The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-03 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT-JAN. 2.
IN THE MATTER OF COLONEL GEORGE. AUGUSTUS LOW.

ILEHEARI)IO.

The insolvent was before the Court in June last, when he was
remanded for eight calendar months within the walls of the Mar-
shalsea prison, for having. Fraudulently contracted a debt with
Mr. Stephen Cox, by the purchase of a horse for SO guineas.
Since the insolvent was originally before the Court, Mr.
Cooke obtained a rule nisi for the insolvent to show cause why
he should not be brought up to be re-examined touching his estate
and effects, on the alleged ground of having concealed considerable
property.
This day the insolvent was brought up for rehearing, and se-
veral witnesses were examined, particularly Mr. D. Ramsay and
his wife, at whose house the Colonel and his lady had apartments,
in Tunbridge-street, New-road, St. Pancras.
The broker who made the distress for rent, produced the Co-
lonel's military hat and a list of duplicates of valuable property,
which bore date about the time the insolvent went to prison.—
Witness had traced and examined some of the articles.
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The Colonel bad not lived with Mrs. Low regularly for many
years, but only paid occasional visits on account of the children.
He was placed in a painful situation to answer to things of which
he was entirely ignorant. Mrs. Low was in the habit of receiv-
ing presents from her family and friends. Among all the articles
specified, lie had no knowledge of any, except the gold watch-
chain and seals, which were presented to his son in 1819, by
Gen. English, while he was on a foreign station. He would
solemnly swear that he never pledged or knew of any article being
pledged in his -name up to the date of the latest duplicate. The
two large books sworn to as valuable, were only journals of his
travels abroad, which he intends some day to publish—they are
now in his possession; his finances are veryscanty, and his health
impaired ; indeed, at present he is greatly distressed.—(This
was quite apparent, for he is reduced to nearly half the size he
was at his original hearing.)—Rule discharged.

COURT OF REQUESTS, Kingegate-street, Dec. 28.
UNPARALLELED ORFENCII.-.—BROWN V. PEARCE.
In this case Mr. Brown, a respectable licensed victualler, sough.
to recover the sum of Bs. due to him by the defendant. A number
of worthless fellows had, it appeared, contrived to run up a score
in the plaintiff's house, and nothing but compulsory means would
answer in bringing them to a settlement. The defendant was one
of the most unconscionable of those debtors.
Mr. Pearce having appeared in propria pereonn to answer to
the demand,
Mr. Brown stated that the debt in question had been contracted
so long as nine years ago.
The CH ...IRMA N —I am afraid, then, that the statute of limita-
tion will interfere with the power of this Court in this instance.
Mr. Brown.—No, Sir; for God knows I have often enough
asked for it within the period of the operation of the act.
The CHA MAlS.—Then prove your case—produce your books.
Mr. Brown produced two or three hooks, which contained
proof of his credulity ; but, upon looking into them, he disco-
vered that the debt in question had not been entered in any one
of them. He was about, therefore, to apply for an adjournment
of the case for the purpose of preparing himself better, when
The defendant stood forward, and said that it was really of no
use to postpone the case, as he had a defence of the strongest legal
character to make to the action—the best defence iu the world.
The Cu A IRM AN —What defence have you to the demand?
Defendant—Why I was sentenced to be hanged. (Upon hear-
ing this awful acknowledgment. the crowd by which Pearce was
surrounded shrunk hack from him in horror.)
The CHAlRMAN—Sentenced to be hanged?
Defendant (attempting in vain to shed tears).—Yes ; five years
ago I was sentenced to be hanged at the Old Bailey.
A COMMISSIONER—For what offence, in the name of Goa ?
Defendant (who appeared to be perfectly aware of the form of
law under which he was indicted)—For burglariously breaking
into and entering a dwelling-house in the night time.
The CHAIRMAN—Whose dwelling house?
Defendant (again endeavouring to drop a tear)—My father's.
(It would be impossible to describe the feeling of the auditory
upon hearing this acknowledgment. )
Defendant (in continuation)—Yes, Sir, five years ago I was
tried, and sentenced to be hanged by the neck, by the late worthy
Recorder, who, however, was doomed to go before me. The
Court changed my sentence to transportation, and I was confined
two years and a half in the House of Correction ; so that what-
ever money or goods I had were, I believe, forfeited to the King,
and, of course, Mr. Brown has no claim upon me.
The CHA I aNrex—Well, Mr. Brown, this defence is very hor-
rible to he sure ; but I believe it is fatal to your demand. He
pleads that lie bad purged himself by the crime he committed,
and the penalty attached to it, of the debt, and I believe that he
is not in a condition to sue and be sued.
Mr. Brown bowed to the decision of the Court, and one of the
Commissioners gave a hint to the defendant about the escape he
had had, and the necessity of reforming—a change to which the
Court seemed to look forward, to without any very sanguine hope.