The Sun.
London, England, 1826-10-11 00:00:00

POLICE INw,LLIGENC E.

GUILDHALL—A gentleman applied to Sir PSTYR LAUIIIs
for a warrant, to apprehend it perm who is,' or was, a solicitor,
for surreptitiouily circulating a bill of exchange, which was en-
trusted to him profesaionally by the drawer, for the purpose of.
being discounted, without having Oven the drawer any account
of, or consideration for, the same. The bill bore date the l9th of
Augist, and wan drawn on Mr. J. T. Grice, of Keppel-street,
Russell-square. The applicant referred to Sir T. Plumer's Act,
52 Geo. 111. cap. 63, as one that exactly met his case. This
statute required that the person placing the bill in the hands of any
attorney or agent 'for any purpose, should accompany it with an
• order in writing, signed by the party so depositing the same,
specifying how it should be applied. Without being aware that
this form was necessary to protect him against fraud, be had en-
titled himself to the redress afforded by the Act, for 1w had en-

Closed the bill in a letter, in which he requested the solicitor to
get it discounted for him, and forward him the produce as soon as
possible, after deducting his ehaliges. lie had learnt that the bill

had subsequently passed Into the hands of a Mr. John Stacey, who
had transferred is to some other party, but be had never received
any value for his bill► nor could he meet with the person of his
friend, the solicitor. He wished however, to be provided with a
warrant, in the hope that ha should at some future day discover
his retreat.

Mr: Payne, the clerk, remarked, that there was no statute
giving partiol a criminal remedy in such cases. The clause in Sir
T. Pitmen. Act, which the applicant had cited, related only to
the misapplication of money ordered to he laid out in the purchase
of Government or other securities.

The gentleman thought nobody hut Mr. Payne could under-
stand the clause in that way. Tie had stated his case, and shown
the Act of Parliament to four solicitors that morning, and not one
of theta had any idea of the difficulty now started by Mr. Payne.
The second clause commenced—" Whereas it is usual for persons
having dealings with bankers, merchants, brokers, attorniee, and
other agents, to deposit or place in the hands of such bankers, &r.
sums of motley, bills, notes, &e., with directions to invest the
monies so paid, or to which such bills, &c, relate in or upon Or
vernment or other securities fur money, or to apply and dispose
thereof in other ways, or for other purposes, and it is expedient to
prevent embezzlement and malversation Its such cases; be it there-
fore enacted, &c."--Plow who could doubt that an attorney eta-
beating a hill deposited with him to be discounted, was meant to
be amenable under this statute?
Mr. Payne.—But you must take the whole of the clause toge-
ther, as you find it. It goes on—Be it therefore enacted, that if
any banker, attorney, See., in ,whose hands any sum of money,
bill, tirc- shall be placed, with an order in writing" to invest such
sum, or the money to which such bill shall relate, in the purchase
of any stock or fund, or in or upon Government or other securities,
or in any other way, or for any other purpose specified in such
order, shall in as/ Manner apply to his own use or benefit any
such sum, or any such bill, Sze,' every person so offending shall
be deemed to be guilty of a.misdemeanottr. So that your order,
which related to the bill, should, to have conic within the range
of this act, have been to invest the money to which the bill related
in the purchase of stock, or in 00-verourent or other securities, or
in some other way, or for sonic other purpose.
Mr. Beresford was inelined to think the act was intended to
lw restricted to money deposited fur investment, because it was
passed only in consequence of a: misapplicatio4 of some money
placed by Sir Thomas Amer in the hands of a stock-broker: to
be applied in the purchase of Exchequer Bills.
Si
Prrett Loma was of the same opinion.
se We
are disposed to think that the magistrate and his
clerk, have
worded, and,
the object of the statute. The clause is
of Pariii,,meo.-", andi indeed, the language of most of our acts
disgraceful: LIP as the Judges have repeatedly declared, perfectly
the intention was :king at the context, we have no doubt that
of agents, ;erro,teet all bills and money placed in the hands
of employing it".rrinbz..Floc.ratment in stock, or fur any other mode
ning, or in any other
gray,i t is the meaning a the words begin
any =a 07 togy or for any utior purpose, sititli
an
out 14v, 7