The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-12-10 00:00:00

LONDON LAW COURTS.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.
THE PLEASURES OF A PRISON.

On Friday, an insolvent named William Norton, formerly a
Manchester manufacturer, was opposed by Mr. Cooke, on the
part of a creditor named Field. He was supported by Mr.
Woodroffe.
The insolvent had been arrested at Manchester, and rendered
to the Fleet-prison, because he said his friends resided in Lon-
don, and had since his incarceration behaved handsomely to-
wards him. Ile was very comfortable in the prison, and having
been arrested eight times, he wished the "business" settled; he
had been very happy there, and, for fear of being discharged
got a friendly creditor to lodge a detainer against him ; he had
written to him for that purpose, and the letter was read. The
insolvent stated in it that the prison was a very comfortable
place; he was very merry, had a good carpeted room, and
wanted a detainer. y He desired him to lose uo time in doing the
job.
Mr. Cooke remarked that after that letter, no person could
say that imprisonment was a punishment. (A laugh.)
Mr. Commissioner Harris said that the letter might be afalse
representation.
The Insolvent said that the prison was a lively place.
Mr. Cooke.—And do you really want to be discharged from
that happy place ? (Laughter.)
Insolvent.—Yes, I do.
Mr. Cooke.—Reallyl Why you never were so happy in your
life. (Much laughter.)
Mr. Commissioner Harris said the Court was much obliged
to Mr. Cooke for enlivening them.
Mr. Cooke.—l am instructed to oppose him, and I shall pu-
nish him by letting him out. I shall not oppose him. (Roars
of laughter.)
Mr. Commissioner Harris said there was no harm in lodging
a detainer. The case, notwithstanding the mirth, was free from
any imputation.
The Court.adjourned till Monday.

LONDON POLICE REPORT.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Johnson,"who was a few days ago charged before the Lord
Mayor with having forged a check upon the house of Messrs.
Barnett and Co., was on Friday brought up for re-examination.
Mr. Bush, the solicitor to the Comm►ttee of Bankers, appeared
in support of the 'prosecution, and Mr. Woutuer. attended for
the prisoner. It will he recollected that in payment of the
check, which was for £-17 75., four £5 notes and two £lO notes
had been given to the person who presented it at the banking-
house; that some of the notes had been stopped at the Bank of
England and traced to the prisoner; but that no one recognized
the prisoner as the utterer of the check.
John and Daniel FotresOcr, t 6,: officers who apprehended the
prisoner, and traced the notes produced on the occasion, litated
that they had further evidence to bring forward.
Samuel Birdfield, machine-maker, stated that on the 31st of
October the prisoner called at his house, and purchased a weigh.
ing-machine. Witness made out a bill of parcels, and the pri-
soner paid him with a £lO note, of which witness knew neither
the number nor mark. The prisoner said that he resided at
No. 18, Maddox-street, Regent-street, and that his name was
Johnson ; but he took the purchase home with him.
The Lord Mayor.—To whom did you pay the note?
Witness.—To Mr. Noriil, a publican.
Daniel Forrester said that Mr. Norvil was in the same pre-
dicament as to the note, but Mr. Wills, another publican, at
. once recognised the note as that which he had taken from Mr.
1 Norvil.

Wontner objected that the officer stated as matter against
the prisoner what had been said by other,persons.
The Lord Mayor said that he must see, by the exertions of
the officers, whether evidence sufficient to justify him in pursu-
ing the investigation was likely to be collected. It was rather
a strong circumstance that the bank-note in question was paid
away by the prisoner on the day the check was paid.
Edward Winkworth, shopman to Mr. Jones, tea-dealer, of
Walworth, stated that about a month ago the prisoner called at
the shop, said that he had heard great praise of the goods of the
house, purchased six pounds.of tea and some sugar, and offered
a£s note in change. No entry was made in the books. Mr.
Jones asked the prisoner where he lived, and he said his name
was Jones, and he lived in Canterbury-place.
Mr. Wontner submitted that the prisoner had been already
confined four days upon a case of mere suspicion.
The Lord Mayor.—Can he satisfy Mr. Barnett as to the man-
ner in' which he became possessed of these notes ?
Mr. Wontuer.—l can state how he got them.

The Lord Mayor.—Can you prove It ?
Mr. Wontner.—The very nature of the case prevents me from
producing evidence of the fact. It appears that a man named
Hadley paid them away to him.
The Lord Mayor.-1. said, upon his first examination, that I
would send for Hadley if the prisoner would say where that
person was to be fOund..
Mr. Wontner.—Hadley is gone to the West Indies.
The Lord Mayor.—l Wave no proof to that effect. A broker
could show that in a short time, if such were the case.
Mr. Wontner.—But Hadley is so bad a character.
The Lord Mayor.—Oh, he is a bad character, is he? That's
unfortunate. Any accused person may, if such excuses be
taken, argue
,in defence that the real offender is gone to the
West Indies. It may be the case in the present instance, and
if the case is sent to a jury, and they believe it, they will no
doubt acquit him.
Mr. Wontner.—He is known as found in possession of the
forged check; his handwriting is not proved, and he can be only
indicted as an accessory after the fact.
The Lord Mayor.—The prosecutor may indict him as he
pl.eases. I shall certainly remand him for further examination.
Mr. Bush said that there was another £5 note still to come
forward, and that such evide ace might appear with that as
would add to the strength of the case.
The prisoner requested that the clothes of one of hischildren
might be given up. The suit he applied fur was six months
31d, and certainly could not
.have been the produce of any of
the notes.
The Lord Mayor.—They may prove to be the produce of this
forgery. Besides, the boy does not appear to be in want of any
clothes.
Prisoner.—The want of the clothes prevents him from going
to church.
The Lord Mayor.—l observe that the moment men got into
difficulties of this kin'l they become very pious.
i The prisoner was then remanded.