The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-07-31 00:00:00

JULY 31. 1835-,

ASSIZIe INTL LLIGEI),-tE

CHELMSFORD, Titi•asnar, Juty 2:3.
George Crinfield, aged 34, labourer, was iudicted for baring
feloniously antis maliciously set fire to a barn, and thereLy de-
stroyed vorn, Sic., the property of G. Wood, at Burrs, near
Suiniurv, on the night of the 24th of March last.
The jury, alter being absent for a considerable tiro., recurc &GI
with a verdict of guilty.
The prosecutor recommended the. prisoner to mercy.
His lordship, having put au the black cap, proceeded in the
usual way to pass the sentence of death.
Joseph Fitzgerald, aged 20, labourer, and Charles Jones,
tinman, were indicted for burgleriously tit caking and entering
the dwelling.huuso of Jonathan Bull, at Ardleigh, on the night.
of the 23d of January, and stealing some articles of wearing
apparel, several watches, some silver, an a promissory note
for £5.

Charles Jones pleaded guilty.
The prosecutor, an old man of 72 years of age, stated that on
the night in question he was awoke at about twelve o'clock by
seeing one man in the staircase with a light and an iron bar,
and hearing the voice of another. The prisoner Fitzgerald was
the man with the light. He carried a torch in one hand and a
crowbar in the other. His face was besmeared with paint, and
he looked very frightful. The witness was very much frighten-
ed. The prisoner of erwards came into the room, and, seiz►ng
him by the throat, demanded sonic money. The witness seized
a stick, but the prisoner knocked him down, and put the iron to
his throat. He begged him not to murder him; but the other
man cried out, " Murder the -." The prisoner, after rob-
bing the house of the articles in question, went away.
The prisoner made no defence. Verdict, Guilty. Sentecce
deferred.

ABSTRACT OF THE BILL FOR ABOLISHING
IMPRISONMENT FOIL DEBT.

The bill provide., that if the plaintiff in any argon for any
debt ( no amount is specified) shall, after suit einnmenced in.
any court, show that the sum sought to be recovered is due, and
on what account, and that demand for payment was made be-
fore action brought, plaintiff shall be entitled to a role of court
giving defendant notice of final judgment,.unless, defendant
shall within tell days give security fur debt and costs in case of
final judgment against him, or unless sufficient cause hi ehown
why final judgment should nut be signed.
If plaintiff shall have obtained tinal judgment against a de-
fendant, and if the defendant shall not satisfy the judgment
within ten -days after the same shall have been entered up. a
commissioner of bankruptcy shall have power to summon de-
fendant before him for the purpose of examining him touching
his property; and, if he will not attend on a summons, the com-
missioner is to have power to apprehend him on a warrant.
The defer lent is then to be examined on oath touching his
property, a specification of which is to made‘out in writing. If
the defendant refr.ise.to sign this specification, or to lie mcmv,
or to answer questions, the. cimmissioner may cottallii. hiix to
prison.
The commissioner may, "by a short indorsement on the ape-
cificati,n 0, memorandum of the defendant's property," assign
to a trustee so much of the " lands and tenements, goods and
chattels, debts, credits, specialties, securities, or sums of u:ouey,
or stocks in the British or other feuds, or of any public corn-
patty, or other property of the defendant, as shall be sufficient
to satisfy the plaintiff's judgment; and such assignment of (lie
defendant's lands shall he sufficient to pass any lands, tene-
ments, or hereditaments whereof the defendant ;hall be seised
in tail, in possession, reversion, or remainder."
The trustee, on receiving such assignment, to dispose of _the
property to discharge plaintiff's judgment, and to pay over the
surplus, if any, to defendant.

