The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-05 00:00:00

IN RE WRIGHT AND CO.

An audit meeting was held under the estate of these bank-
rupts, who were bankers in Henrietta-street, Covent-garden.
Very little transpired in the case except that the total amount
of debts proved was /30,0001., and that there was about
20,0001. in hand ; but as there were several Chancery suits
pending, there was no prospect of a dividend at present,

SHERIFFS' COURT.-(ThiS DAY.

(Before Mr. Under• Sheriff ISURCHELL. )
RUDDUCIC V. FARMER.

The plaintiff is a Manchester warehouseman in the City, and
the defendant is a manufacturer of cotton. The claim was
for 5/. 10s., for cotton yarn supplied to defendant.
To prove, the plaintiff's case Mr. John Lavater, who de-
scribed himself as a merchant, at No. 4, St. Pancras-lane, de-
posed that the defendant called upon him in January, and
asked him if he had some cotton to sell, describing what he
wanted, and he told defendant that he had not, but had sold
some to Mr. Rudduck, of the quality and price. Saw him two
or three times about it, and the price was arranged. In his
cross-examination he said he did not consider the debt was due
to him, but to Rudduck. He had had dealings with defendant
before, but had since been bankrupt. Had not entered this
account as a debt due to him. Another witness, who delivered
the goods, said he was Mr. Lavater's boy, but went to Rud-
duck for the cotton, and then he took the goods to defendant,
and said that he brought it from Mr. Rudduck. Defendant
asked how that was, and witness said he replied he did not
know.

Goring, clerk to plaintiff, deposed that he called upon
defendant, who treated him very politely, and said that to tell
him candidly, he did not mean to pay him. Witness asked no
further question, as the matter was " settled" when he was not
to have the money.—(Laughter.)
The UNDER-SHERIFF said that when the invoice was pre-
sented in Rudduck's name, defendant should have refused it.
Mr. Masterman, the defendant's attorney, said it could
hardly be expected that a poor Bethnal-green weaver knew the
law; the only case, however, was this, whether he was to pay
Lavater or Rudduck. He was willing to pay either, if he could
co so safely, but the official assignee under Lavater's estate had
claimed the amount.

The jury wished to know whether the assignee ought not to
have been called.

The UNDER-SHERIFF said no demand by the assignee could
alter the facts of the dealing, the only question was whether
they believed Lavater, if so, it was clear plaintiff was entitled to
a verdict on the goods that had actually been in his warehouse.
The jury gave a verdict for the full amount claimed. ‘

FATAL ACCIDENTS ON THE RlVER.—Yesterday
afternoon Mr. J. Payne held an inquest at the King's Arms,
Queenhithe Dock, Thomas-street, on the bodies of James
Jelly, aged 10 years, and Emily Rushton, aged 14. Touching
the death of the former, it appeared that the deceased, on Sun-
day afternoon last, together with a great many more children,
were playing on some barges in Queenhithe Dock, which on a
Sunday is resorted to by crowds of the infantine population,
when suddenly a cry was raised that the man was coming, and
the deceased, in his eagerness to get ashore, struck his foot
against the rowlock of the barge and fell overboard, and was
sucked immediately under the barge's bottom. A lighterman,
named Phillips, plunged after the deceased, but his body was
not found for twenty minutes, when life was found to be extinct.
Respecting the death of Emily Rushton, it appeared that the
deceased, along with some other girls, were playing on some
barges off Trigg-stairs, and in attempting to jump from a
barge on to the landing-place, she fell into the- water, and was
also sucked under the barge's bottom before any one could ren-
der her any aid. Her body was found in a quarter of an hour,
and conveyed to the Glaziers' Arms, Water-lane,',where the
usual means were applied to restore her, but without effect.
The jury returned verdicts of " Accidental death " in each
case, with a recommendation, that for the future, from the open
and exposed state of Queenhithe Dock to children, a constable
should be placed on duty on a Sunday, to prevent a further loss
of life ; and the Coroner undertook to lay the suggestions of the
jury before the City Police Committee.
. .

