Star.
London, England, 1819-04-20 00:00:00

'lain three notes, a £5, 11:2,and LI, and witness she
diem to Tate, who retitnad that to Hodsettsblhe
latter then gave them to Witness pin, who again
handed them to Tate, and Tate returned them 69
Hodgetts. This mode orpaying rnd repaying *as
continued till the debt amounted to £77. It was
done so as, with the wool, to make up £ll2. This
was after the first meeting. Tato made out a bill of
parcels, dated July 13,11317, for the wool. Brown's
proof was £l9. Witness gave Tate 40s. for proving
the act of bankruptcy. After the Assignees were
'chosen, witness went into Yorkshire with Brown.
The latter went to Huddersfield to call a meeting of
the creditors. The property was sold by public auc-
don by Thomas Blythe, and was• purchased by wit-
ness's son. The latter had been a common workman
'for his father, and had no money of his own to buy
'the property. Witness returned to London with
Brown. There were several real creditors in York-
shire, namely, Eastwood and Graham, blue dyers ;
Hargrave, a clothier ; Rishworths, a banker, &c. &c.
Cross-examined by Mr. BARRY.—The commission
was superseded. Witpess had been bankrupt before
st Holmfirth, about 12 years ago. He paid nothing
under that commission, but got his certificate. He

failed at that time for 1.:50!) or 1:600. He had been
in business about twenty years altogether ; he was in
London before this bankruptcy, but did not know
Tate till a short time before the commission issued;
he did not know the amount proved under the com-
mission, nor the amount of real debts.

Cross examined by Mr.CuftwonD.---Ife was embar-
rassed in his affairs when he came to London. Ile
was to have the propeity under the fictitious debts.
He had sworn what was false before.
_ _

Mr. Pullen the elder, deposed, that he had seen
Tate sign the deposition under the commission to
prove the act of bankruptcy.
Mr. Luckton, of the City-road; Mr. Neat, the
landlord of the Coachmakers' Arms; Mr. Hawkins,
the landlord of the Coopers' Arms; Mr. Tucker, and
Mr. Hearne, the landlord of the Horns, severally
confirmed the bankrupt's evidence, as far as related
to them. The Past witness stated, that there were
16 persons at the first dinner at his house ; at the
second dinner there were 20, but he had been or-
dered to provide for 24.
Mr. Joseph Lockwood, a merchant, deposed, that
he attended at Guildhall on the choice of Assignees ;
he attended for Mr. Robinson, of Huddersfield, a
creditor. He observed the persons with whom the
bankrupt associated at that time ; they did not look
like persons who had debts to prove under the com-
mission. After the second meeting he procured from
Mr. Pullen the names of the persons who had proved,
their places ofabode, and the amount of their debts.
Hodgetts was the petitioning creditor : he was de-
scribed of St. Thomas Apostle; he had no place of
residence there, but said Mr. Thomas Shaw allowed
him to make use of his warehouse. Witness then
went to Sherwood's, who was described as a flour-
factor;" he saw no flour on, the premises, but over
the door was written cheap bread baker," and there
were a few loaves in the window. Tattersall, who
called himself a timber-merchant, had once lived at
Lambeth Wharf, but had long left the neighbour-
hood in debt. Joseph Davy was not to be found in-
Cromer-street, Brunswick-square ; nor Wilics, in
High Holborn. Witness inquired after James Law,
in George-street, Stepney, but could not find him.
Charles Tomlins, a clerk, deposed, that he had
inquired after several other persons who had proved
debts under the commission; some of them could
not be found, and others did not answer the descrip-
tion which they had given of themselves in their se-
veral depositions.
The following letter from the defendant Brown to
the bankrupt's wife was then put in and read:
" London, 2d Feb. 1818.
'I Mrs. Smith—l savi your letter to Mr. Smith, and lam
Pot at all surprised at its contents; but I trust you will take no
notice of such idle reports, •as there is not the least foundation
for it, as the Huddersfield people were completely beat, and
every thing is going on as well as possibly it can be under such
circumstances. As fur Joseph (the bankrupt's son) lam vexed
and surprised at his conduct, as it is his duty to do every thing
he can to assist his father, as I took his bill to do so, and to pre-
serve the property. If he does not do as I wish,- he must re-
collect I have the power over him to make him do it, winch I
trust he will do without my interference, and above all to raise
some money for his father, by the neat meeting; for we cannot
do unless Dlr. Smith has money to pay the people here, so as to
get his certificate signed, as it caur,ot be done unless there is
money sent; therefore I trust you will both use your utmost to
do It. You may rest satisfied that you are safe as to any other
sale taking place as it's impossible for them to disturb our pro-
ceedings: but be sure to send your husband money, and you will
soon see him home, and in his business comfortable.-1 am your
obedient servant, (Signed) " JAMES BROWN."
Mr. George Robinson, the owner of the house,
N 0.6, in St. Thomas Apostle, said, that he had let
the warehouse to Shaft, to whom, he conceived,
Hodgetts was merely a clerk.
Mr. James Potter stated, that Hodgetts had been
his tenant for two years, at a weekly rent of 4s. 6d.
and there were now arrears from 20s. to 40s.

Mr. Plans, an Attorney in Castle-street, Holborn,
said, that he had seen Brooke, Biggers, and Joseph
Taylor in custody: Brooke then stated, that he did
not think be could be convicted, as he had merely
drawn up the accounts. Taylor said, that he had
only got the stamps for the bills he defied them to
prove where he had got them. Biggers said, they
could not convict him ; for what be had done was
in Surrey : be had merely procured pertons to en-
dorse the bills. Witness said, he had not been pro-
fessionally employed by these persons, except in
putting in bail for them.
John Bithroyd, the Bankrupt's clerk, said, that he
did not know of any dealings between his master
and the defendants.

A letter was then read from James Law to James
Taylor, dated`Newgate, May 19, 1818, desiring him
to do all the good he could for the defendants, 'and
not to tell Poole, the tipstaff, any thing if he called.
Mr. Eastwood stated, that the Bankrupt's property
was bought by his son, Joseph Smith, who gave a i
bill for t.

• Mr. BARRY and Mr. CURWOOD severally addressed
the Court on behalf of their clients, urging, that they
were not guilty of the conspiracy, and desiring the
Jury not to convict them on the testimony of w in-
famous a witness as Smith.

The defendantJamesCaW read his defence, which
was, in substance, that he had acted as a Bill-Broker
-for ten years, and that'in that character he had ac-
cepted a bill for the-Bankrupt. -He denied all-par-
ticipation ia-the conspiracy, and called his daughter
to prove that hg had lived in dus parish of Stepney,
though not in the. erect named in his depositiou