. -
If the property be insufficient to satisfy the judgment, de-
fendant may be again examined, and required to assign other
property, or satisfy plaintiff's claim. •
Parties dissatisfied with the decision of the commissioner may
appeal to the court from which the judgment was issued.
Sheriffs prevented making execution by any incumbiance
may inquire into the nature of it. _

• Any judgment obtained to have effect upon stuck in the funds,
or of any public company.
Sheriffs also empowered to seize obligations and securities
belonging to a judgment debtor, and assign them to plaintiff
for his debt,. for which the plaintiff may sue in his own name as
assignee of his debtor.
Having thus explained the manner in which debts of any de-
scription are to be recovered,the bill proceeds to state that, if
the defendant be a trader, and shall not satisfy the judginent
within twenty-one days after it is signed, he shall be deemed to
have committed an act of bankruptcy.
If a debtor owe debts to the amount of £2OO, and has assets
to the amount of £5O, he may present a petition to the commis-
sioners giving a true account of his property and liabilities;
but before stii:h a petition can be teceived notice most be given
to all his creditors. The notice of petition to be inserted in the
Gazette. The commissioners to appoint two public hearings of
the petitioner, the last on. the forty-second lay from filing the
petition. . . . .

Official assignees to be appointed to act with the assignees of
petitioner's estate.
After filing the petition all the prisoner's personal estate and
effects, present and future, whether in Great Britain, Ireland, or
in any hart of his Majesty's colonies, to vest in the issignees.
The pay, half-pay, or pension of any petitioner having been
an officer iu the army, navy. excise, or customs, or in the mili-
tary or civil service of the East India Company, not to be taken
for the purpose of this act ; but a portion may be appropriated
ou application to the court.
Petitioners to deliver up their books of accounts upon oath,
and to explain their contents.
Commissioners to have power to order concealed property to
be seized, and to ,break open premises to secure it. Property
seizable in Scotland.
After the last examination, petitioner may compound with
his creditors. Three-fourths of the creditors in number and
value, who shall have proved their debts, agreeing to accept the
same, the couimissioner may dismiss the petition, and declare
ail the proceedings thereunder mill and
.void.
Debts to be proved at public meetings appointed for the
purpose.
Commissiouers may order six months' aalares to ho paid, if
not exceeding .f.:50, or two weeks' wages to workmen, if nut
exceediug 40s. •

Cumnii:,siutier may return a portion of an apprentice-fee, or
assign an apprentiee to another person.
Commissioner to inquire into the nature of debts sought to be
proved. To prevent frauds on conveyance of property to be
good unless wade three months before filing ;tie petition.
Assignees may obtain a sequestration of the profits of any
benefice or curacy tor the payment of the debts of. any clergy-
man. •

Distress for rent not to be avails-ble for more than one year's
rent; the landlord may pro Ye for the residue. Where'petitioners are.entitled to leases which the assignees
have accepted, the petitioner not liable fer altar rent. Assig-
nees not obliged to accept leases or agreements, not to complete
the purchase of any estate, unless they think fit to do so.
Commissioner to have power to sell copybottl or other land
belonging to petitioner; may summon petitioner before,,biin at
any tune for examination, or persons supposed t have property
belonging to him; May take evidence vied voce or upon affida-
vits; and may examine petitioner's wife touching his property.
If any goaler suffer a person committed under this act to
escape, to forfeit £s:y).
Porsous concealing any part of petitioners' estate after busiest
examination to forfeit ELK and double the value of the pro-
petty so concealed.
The commissioner to have power to snake an allowance to a
petitioner until he shall have passed his last exam/Fallon.
Proceedings tinder the act not liable to stamp duty.
Assignees to keep an account of petitioners' property, but the
creditors arc to direct Wilert it is to be lodged fur safe custody.
If any assignee retain money ordered to be invested, or per-
mit his co-assignee to retain or employ it, to be charged 20 per
cent. interest.

Commissioners may order money to be invested in govern-
ment securities.