SNIUGGLIN G.—A remarkable instance lately oc-
curred a few days since of the adroit means sometimes adopted
in order to conceal smuggled goods in baggage on passing to and
from the continent. A passenger arriving from Rotterdam, by
the Batavier steam-ship, attended to take his turn for the exa-
mination of his portmanteau by the revenue officers, and al-
though such examination is conducted in a very liberal spirit,
as much care as possible being taken not to damage the contents
more than is absolutely necessary for revenue purposes, the sus-
picion of the officers was excited, in consequence of the limited
contents of the package, in'relation to its size and appearance,
and on a more particular examination, it was discovered that
there was a false bottom to the portmanteau, under which was
concealed nearly nine pounds of Havannahi cigars. The port-
manteau was of course immediately seized, and the whole of
the apparel and other contents, and orders have since been is-
sued by the Commissioners of Customs for the same to be con-
fiscated, and also for the party, if he can be found, to show
cause why he should not be also prosecuted. The party, a fo-
reigner, was so shocked at the unfortunate discovery of his
little predilection for smoking, at the expense of her Majesty's
revenue, that he actually fainted on the spot.
THE ACCIDENT ON THE EDINIIVEGII AND GLAS-
GOW RAILWAY.—In the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh,
on Friday, William Paten, superintendent of locomotives
on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, and Richard
M'Nab, engine-man, employed on the railway, were charged
with culpable homicide; :William Paten for having, on the
19th of May last, recklessly dispatched from the Cowlair's
station an engine called the Napier, defective in its tubes, fire-
box, or other machinery, for the quick conveyance of Thomas
Cooley to Edinburgh ; and Richard M•Nab, knowing the said
engine to he defective, for culpably neglecting to take a lamp
with him, though the lateness of hour required such a precau-
tion. In consequence of the inefficient state of the engine,
and the absence of light, the carriage containing Thomas
Cooley was Overtaken by and brought into collision, when
nearly opposite Corstorphine, with the next ordinary passage
train, which was to leave Glasgow shortly afterwards, whereby
Thomas Cooley was thrown out of the carriage, and the wheels
of the next train of carriages went over his body, in conse-
quence of which he was killed. A jury having been empanelled,
the Solicitor-General intimated that the Crown had found
it necessary to desert the diet against the prisoners ; the
reasons for which he was proceeding to state, when the
Court said it was unnecessary to make any explanation, as
the Crown had a perfect right to exercise its discretion in de-
serting the diet. The prisoners
,were then discharged from
the bar.

STEAM-BOAT COLLISION ON THE RIVER —On Sun-
day night, shortly after eight o'clock, the Waterman's steamer
' No. 7, whilst proceeding on i's passage from Woolwich to Lon-
don, ran aground r ff Limeheuse-pier, where she remained for
nearly half an hour until the arrival of anotkser of the com-
pany's boats, No. 3, which then proceeded to remove the pas-
sengers from No. 7to their own yeses!. No. 3. iinweser, hay-
ing already their full number of passengers, became crowded
iiiconvenently, and Irons some unexplained cause al,o got
aground. A.portion of the passengers were then compelled a
second time to go on board No. 7. At this moment the latter
vessel gave a sudden lurch, and her stern was driven with tre-
mendous force agains' the other boat, breaking in the paddle-
box and otherwise injuring No. 3. Both boats ultimately got
off, and it not being supposed that No. 3 was so much injured,
Proceeded towards London-bridge, when, upon reaching the
Thames Tunnel it was found that No. 3 was fast sinking. It
being now quite dark (past ten), it was with difficulty the fears
of the passengers were allayed, the screams of the females being
heard for some distanee. A number of boats put off to their
assistance. Forturtately No. 7 was in time to receive the whole
of tlio.passengers on board, and the disabled boat put in at the
Tunnel-pier, whilst No. 7 proceeded safely to the Temple-stairs.
Mr. Stephens and Mr: Forth were generally con-
sidered the best chess players in Ireland. " The death of the
former is announced in The Chess Player's Chronicle, and
it is a painful and remarkable coincidence that his rival and
competitor in the game there published should have survived
him hut a few days. Mr. Forth expired at Waterford on Sun-
day last. Both were in the :prime of life.—lllustrated Lon.
don News.