The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-02 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed
from the Returns made in the Week ending March 29, 1842, is
395. 21d. per Cwt.,; exclusive of the Duties of Customs paid or
payable thereon on the Importation thereof into Great Britain.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Apra
RE JOHN HARLOW.

The insolvent formerly carried on business as a
tobacconist and snuff manufacturer at No. 7. Leicester-
square, and subsequently at the house No. 16, in the
same place, and his actual debts for value received
amounted to about 7501.

Ills petition to be discharged was supported by Messrs,
Cooke and Woodruffe, and opposed by Mr. Nicholls, on
behalf of Messrs. Poole.

It appeared, from a verylengthened investigation, that
in the year 1833, the insolvent took the house No. 7,
Leicester-square, from a person named Warren,
at the rate of 2001. per annum, the upper part
being, according to the insolyent's deposition, at
the time, and up to the present moment, let
out as gambling rooms. Sir Jacob Astley and Colonel
Quin had a mortgage on the entire premises, which was
sold to the opposing creditors, and the insolvent, leaving
in the year 1835, after paying up all his his rent, a
mesne process was brought against several persons, who
acted as landlords and trustees over the premises, by
the Messrs. Poole, for some alleged act of trespass,
and the insolvent included among the defendants, when
a verdict was given in favour a the plaintiffs, and he
thus became liable for his share of the costs and
damages. Being indebted to Mr. Fry, tobacconist and
snuff-manufacturer, of Smithfield-bars, in a large
amount, and also to several other creditors, he exe-
cuted a deed and warrant of attorney in
their favour, for the purpose of making his
property available to those whom he considered
to be bona fide creditors, to the exclusion:of the Messrs.
Poole, to whom he did not consider himself morally, al-
though he might be legally indebted.
Mr. NICHOLLS having urged that the insolvent in point
of law was guilty of an undue preference towards certain
of his creditors to the exclusion of others,
The Learned CommrssioNEa said he could see nothing
in the case to induce him to a remand, and he
should, therefore, order the insolvent to be discharged
forthwith.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME ClRCUlT.—Kingston, April 1.
(Before Baron GURNEY and Common Juries.)
NAPPER V. HOLE.—THE WEST MIDDLESEX ASSURANCE
COMPANY SWINDLE.—CURIOUS DISCLOSURES.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff against the
defendant as the originator and principal in the esta-
blishment of the West Middlesex Assurance Association
to recover from him the stun of 9001., which he had paid
to that Company for an annuity of 761. 10s., and of
which sum, it was alleged, that he had been defrauded by
the defendant, and also that the Association had been
merely got up for the purposes of fraud.
Mr. Platt and Mr. Gurney were for the plaintiff, and
Mr. Chambers for the defendant.
Mr. PLATT, in opening the case, observed that in the
year 1836 the defendant set on foot an establishment,
which was called the West Middlesex Assurance
Association, and from which the public were to derive
great advantages. Prospectuses, of a most alluring
description, were circulated, and, in the course of a
short time, sums, to a very considerable amount, were
deposited for the pnrchase of annuities. The prospec-
tuses set forth that the capital of the Company was one
million, which had been raised by the sale of 20.000
shares, at 501. each ; and the names of fifteen persons,
all bearing the title of esquires, were duly advertised as
Directors ; and it was further announced that the
bankers were—the Bank of England, the Bank of Ire-
land, and the Western Bank of Scotland. For about four
years the concern appeared to be going on prosperously,
but at last the bubble burst, and it was then ascertained
that the whole was a fraudulent scheme, concocted for
the purpose of entrapping the unwary and plundering
them of all their property. It would be distinctly shown,
that of the fifteen Directors announced in the pro-
qectuseS, ten or twelve of the names were entirely ficti-
tious, and the others were persons in a very humble
station in life ; that not only was there no capital what-
ever, but that none of the shares alleged to have been
taken had ever been paid fur. The learned Counsel,
after alluding to the alluring character of the prospectuses,
concluled by saying that it was evident the defendant
at the time he commenced the undertaking, was aware
that it would not be profitable—that he embarked in it
for the purpose of defrauding the unwary—that the whole
scheme was founded in fraud, and for the express pur
pose of applying to his own use the money invested with
the alleged Company.
The following witnesses were then called.
Mr. 11. Harvey said, I was clerk in the office of the
West Middlesex Assurance Association from the month
of October, 1837, till its close in January, 1841. The
offices were in Baker-street, Portman-square ; the pro-
spectuses produced were issued from the office ; they
contain the names of fifteen persons as directors, amongst
them- was that of Mr. Henry Alexander ; never saw
a gentleman of that name at the office, neither did
I ever see more than three or four of the persons named
as directors. The book produced (a ledger con-
taining an account of the annuities granted) was
kept by me ; it contains afi account of the money
received. The defendant generally received the money,
and always received money paid for annuities. It was
part of the defendant's duty to examine the entries in the
book. The defendant was secretary and treasurer
from the commencement of the concern, till the end of
September, 1839. He informed me, in October of that
year, that he had resigned his office. He attended the
board, and also signed policies. The board met every
Friday. There was another clerk in the office, when I
first %%el-it there. The defendant acted as manager.
and I always received my instructions from him. When
the establishment was broken up there were a great
many persons applying fur the money.
Mr. CrosS, clerk to the plaintiff's attorney, stated that
he had endeavoured to subpoena Mr. Williams, senior,
solicitor, of Hart-street, Bioomsbury, whose name was
inserted in the newspapers as one of the directors, and
who was also solicitor to the Company, but was unable
to do so, as he was at present, and had for some time,
been abroad

