Star.
London, England, 1824-05-04 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, MAY z.

Gustavus Edward Beckers, a native of Moscow, came
up on his petition to be discharged. The insolvent, a
young man of fashionable exterior, was agent for his
brother, a merchant at Moscow, and having obtained
goods from the creditors to a large amount, shipped
them to his brother, from whom he received money on
a running account ; having finally overdrawn him to the
amount of 30,000 roubles, 1,400/.

Mr. CHOKE, on the part of the creditors, contended,
that fraudulent representations had been made use of
by the insolvent to obtain the property.
A Mr. Stourton also opposed in person; the insolvent
had accepted a bill for eighteen guineas, drawn by a
person named Orton, a prisoner in the King's Bench
prison; when this bill became due an action was com-
menced by Stourton against the insolvent, which he de-
fended until judgment was signed: for having vexa-
tiously defended the action, and put Mr. Stourton to ex-
pense, the opposition was entered. The opposer was
called upon to produce the bill of exchange, and pro.
ceedings, but not having them in his possession, the
COURT was of opinion that no fraud could be imputed
to the insolvent, and he was ultimately discharged.
John Huggins was opposed by a creditor named
King, for having put him to vexatious expense in de-
fending an action.
Mr. REYNOLDS, the plaintiff's Attorney, stated, that
in Michaelmas Term, 1822, an action was commenced
against the insolvent for 201. He put in as. am plea,
and proceeded to obtain a writ of error, and although
not having the least grounds for a defence, put the
plaintiff to 501. expense. The insolvent called a person
named White, who stated that an offer had been made
to Reynolds to settle the action by paying the costs, and
giving a bill for the debt. Reynolds, however, stopped
the negotiation, and, to gain time, he proceeded in
his defence.
The COURT was of opinion the insolvent's conduct
was not altogether fraudulent, but, under a Clause of
the Act of Parliament, sentenced him to four months'
imprisonment.
John Sudweeks was opposed by Mr. HEATH for Mr.
Mayne. The insolvent, it appeared, was formerly
game-keeper to Lord Clifden, and having received 4501.
within the last two years, on the death of his father, he
commenced the business of a butcher. On the failure
of his business, and on going to prison, it was proved he
was possessed of property sufficient to pay 15s. in the
pound, which he failed to account for in his schedule.

The Couar sentenced him to six months' imprison-
ment within the walls of the prison.

To such an absurd extent is the preservation of game
carried by some land-owners, that we have heard of one
great proprietor in the neighbourhood of the New Fo-
rest, who has at this time nearly the whole of his estate
untenanted, no one .venturing to occupy it at the risk
of having his crops destroyed by the landlord's hares
and pheasants.
Saturday se'imight, a shocking accident occurred on
the Common Hard, Portsea, to two children of Mr.
Isaacs, one between two and three years old, and the
other about seven, who were crossing the road, when,
heedless of their danger, they came in contact with a
higgler's cart, passing along at that moment, and before
the driver had time to stop his horses, the cart passed
over both children at the same time, and killed the
youngest on the spot, the wheel going over its head.
CuRJOUS PERCUbSION EZPIIIIII4IOIT.—If a blacksmith
strikes his anvil with a hammer, action and re-action
are equal, the anvil striking the hammer as forcibly as
the hammer strikes the anvil. If the anvil be large
enough, a man may place it on his breast, and suffer
another person to strike it with all his force, without
sustaining any injury, because the vis ittertio in the
anvil will resist the force of the blow ; but if the anvil
be too small, the blow will be fatal.