An assignee hemming a petitioner, and having money in his
bands belonging to an estate, not to be discharged front his lia-
bility from that debt except fur the amount of dividend paid.
Interest to be charged upou the whole amount of the debt.
Assignees' accounts to oe audited, and dtvideuds made at pub-
lic meetings of creditors.
' Assignees may compound with petitioner's debtors; mutual
aebts to he set off against each other.
Every petitioner who shall have in all things conformed him-
self to tills act shall be discharged from his debts, and shall have
a certificate which is to be signed by a certaio number of his
creditors; but no petitioner is to have a certificate if tie has lost
by any sort Of gaining and wagering in one day 120, or if be
shall within one year next preceding the tiling of his pe-
tition have lost L2OO by speculating in the funds, or if
he shall have destroyed Or Kinn cut his books or ;old ings, made
fraudulent entries in his accounts, concealed propene, or al-
lowed a false debt to be proved against his estate.
. All fraudulent contracts to order to obtain signatures of ere-
dittos to the certitieaie to he void.
Many persons having given large sums of money by deed.'
will, or otherwise, for the relief of petsous imprisoned for debt,
in future such money is to be paid to the accountaot.generat,
who is to carry it to the credit of the fee fund. Pioperty in the
hands of the proyisional assignee of the insolvent court, or
vested in the funds for the benefit of the insolvent wort, to be
vested in the accountant-general. Old commissions and fiats
to be removed to the court of the commtssiouers; .and insolveut
debtors are to be under the jurisdiction of •the commissioners
wider this nil.

DobtorsOintler the pretence of eariyitfg-on btkaness, obtaih-
goods under fake pretenecs, to betznprisoned not exceeding
two years, with or without hard labour, as the court shalt think
fit.

Courts of Request may imprison debtors, incase of fraud, for
any time not exceeding thirty clays, nor less than feu, and that
without destroying the right of the creditor to recover any debt
owing to any such debtor. •
Debtors making fraudulent grants with intent 'to defraud any
creditor, to be imprisoned two years, with or Without hard
4abou r.
Debtors concealing their property to be deemed guilty of it
misdemeanour, and liable to three years' imprisonment, with or
without hard labour.
Persons guilty of pee jury to be punished ft+E such offence.
Debtors making false accounts or statements to be liable to
two years' imprisonment, with or without hard labour.
Debtor falstt►ing or mutilating his books, &e., to be liable to
three years' imprisonment.
Debtors absconding to be liable to twelve months' imprison-
ment.

After the passing of the act the power or arrest to cease, and
no person is to,he arrested tor nebt unless he is about to ab-
scond, or on special order made by one of the judges, and then
the party is to be admitted to bail.
Persons in contempt for non-payment of money oi costs only
shall out be arrested, except they are about to abscond.
Any prisoner who shall at the commencement of this act be
in custody for any debt shall be entitled to his discharge; but
he is liable to be detained, or after such discharge to Le again .
arrested upon such process as might after the conunet;cetneut ,
of this act have been sued out against hint, had he not been set
previously arrested.
Prisoners in custody in execution for any debt or damages, or 7
for contempt for non-payment of money er costs, io be entitled .
to their discharge; but tnvir propeity is to be liable-to such pk
ceedings as might after the commencement of this lAA have be
taken in case the debtor had trot been arrested.
Defendants in judgment for critu. con., seduction, breach of
promise of marriage, libel, slander, or in any other action for a
malicious injury, or in any action of tort or trespas, to be im-
prisoned not more than two years.—The act is to commence
Jun. 1, 1836.

TA x ON OLD !het-mimes.— On the last clay of the last
session of the Maine Legislature Mr. Smart, of Tay, introduced
in tile House of Representatives a bill to tax "oleitrclieiors, tbr
the benefit of Maiden ladies of a certain age!" 'I is created nut
only. a long but amusing debate. Several emeodineuts were in-
troduced by the bachelors, one of which was, that every person
who had been crossed iu love more than five times should beer
empted from the provisions of the act. Mr. Jordan oi Raymond,
to amend the bill, se tiro bachelors should receive a
omintv itt Norma) to their ages, and ailvueeted his wotioa st
length. The bill was finery reterred.to the nest legislate:l% 07-
in the bachelors staple time, if they think pr,•pvt, to ese'ttp•
train its clu:they:—+l+Rsriges