Star.
London, England, 1828-03-07 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Malice 6.
HIM V. DUTTON, AND OVUM.
The above important ease having been peremptorily Axed for
this morning, the Court was crowded at a very early hour, chicly
with Gentlemen connected with the East India Company.
The Bight lion. C. C. C. Wyatt (the late President of the Board
of Cuntroul) occupied a seat on the bench appropriated to tie
King's Counsel, next to Mr. BROUGHAM.
Lord TINTIERTIIN took his seat before ten o'clock.
Six special Jurymen only having answered to their names, the
Soutorcre-Gessaax, for the prosecution, prayed a tales, and six
Jurymen from the Common Jury panel were sworn.
The Soucrroa.Geneem., with Mr. Sergeant liosariavre, and
Messrs. Cc KNIT and CARTTR, conducted the prosecution; and Mr.
1.311011111A11t, Mr. F. Potence, Mr. CANIPZILL, Mr. PLAT; and Mr.
ANTROVI appeared on behalf of the defendants.
Mr. C opened the pleadings, and stated that this was an
indictment against Samuel Sutton, W.Andrews,George E. Despard,
J. I'. Anstis, C. Gibbons, W. Wright, Joseph Tindall, and Charles
Prescott. The first seven of these defendants were charged with
unlawfully and corruptly negotiating for a certain appointment
under the Eastlindia Company. for a person named P. Black ; and
the last defendant, Prescott, who is an East India Director, was
charged with aiding and abetting the other defendants in the said
negociation• Six of the defendants pleaded " Guilty" to the in-
dictment.
Mr. Qun, as the Solicitor-General rose, said he was instructed
on the part of the defendant Mr. Anstis, to withdraw his plea of
" Not Guilty," and to substitute " Guilty."
Lord 'FENTENDEN said it was imposiihle for him to permit that to
be done now ; an application to that effect should have been made
earlier. But if that defendant chose, lie might have a verdict of
Guilty recorded against him before the cause proceeded.
Mr. Qt IN, in answer to his Lordship, said that be bad that mo.
ment received his instructions to make the application he had done;
and as it could nut succeed, he would avail himself of the Learned
Judge's suggeatinn.
A verdict of Guilty was then recorded against James Paten
Anstis.
The Soutane-Gammas opened the case for the prosecution,
which was instituted by the Directors of the East India Company.
The Rev. Edward Black examined by Sergeant Bo
SANQUET—Lve. at Little Hampton at present, and re-
sided in Devonshire about 15 years ago. Saw an adver-
tisement in the Morning Herald in August 1826, and in
consequence had an interview with Mr. W. Wright, in
Alls ,p 's-buildings, New-I oad. Did not give his own name,
but that of Col. Edwards. Mr. Wright said that the ap-
pointment alluded to in the advertisement was a cadet-
ship in the East India Company's service. It was men-
tioned, that the sum of nine hundred guineas must be
paid if it WAS a cavalry appointment, and six hundred
or seven hundred if in the infantry. He broke off the
negociation; but after his son became of age, he wished
to renew the negociation, and took steps accordingly,
and made it known to the Chairman of the Company.
at whose request he recommenced the negociation, and
called again in Allsop's-buildings. He did not see Mr.,
Wiight there, bat left a card, and received the letter '
now produced on the next day.—(The letter was
proved to be in Mr. Wright's band, and appointed a
meeting at 63, Upper Norton-Jreet). Witness called,
and saw another of the defendants, Gibbon, from
whom he received a note for a meeting at No. 32, in
Walbrook, on the 6th of Match, 1827. Saw him there
that day, and also on the S.h. On both occasions
Gibbons talked of the cadetship, and said the price in
the infantry would be six hundred guineas, and the
cavalry nine hundred. Gibbons gave him a blank
form of certificate to get it properly filled up, and to
return it to him, which witness did. Received a letter
from Gibbons on the 24th of March, stating that the
appointment which he had to dispose of was gone, but
that he had a cavalry appointment which he could dis-
pose of for something less than 900 guineas. Witness
got a 5001. note from the Chairman of the Company,
half of which he gave to Gibbons, and the other half of
which witness kept himself. He received a receipt
from Gibbons, acknowledging the payment of the half
of a 5001. bank note, and promising to return it in case
the appointment agreed on should not be obtained. He
was afterwards introduced to a person of the name
of Tindal ; and it was said that some delay had
taken place in consequence of the change in the
Government that hod just taken place. Witness
was afterwards called on to make an advance of
the halt of another Bank note for 300/. for which he
got a similar receipt from Gibbons, and had a lever,
appointing a meeting at Lloyd's Coffee House, when the
appointment would be completed. He went them, and
saw for the first time a Captain Despard. Something
passed on the subjecref the cadetship, and on the 26th
of April Vespatd. said he would introduce witness to
two very respectable met chants to settle the business.
They went to an office in Great St. Helens, where he was
introduced by Despard to Mr. Anstis, who said he had
had the halt of the 5001. note in his possession some
time, but that it was of no manner of use without the
half of the 3001; Gibbon had had that in his hands some
time. D.3pard said that Mr. Anstis had got most of
Mr. Astell's appointments, and that it would come from
him. Witness went again on the 27th, and on that
occasion expres ed doubts to Mr. Anstis and the others
of their ability to immure the appointment. Mr.
Anstis said if he would let the young Gent'eman
go to the India House next day, he should have
the appoints) em. On Saturday the vii ness saa
Capta n Anstis, who nent with him to point cu. M.
Andrews, at his office in Waterlooplace, but I.e was
not at home that day. Saw him on Sunday the 29th,
in Duke-street. H td seen Gibbons before, at Captain
Anstts's door ; Gibbons oisited itne,s to go to Andrews
without Anstis. When they got there, Andrews said
the appointment was certain, and witness was desired to
be vet y secret, and not let the business transpire. Went
on Monday to An-tis with Andrews, and was told
the appointment wt uld be mide next day. On a
subsequent day Mr. Andrews and Mr. Sutton came
to the Monument Coffee house. They said that as
every thing was now completed, he should pay over
the other halves of the notes. They went to another
coffee-house, and witness said be would give the other
two halves. A new difficulty arose, as the first two halves
were not forthcoming. Witness was desired to walk
to the other-end of the loom, but before he went,
took up again the halt of the 5001. note, leaving the half
of the 3001. One of the defendants took it up, and a
paper was put into witness's hand. Witness then went
with his son to the Cadet Office, and saw Gibbons there,
who stuck very close to witness, and said he wanted to
receive the difference between the 800 and 900 guineas,
of which he was to have 161. for that 14 was all he got
by it." Saw Sutton and Andrews there, who said they
did not know what to make of the business; there must
be some mistake in it. Mr. Sutton said he should be a
ruined man if it was found out, and should entirely lose
his credit. Mr. Sutton afterwards came to Little Hamp-
ton, and asked witness what he meant to do? Witness
declined all conversation with him. Did not know Mr.
Prescott. Witness's son was not 22 years of age.
Cross.examined by Mr. Swims—Did not go in a military dress.
Gave the name of Colonel Edwards, because he knew a Gentle
man of that name, and had some of his cards. Went by that name
during the whole negotiation. Wrote to the Chairman of the East
India Company in February, 1827.
Colonel Toone examined by Mr. Guawzr—Had
been an East India Director many years. Mr. Prescott
had been a Director for some time past. The Direc-
tor s, in turn, have the naming the appointments, which
are sometimes lent. Mr. P. applied to witness by let-
ter to lend him his turn, in April, 1827, to be repaid