Star.
London, England, 1825-03-31 00:00:00

LAW RGPORt.

COURT OF CHANCERY, MARCH 30.
On his Lordship taking his seat, Mr. HORNS men-
tioned a petition in the case of the bankruptcy of
Messrs. Marsh, Stracey, and Fauntlevoy, which he
wished to be heard on an early day.
The LORD CHANCBLLOR intimated, that he would
hear the case at any time, and that there was no recess
for him but the long vacation, and even then his mind
was filled with considerations of the cases which bad
Seen already argued.
The Petition is the Petition of the two executors of Sir Thomas
Briscoe (two stock-brokers), whose stock was fraudulently sold out
by the late Henry Fauntleroy ; and the prayer Is for leave to prove
against the joint estate of Messrs. Marsh and Co. It is, in troth,
the proceeding of the Bank of England; and the effect of the
Court's granting the prayer will be, that the Bank will replace all
the stock which was fraudulently sold oat, and then receive a divi-
dend under the bankruptcy.
THE LONDON OIL GAS COMPANY V. M'WILLIAM.

This was a motion for an injunction, applied for by
Mr. HEALD, to restrain the defendant in proceeding
with two actions at law—the one of ejectment, the other
of trespass. The property in question was a wharf on
the bank of the Regent's Canal, belonging to two La-
dies of the name of Horsefall. With these Ladies the
Company had entered into a contract to make certain
erections upon the wharf and to rent it for a number of
years. One of these Ladies afterwards married a Mr.
M'William, the- defendant, and having changed ber
state in the world, she thought fit also to change her
mind, through the influence of her husband, with re-
spect to her contract with the Company. The Com.
pany had, however, taken possession, and an action of
ejectment had been brought at law, followed by an ac-
tion of trespass. It was to restrain these legal proceed-
ings that the injunction was prayed. This question ori-
ginally came before the Vice-Chancellor, and a de-
murrer was filed, on the ground that the trustees of the
Company (who had made themselves plaintiffs acting
for the Company) had not properly described them-
selves. The demurrer was allowed, and the bill had
been amended. The matter now came before his Lord-
ship for consideration. The Learned Counsel stated
that this was a plain and simple case, not in the slight-
est degree connected with, or similar to any of the bub-
ble Companies, of which his Lordship had lately heard
so much. if it had been such a case, he certainly
never could have ventured to have brought it this day
before his Lordship, as it most have occupied considera-
ble time in discussion. In the present case, however,
it was only sought that proceedings at law should be
stayed, and that the contract these Ladies had entered
into should be specifically performed.
After hearing Mr. SeaNCE on the same side, and Mr.
BORNE against the motion, his Lordship alluded to the
points to which he had yesterday adverted, respecting
Companies falling within the Bubble Act, and those
which were within the. Common Law. It could never be
too often enforced that there was a Common Law, and
that some of these Companies, when properly and le-
gally considered, might be affected by it. He did not
say that thi. Oil Gas Company was one of those Com-
panies, but it xis fit that every individual should know,
the risk he ran by engaging in these undertakings. His.
Lordship adverted to the many hours occupied in dis-
cussions of this nature, and regretted that some morel
decisive conclusion had not been formed with respect to
these cases. With regard to the present question, he
thought he could not stop the proceedings upon the'
ejectment, but a judgment must be had upon the com-
mon counts. As to the action for trespass, the parties
might arrange the matter between themselves, and he
believed that would be the best way of settling the case.
This course was accordingly adopted by the parties.

Tuesday, William Moore, Sheriff's officer, proceeded,
with eight policemen, and a warrant on his Majesty's
writ of hedere, from the High Sheriff of the County of
Limerick, to take possession of sonic lands on the estate
of William Ryves, E,q. at Castlejean. On arriving at
the premises, they found an assemblage of more than
one thousand persons, determined to give opposition ;
the Sheriff's officer very prudently, not having the as-
sistance of a Magistrate, did not proceed to execute the
writ by force, and in consequence of the threats ex-
pressed, thought it better to retire. The party assem-
bled had turned up a considerable quantity of the
ground, and made two large deep holes, which they
said should contain the bodies of James Condon, the
steward, and his son, and many others attempting to
support them ; and they actually had a quantity of
boiling water to pour on them also. They told the
Sheriff's officer that they would not surrender the pos-
session but with their lives, and spewed every disposi-
tion, even then, to proceed to violence.—Beijast arum.
SINGULAR SueitaszttloN.—Wedaesday nigbt, about
eight o'clock, a case of rather a novel nature occurred
in a house in Bridgegate. Some time since a poor old
lame woman was taken as a lodger by an Irish family,
who reside in a court in that street; but the mistress
of the house could not bear with her temper and turned
her out. Before leaving the house, the old woman
knelt down, and looking at a fine boy, two years of age,
son of the mistress, who was unwell, she prayed that he
" might never rise from his sick bed, and never enter
the kingdom of heaven." It so happened that the child
was almost immediately afterwards thrown into con-
vu:sions ; it screamed wildly, and was terrified at the
approach of every person. He grew gradually worse,
till his death was hourlyexpected by the afflicted parents.'
Some superstitious female hinted that it was " quite clear
that the wean had got a blink of an ill eye," and it was
at length concluded,by somecredulous women, that the
child's troubles were to be attributed to the malediction
of the old cripple, and that she was certainly " a witch."
Determined to dissolve the evil spell, on Wednesday
night the parents and some others brought the old wo-
man to bless the child, so that it might be thereby re.
stored to its "wonted health. 'This she positively refused
to do ; flattering promises and threats were alike un-
availing ; and with horrid imprecations, she protested
that she would rather have her throat cut—nay, she,
would prefer to be " cut into a thousand inches," and
suffer eternal torment, rather than bless the child.—
Baled in this part of their plan, another expedient
was tried to defeat the dreaded charms, conjurations,,
and supernatural powers of the supposed witch. They
cut off a piece of her gown, and burned it in due form.'
44 under the child's breath :" a razor was called for to
inflict the" witch mark," and cut the old woman" abase;
the breath r but no razor could be got, and a stns pi
was used for this cruel purpose, and her brow leas
scratched wish the point till several drops of blood ap-1
pealed. When the ceremony was finished, the old wo-
man got several slaps on the face from the enraged sno-
;her of the child, and was driven out of the house. On
Theessiny some of the women had no doubt of the Mea-
ewe having succeeded, since the child was better,

LENT ASSIZES.
YORK, MAUCH U.
BARKER V. RAY:
This case excited a good deal of interest in: this'
county. The Court was crowded immediately after
the doors were opened. It was an issue directed by
the Court of Chancery, to try whether the late Rev
Robert Barker, the father of the plaintiff, was the law.
ful son of the Rev. Thomas Barker, fornaerly Rector of
Cherry Barton. A great body of evidence was offered
on both sides.
The Jury retired at half-past six o'clock, and lirought
in a verdict at half-past nine, for the plaintiff, thereby
establishing the legitimacy of the plaintiff's father.
The JI/DOl4 on receiving the verdict, said-0 Gentlemen, that is
the very verdict I should have given myself."