having summed up
the evidence, the jury, after a few minutes' consulta-
tion, returned a verdict of Guilty.
The COURT, in pronouncing sentence upon the pri-
soners, said they had been convicted on the clearest
evidence, which must have shocked and horrified every
one who heard it. More inhuman conduct he had
never before heard described, more particularly on
the part of the male prisoner towards his own off-
spring. It was fortunate for the prisoners that their
career of cruelty had been stopped so soon, for from the
nature of the medical testimony, it would appear that
they had had a narrow escape from an indictment for
murder; indeed, he thought their conduct much more
cruel and murderous than if they took a knife and
cut the wretched infant's throat. The sentence of
the Court was, that the male prisoner be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for four months, and the
female for three months, with hard labour also.
Francis Crocker, an elderly man, dressed in seedy
black, was indicted for fraudulently obtaining from
Mary Judd the sum of 15s. and a gold ring.
The facts of the case, which, having recently ap-
peared in the police reports, may be briefly stated as
follows :—The prosecutrix, who was a servant in the
City-road, had been courted by a tradesman named
Nathan, who promised her marriage, and in conse-
quence he bought a wedding-ring, which he presented
to her, but subsequently changed his mind, and in
less than a fortnight married another. She was
therefore recommended by a fellow-servant to the
prisoner to bring an action for breach of promise,
and on applying to him he told her he was a solicitor,
and required to have the wedding-ring as an essential
evidence in the action, for which he gave an under-
taking, stating that it would be returned to her upon
payment of 15s. expenses for marking a writ against
.Nathan. She subsequently made several applications
for the ring to the prisoner.
The prisoner having been called up for judgment,
The Deputy-Assistant JUDGE, after commenting
strongly upon the conduct of the prisoner, said he
had been convicted of a cruel and heartless fraud
upon a simple girl, and it was his (the Deputy-
Assistant Judge's) intention to have sentenced him
to transportation, but in accordance with the opinions
of several of the gentlemen on the bench, he would
give him one chance more of retrieving his character.
The sentence of the Court was, that he be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for six months in Tothill•
fields prison, the last weeks to be solitary.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.
Mr. James, the barrister, appeared to support an
application for a warrant for the apprehension of
Jacques Besset, of 73, Fenchurch-street, merchant,
accused of fraudulent bankruptcy, under the con-
vention of the English and French Governments.
The Learned Counsel stated, that in pursuance of
the convention ratified between the two countries, a
warrant had been granted by Sir J. Graham, on the
application of the French Ambassador, authorising
the magistrates to govern themselves according to the
convention, and to aid and assist in apprehending the
accused. The evidence consisted of the depositions
taken in France, and copies of certain letters written
by Basset, and found in Paris at the house of one Regis
Clermain, and the charge against him was fraudulent
bankruptcy. Jaques Besset was a Frenchman, who,
having failed for a large amount in France, came over
to England several years since, and established himself
in London. His agent in Paris in the present case
was Regis Germain, and his agent in London was
a De la Marcotelli, who carried on business here
under the firm of Pricener and Co. Besset also
carried on business here under the firm of Pricener
and Co. Bessett also carried on business in London
in his own name. Both of those agents gave large
orders to different foreign houses for merchandise,
wines, silks, boots, perfumery, and other commodities.
They generally contrived to buy the goods to be de-
livered free of expense, and in order to pay for them
the London and Paris firms respectively drew upon each
other. The bills when due were, as a matter of course,
dishonoured ; and ultimately the fraud was exposed.
Regis Germain, his clerk Bandon, and one De Lazy, a
partner or clerk of De la Marcotelli (or Pricener)
and Co., were arre3ted, and De la Marcotelli fled to
America, and had been made bankrupt in London ;
but in the possession of Regis Germain, in Paris, were
found certain 'letters, in pencil, in his handwriting,
but with the signature of Besset, which completely
showed that Besset was the head, and Regis Germain
merely the instrument ; and that a regular and despe-
rate system of fraud had been practised by the parties.
From the documentary evidence which, by the treaty
of convention between the two countries, was suf-
ficient to sanction the proceedings against the accused,
it would appear, amongst other matters, that Besset
urged Regis Germain, while a bankrupt, and in em-
barrassed circumstances, to procure all the goods he
could prevail upon mercantile houses to trust him
with, and transmit them to London. The series of
depositions was certified under the hands of one
of the judges of the tribunal by whom the order
was issued. In France an accessory in such a case
was not known, for the persons who joined in the con-
spiracy to defraud were all considered as principals,
and the present application was made in order that
the accused might be, according to the terms of the
convention, sent over to France to answer for fraudu-
lent bankruptcy, an offence not known in England,
in which country there were acts denominated offences
which were not cognisable as such in the French code.
The Learned Counsel said he knew that when he
should make out a prima facie case under circum-
stances of such immense public importance, the Lord
Mayor would not hesitate to aid the authorities of
France by acting upon the warrant of the Secretary
of State.
Mr. Philip Antonie Mattbievr, of Passy, near Paris,
stated that he was acquainted with the laws of France.
He produced certain papers signed by the Judge of the
Tribunal of the First Instance of the Department of
the Seine. The judge's name was Maussion.
Mr Humphery, who attended upon the part of Mr.
Bessett, and stated at the early part of the proceed-
ings that he had advised his client not to notice the
summons which had been served upon him, said he
had no observation to make in answer to Mr. James's
charge ; it was all ex parte.
The LORD MAYOR—There can be no doubt that
the intent of the Act of Parliament was to facilitate
the granting of a warrant under similar circumstances,
but there may be some little doubt whether the words
of the Act strictly bear out the intent. The words
are, " Provided that this should be done only when
the commission of the crime should be so established
as that the laws of the country where the fugitive or
persona so accused should be found would justify his