Star.
London, England, 1808-12-22 00:00:00

pr;etot, besides being answerable to the other dis•
counters.
__

The defence was, that the bills were given on ac.
count of an usurious transaction, and that some of
had drawkirithin two months of Heple-
ton's act oflivikrupter-tilie period wiithin.whicb-Sir
Samuel' Rbnully,s Act confines the non4effectiveness
oitransactionr wit* bankrupts. . .
The Judge, front t evidence of Co-ombe hiniself,
was disposed to think that his transactions with the
bankrupt were usurious, but although there was some-
thing aukiiard in 11* mode of. dealing of the dis-
counters, be thought it too -.much to say, that they
had been guilty orustntiarta there the defence failed.
It appeared too, that all the collateral securities had
been given previous to the two months before the act
of bankruptcy, and there also, therefore, the defence
failed. Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 10301.

21.—Lzz o. CASS.
This was an action by the assignees of a bankrupt
of the name of Easton, to recover penalties under the

statute of usury. •
The circumstances were these :—Easton, the bank.
rupt, being in want of ready money, West CO three
[several occasions to Cass with bills drawn at six and
three months, with a request that thedefendant would
discount them, and give cash or bills at a shorter
-date:. Cass at first sent him to one Barkley, but the
transaction with this man could not be admitted is
evidence. The *suit, however. was, that he return-
ed to Cass, who agreed to discount a bill drawn at
six maths, at 5 per cent. per annum discount, and
per cent. as a guarantee for the acceptor. Upon
thivprestiple- he, discounted two others, 'with only a
little variation in, the rate of the guarantee. The
bankrupt said he had no doubt of the bills being paid
when due, but that he accepted-of the guarantee is
order to get them discounted.

I

Mr. Serjeant Btsr, for the plaintiff, contended,
that was beyond all question within the statute, that
this sort of guarantee was altogether unusual with
respect to bills, that these bills were accepted, the first
for upwards of 9001. by Hyman, Cohen, and Co. the
second for about 4001. by Moses Da osta and Co.
the third for upwards of 1001. by another house of
high reputation, and that no one would have thought
of seriously insuring in this manner, against a loss
from such houses, which were known to be among
the most respectable in the City. The guarantee be
held to be a mere cover for the usury, and if the sta-
tute could be defeated by such expedients, it might
as well be blotted from the book.

Mr. Scrjeant COCKELL defended chiefly on the
ground, that though the solvency of the acceptors of
the bats was unquestionable at the time, yet there was
undoubtedly some risk, especially in these critical
times, and for taking upon himself that risk the de-
fendant had a right to be paid. The defendant, at
least, conceived so. There was no intentional viola.
tion of the law on his part, and he trusted, therefore,
that the Jury would find a verdict for him upon the
general issue. There was a particular objection, how-
ever, with respect to the second bill. The record
stated the money for this bill to be paid on the Bth
ollgovember, 1807, whereas the bankrupt, in his evi.
dessce, was uncertain whether it was on the Bth or
the 7th.

sir. JAstss MANSFIELD, in summing up the case,
stated, that the whole resolved itself into a question
of usage. The Jury would consider whether it was
customary to guarantee bills in this manner, and find
,iccordingly.
The Jury retired, and after the lapse of an hour and
a half, returned, finding a verdict for the plaintifion
the first and third bills, making the penalties in all
about 30001.

On the 13th instant a radish was dug up in a pr•
den at Ashford, in Kent, which measured in girth 31
inches; in length S 4 inches; and weighed 20 pounds.
Its top weighed 14 pounds and three quarters ; so that
its whole weight amounted to 34 pounds, three quar-
ters.
A few days since a Coroner's Inquest was held at
the sign of the Lord Nelson public-house in Somers-
Town, on the body of a child fi,und drowned in a
pond near that house, wrapped up with a brick in a
piece of green baize ' • when the Jury returned a ver-
dict of Wilful Murder against some person, or persons
unknown.

---
Tuesday as a boy, named Meadows, was sliding on
a pond at Bethnal green, the ice broke under him,
and he was taken out apparently dead, and conveyed
to a neighbouring public house, where the resuscita-
tory process proved effectual to his restoration.
Friday last, was found dead a little. distance from
Gainsbro', Mr. G. Mowbray, of Stockwith, Custom-
house boatman. He had left Gainsbro' the preeed-
,
ing evening for home, and was supposed to have lost
'his way ; the night being very dark and cold, and he
ht an intoxicated state, he was frozen to death.
On Saturday night, at Chatham, during the re-
markably high tide, accompanied with a heavygale,
a boat with two Men was dremanearly as far up as
the second drawbridge, in the fossenear the gun wharf,
wee the sentinel hearingthem-ea/Nut for assistance,
procured 'ropes and men from- the guardroom' - and
:dragged them up,nearly frozen t. death : their recce
as still
and doubtful.
tween five six
ovoc
lcon 4ttard ay morning,
; small dwelling house, baaknprn tilt piles on .the
side of the Sutton Dm* adjoining the bridge near
:the. Sugar-house,.at linttgave way; and a great part
,of it was. precipitated.info the water. The wife and
four claiklren of .the owner, were in bed in a Timm
which ;very fortunately escaped the fate of the rest of
the building ; but the principal part of the furniture
of these poor and industrious people, and the earnings
of their hard' labour were lost.-
The Ticket, No 3,256, drawn on Tuesday last, a Prise of
£20,000, was sold In One-Half, One carter, Ono.E.iibtb, and
Two Sixteenths; ant 18,318, drawn a Prise of 115000, was soli
in Sixteen 16ths ; likewise, 7,391, drawn the same day is ptkw
of .2500, was sold in Sixteen 16:111, by Sir J: BRANSCOMB
and Co. at their Lucky Lottery °laces, No. 11, Holborn, 37,
Co:shill, 39, Haymarket, St. James's, and 969, Strand, where
No. 7,081, entitled to the first Grand Prise of 500 Tickets, was
pid in One-Half," One-Quarter, OntrEighth, and Two 16th,;
likewise, the three .1500 Prises drawn the first Day, were sit
pad, shared, and registered at the above Moe, where Tiebeee
and Skates are now selling, warranted sedeesein, acid the Isms
nate holders of the above Shares mayeatink diel ef met
respective Prise Ou demand. Please-9P absents, ibaswere bet
two days to draw, and.tbree xx,opo 'dem gob
a-1911atoperosn of ether Capitals. •

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