Mr. Win. Wilson raid, I was one of the Directors of
the Company in question. When I first became con-
nected whh it, I kept school in the Edgeware-road.
I solicited employment as a clerk in the office. The de-
fendant said I should he- in the office, and he at onct
placed my name in the list of Directors. It was subse-
quently arranged that I should receive 53 per week for tn 3
services. I was only required to attend one day in the
week, that was on board-day, for the purpose of signing
policies. I used to Sign all the policies and annuity
deeds which were laid before me. A number of shares
were allotted to me when I was appointed a Director,
but I never paid anything for them. The Company never
had any capital that I MU aware of. I continued
to act as Director till the breaking up of the concern.
The defendant was secretary and manager nearly the
whole of the time. I signed the died of partnership
previous-to the opening of the office. That was in 1836.
Amongst the Directors are the names of Henry Alex-
ander, Esq., Bedford, Esq., R. Ayre, Esq., hope,
Esq., —Fergusson, Esq. Ido not know any such per-
sons. Never saw them at the Board, or at any of thc
meetings. There are also the names of William Wilson,
Esq., and Thomas P. Price, Esq. on the list. lum thr
person first alluded to as W. Wilson, Esq., and T. P.
Price, Esq., is a youth about sixteen years of age, who
was employed in the office as writing clerk and to go on
errands. A certain number of shares were allotted to
each of us, which of course we never paid for. The de-
fendant ala ays paid me me my salary; he also paid another
persons employed in the concern : it was agreed that 1
was to have ss. a week for signing the policies, &c. fur
the first year, and 10s. a week afterwards. After I had

bee!, a Director for two year 3 I was promoted to the.
situation of clerk, at 75/. per . annum, but still retained
my seat at the board. For my last year's services I re-
ceived 300/. ; but that was after the defendant left the
concern. I received the letter produced from the de-
fendant ; it is in his handwriting. The following letter
war then read :

" April 23, 1840.
" SlR—During the time of my Secretaryship, the fol-
lowing sums were paid me :—Knowles, 4,040/. ; Mr.
' Williams, 4,038/. ss. ; Ditto, as Solicitor for office bu,i-
-ne55,1,857/.45.;Mr.H01e,7,357/.; Ditto, on retiring,lo,ooCl
in manner following—Houses in Gloucester-place, Sur-
rey-street, and Maids Hill ; to Hole, thefreeholds 8,900/.
Total to Hole, 26,257/. I have the cheques to prove the
sums I have paid to Knowles and Williams ; therefore
whoever said I had mare than this is a liar, like unto
Peter, who denied his master, and afterwards went and
wept ; or like unto Judas, who betrqed his master, and
went afterwards and hanged himself. All that I have
said or written I can prove.

"Yours, &c., " W. HOLE."
Cross-examined--I keep a small school now in the
neighbourhood of Hoxton. I gave up my school, but 1
went to the Assurance Company as clerk. I received
altogether about 700/. during the four years I was in the
concern. I insured say life for 1001. in the office. The