Star.
London, England, 1825-03-15 00:00:00

LAW REPORT.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT; MARCH 14.
FOWLER V. WILLOUGHBY.
This case came before the Court upon exception to
the Master's report. Messrs. Franklin had- made ex-
tensive contracts with Lord Brownlow and Colonel Sib-
thorpe for the.purchase of estates, which they proposed
to re-sell, and entered into a subcontract with a per-
son named. Willoughby, who, previous to its execution,
died. Upon a bill being filed to compel the executor
and residuary legatee of Willoughby's personal estate
to fulfil the testator's directions regarding the contract,
it appeared that Franklins, the original purchasers, had
been bankrupt, and had failed to. enforce the specific
performance of their contract against the original ven-
ders, Lord Brownlow and Colonel Sibthorpe. It was
referred to the Master to inquire whether, subsequent
to the testator's death, the contract could have been en-
forced ? He reported in the affirmative. -
- Mr. HORNE, for the executor and residuary legatee,
contended that it was impossible that the contract could
be enforced, or the testator's assets be liable for it, and
that the Master was totally wrong.
The further hearing of the case was postponed.
• HIGH COURT OF ADMIRALTY, MARCH 14.
THE MINERVA.
Lord STOWELL came into Court to-day, to give sen-
tence in this cause of wages (connected, as may be re-
membered, with a question of construction arising on
the ship's articles; in which, after a certain specifica-
tion of voyage, the words err elsewhere" were alleged
by the mariners to have been surreptitiously-introduced,
at some time subsequently to their subscription of the
articles). His Lordship visibly laboured under a very
severe indisposition; and he had only proceeded to
state, that he had given this question his most serious
consideration, when he added, that he found himself
too weak to say anything mole at present, than just so
much as might relieve the parties from all suspense.—
The Court notified, therefore, that it decreed the mai i-
ners their wages with costs: and it would endeavour to
fix an early day upon which,• as it hoped, the Court
wt,uld state, at considerable length, the "grounds of ks
opinion in a matter so interesting and important to the
commercial and shipping interests.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Hairy Williams, a young man who was porter to Mr. Young, a
grocer in Fenchurch-street, was brought up, charged with having
stolen £lB in sovereigns, and some silver, and with having at-
tempted to prevent his apprehension by means of pistols.
Low, a respectable person in the employment of Mr.
Young, stated, that on Thursday last, at about two o'clock, as he
was at dinner, a Gentleman' called upon him, and upon going down
to the door, an applewontan handed him the warehouse keys,
which, she said, Henry Williams had desired her to give to wit-
ness. The witness, who was informed that Williams went away
after leaving the keys, immediately went to the warehouse, and
found there the cash-box smashed open and robbed of its Contents,
amounting to CIS 9s. 4d. Witness went next day, accompanied
by an officer, to the lodgings of the prisoner, in George-court, Fen-
church-street. The officer went in first, awl asked whether Henry
W illiams lived there ? The prisoner, who was inside, said " No ;
but witness knew his voice, told the officer" that was he," and both
ran up stairs to him. Witness then saw a pistol in prisoner's hand,
and told the officer, who seized hint, threw hint on a bed, and took
from hint the pistol, which had a small quantity of powder, and
three balls in it. .

Illartin, the officer, confirmed this statement, and added, that
after the pistol was taken, the prisoner stooped down, and took up
another pistol, and did something with it, as if cocking it. Witness
seized the ,•ccond pistol, which-contained a good deal of powdzr,
but no ball. .

Neither of the witnesses perceived that the prisoner pointed the
pistol at them. The prisoner admitted that he had robbed his mas-
ter.lle was remanded for further examination.

A desperate thief, named Gough, was last Old Bailey Sessioas
tried for breaking a window in Leadenhall-street, and running
away with a great ntinilif.r of watches, chains, &c. at an early hour
ln the evening, and convicted. The witness against him was the
mate of a ship bound for Jamaica; and the Loan Maros, whey
the case was stated at the Justice-room, found it necessary to Wel
him over to give evidence, notwithstanding the poor fellow's obi-
gation •to attend the dude; of his ship, which was to sail a few days
after the robbery. Ilis Lordship performed this painful part of his
'office with much reluctance, but assured the mate' who burst iota
tears at the fear of the distress- into which his family might be
thrown by the occurrence, that everything should be done to recta.
cite the oWners to his delay until the Sessions.
The statement of the case in the Public jaspers met the eye of a
venerable Nobleman who resides in Huntingdon, and is in the cob.
stant habit of doing good. lie wrote the following letter, which,
we believe, will be considered by many as k curiosity :
" 111 v Loan—The case of iii. Coles, the first mate of a ship
bound to Jamaica, is so deplorable and so affecting in all its circuns-
stances, that I cannot but solicit your Lordship to permit me under•
your auspices to he contributory to his relief; and I have, there-
fore, taken the liberty of enclosing to your Lordship an order on
Messrs. Coutts and Co. to pay to the order of your Lordship the
sum of £25. I could wish that my name as a contributor should
be known only to you. Having, by the mercy of Goo, attained a
very advanced age, I feel it my duty, at my entrance upon another
year, to make this and other similar contributions an act of peculiar
gratitude and acknowledgment to the Authorand Giver of aU Good.
This has been a principal motive with me to give your Lordship
this trouble; for, after the assurances given by your Lordship and
the Court to this poor man, I ant certain tbe.owners of the ship
will be reconciled to the hardship of the case. I must repeat my
apology to your Lordship, and assure you that I have the honour to
be, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant."
The Loan i‘lavoie sent for the mate, who upon hearing the let-
ter read, was deeply affected. The mate stated, that the contribe.
tion of the excellent person who was such an honour to the aristm
cracy, was the more grateful at this moment, as his wife had ban
just brought to bed.
The Loan :Maros then ascertained that the foss sustained by the
mate, in consequence of his absence from the ship, amounted to
about seventy pounds, and told hint there could be no doubt of his
being fully remunerated.
Thomas Atkinson, a countryman, was brought up on the follow-
ing charge :—The defendant bad hired a hackney-coach to convey
hint to the Saracen's Head, Aldgate, where he was residing during
his stay in town; and on the coachman charging him more than
he thought him entitled to, he, having heard that in order to punish
the coachman, it was necessary to take his number, took the plate
off the coach, and was himself taken into custody by a watchman.
The Loan MaToa said, it was evident the affair bad originated
in a mistake, and ordered the defendant to be discharged:
The coachman then had the modesty to claim ,C 5 Bs. for the
temporary loss of his coach, he being unable to use it, in conse-
quence of the plate being detained by the night constable.
The Lou) Maros said, that be should not allow any part of his
claim, and thought the whole affair was a complete " job" to ex-
tort money.