The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-17 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL DISTRICT BANKRUPTCY

COURT, Nov. 14.
Commissioners SKIRROW and PHILLIPS took their
seats at eleven o'clock, and immediately after prO-
ceed-d to put several of the legal gentlemen of the
town and neighbourhood into possession of the mode
by which business would be conducted under the
new Act.

Mr. SKIRRow observed, that rules similar to those
adopted in the London Bankruptcy Court would tie
adopted in Liverpool, save and except where any new
rules and regulations had been substituted.
Mr. J.
C. Thompson, solicitor, said he was con-
cerned in a case in which the bankrupt was ready to
pass his last examination upon the following day, but
that the balance-sheet had not yet been filed. He
asked, whether the bankrupt could pass his final exa-
mination under the circumstances ?
Mr. Sxlßnow said, the Commissioners had not been
left any discretion in cases' of the kind, inasmuch as
the 14th rule was to the following effect And the
bankrupt's
balance-sheet must be filed in duplicate
with the deputy registrar of the Court ten days at
least before the day appointed for the last examination
of the bankrupt, or the adjournment day thereof, for
that purpoSe (one copy for the official assignee, and
the other for the proceedings) ; and the last examina-
tion of the bankrupt shall in no case be passed by the
Court, unless his balance-sheet shall have been duly
filed as aforesaid; office copies of the balance-sheet,
or such part thereof as shall be required, shall be pro-
videdlurs said, the rule which had just been
by the proper officer."
Mr. PRt
read commanded the Commissioners not to pass the
balance-sheet until the same should have been filed
ten days. The Commissioners were therefore bound
by the words of the Act, although they felt the griev-
ance and hardship of the present case.
Mr. Thompson promised to be prepared with the
balance-sheet and papers relating to the bankrupt's
estate on the following day.
Mr. Sxfaaow availed himself of the opportunity to
state publicly that himself and his colleague had been
furnished by, a person of considerable experience in
Liverpool, with some regulation with regard to costs,
with a request that the question of costs might be left
to the Registrar, subject to the approval of the Court.
He (Mr. Skirrow) said it was the determination of
Mr. Phillips and himself to establish a uniform rate
of costs if possible, with the view of preventing diffi-
culty and dissatisfaction, and contributing to the pro-
per administration of justice.
The whole of the business under the late Commis-
sioners was transferred to the new ; and, after some .

formal proceedings had been gone through, the Court
adjourned at four o'clock until the following day.
No new fiats were issued.

BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT BANKRUPTCY

COURT, Nov. 15.
(Before Commissioners BALGUY and DANIELL.)

IN THE MATTER OF RICE HARRIS'S BANKRUPTCY.
ThiS morning, the Court met for the first time, to
proceed with the -regular business. Owing to the
novelty of the proceedings the room was crowded with
solicitors of the town and neighbourhood.
The first case brought forward was that of Mr.
Rice Harris, an extensive glass manufacturer, whose
failure was recently announced. The amount of his
liabilities proved to be greater than previously expected.
The following is an extract from the bankrupt's
balance= sheet :

LIABILITIES. £ S. d.
Sundry persons • ~
Loss by sale of property
Liabilities on bills 11,049 18 10
Daniel Ledsame, balance of capital 6,091 3 8

Total 61,668 12 9
ASSETS.

Good debts, stock, 7,632 5 6
Deduct excise, taxes...

£5,662 18 9
The time of the Court was almost exclusively oc-
cupied in receiving formal proof of debts. The only
question of the slightest interest which arose was as to
a claim put in by Air. Bray, Solicitor' on the part of a
number of workpeople, for wages. The wages were
fixed by a special agreement, and, as there were about
60 claims of this nature, the further consideration of
the claim was postponed until the next meeting.
Sir Edward Samuel Walker proved for 1,0511.8 s.;
Owen Johnson, the late partner of the bankrupt,
proved for 1,458/. ; Air. Charles Miles, of Matlock,
proved for 4431. 17s. 10d ; Ur. John Bagnall for 5711.
13s. Bd. ; Mr. Joseph Wass, of Dudley, 3291. 125.;
Mr. Alexander Harrison, solicitor, for 3001."
In answer to questions from Mr. Fellows, solicitor,
of Dudley, it appeared that the Birmingham Banking
Company held securities to the amount of 15,000/.
The further hearing of the case was postponed until
the 13th of December.

Mr. Perry, of the London Bankruptcy Court, was
in attendance, for the purpose of rendering the Com-
missioners and other officers his valuable assistance
upon the first opening of the Court.
The following is a correct list of the officers of the
Court of the Birmingham district :
Commissioners—Mr. Balguy, Queen's Counsel, and
Mr. Daniell, Queen's Counsel.

Registrars—The Hon. Mr. Curzon, and Mr. E
Wilson, of the Home Circuit.

Official Assignees—Mr, F. Whitmore, Mr. Richard
Valpy, Mr. Thomas Biddlestone, and Mr. James
Christie.

Official Messengers—Mr. F. Badhams and Mr.
Bodell.

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.
These sessions commenced yesterday before Mr.
Sergeant Adams, and a bench of Magistrates.
The Grand Jury having been sworn, •
The CHAIRMAN addressed them, and said he need
not detain them, as the cases coming before them at
these sessions were all small cases of theft, which are
not tried at the Central Criminal Court. After a few
general observations as to the duties of Grand Jurors
he dismissed them to their labours.

The Jury returned shortly afterwards, but no case
of interest was tried this morning.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YE STE RDAY .)
BOW-STREE7'.
ALICE LOWE AND LORD FRANKFORT.— Mr.
Vaughan pawnbroker, of the Strand, appeared before
Mr. Twyford yesterday, having been summoned by
Miss Alice Lowe, to show cause why he refused to
deliver up two snuff-boxes, which had been pledged
by her with Mr. Vaughan.
Miss Lowe came in a private carriage, with a fe-
male friend, and was attended in Court by Mr. Adol-
phus, her counsel, and Mr. Flower, her attorney.
Mr. Charles Montague appeared as counsel on the
part of Lord Frankfort, awl Mr. Lewis as his at
torney; and Mr. John Scarborough appeared for Mr.
Vaughan.

M. Montague said Mr. 'Vaughan had been sum-
moned by Miss Alice Lowe to show cause why he
refused to deliver up two snuff-boxes, pledged by her
for 51.45. These snuff-boxes had been the subject of
an indictment at the Central Criminal Court, upon
which Miss Lowe was honourably acquitted; but that
acquittal had, it appeared, led her and her legal ad-
viser into a misapprehension, as they seemed to sup-
pose it had given her a title to the property in ques-
tion, which was quite a fallacy.
Mr. TWYFORD—I 'must have it proved that Lord
Frankfort is the owner of this property, as the Act of
Parliament says that the real owner of the propfirty
shall give notice to the pawnbroker. Now, there is
no proof of that notice before me.

kr. Montague said that proof could be given if the
case were adjourned for.two or three days.
Mr. TWYFORD—There is sufficient doubt about the
real ownership for me to hold my hand, and I there-
fore adjourn this case until the Ist of March next.
Mr. Flower—l think it had better be the Ist of
April.—(Laughter.)—The parties then left the Court.