The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-05 00:00:00

HOME CIRCUIT-

" Sir,—During the time of my secretaryship the following
sums were paid by me:—Knowles, £4,040; Mr. Williams,
£4,038 ss. ; Ditto, as solicitor for office business, £1,857 4s ;
Mr. Hole, £7,857 ; ditto, on retiring, £lO,OOO, in manner
following : houses in Glocester-place, Surrey-street, and
Maida-hill ; to Hole, the freeholds, £8,900; total to Hole,
£26,257. I have the checks to prove the sums I have paid
to Knowles and Williams; therefore whosoever said I had
more than this is a liar, like unto Peter, who denied his Mas-
ter, and afterwards went and wept, or like unto Judas, who
betrayed bis Master, and went afterwards and hanged him-
self. All that I have said•or written I can prove.
" April 23, 1840. Yours, &c., " W. HOLE."
. I insured my life in the concern for £loo,'and allowed dis-
count for present payment, and I received £93. I got the
money immediately after I insured ; the defendant gave me.
the amount.

Three checks for £5OO each were then put in, they were
signed " William Hole," and made payable to Mr. Wil-
liams. One check was on the Bank of England, and the
others on the Western Bank of Scotland. '
___

William Edward Taylor said,—l was one of the directors,
and was appointed when the association was first established;
previous to that period I was a journeyman locksmith and
bellhanger, and was in the employ of a Mr. Greathead. The
defendant married my wife's sister. I was applied to by the
defendant and Knowles to become a director. Was in the
habit of attending at the board on Fridays. I received 2s. 6d.
for each attendance for a year and a half. I afterwards re-
ceived a salary of XBO per annum, though I only attended as
a director to sign my name to policies. Knowles was chair-
man of the directors. I was desired by the defendant to sign
my name. I signed all documents laid before me. It was
at first arranged that I should sign for three years, as Mr.
Williams was then to take my place ; but at the expiration of
that time he said I might as well continue signing, as it was
all the same.

Mr. •Platt.—Did you receive any directions with respect to
your dress and appearance ?
Witness.—Oh, yes • we were to dress well, and were or-
dered to wear rings and jewellery.
Mr. Platt.—Did you do so?
Witness.—Yes; as the defendants gave rings to wear.
A paper in the defendant's handwriting was here read,
upon which was a memorandum, dated Sept. 13,1839, to the
following effect :--".Taylor fined for not having on his ring."
The witness said they were often fined for a similar offence.
Cross-examined.—Many fines were levied and exacted. Was
ordered by the defendant to sign'the documents.
Mr. Baron Gurney observed that the witness and his col-
leagues appeared to be the " directed," instead of the " di-
rectors.'

Re-eXamined.—Knowles and Mr. Williams acted as sec-
retaries after the defendants left the concern. I had no sus-
picion that anything was wrong. I placed great reliance in
the defendant. Williams, Hole, Hustler, and the defen-
dant used to be in a private room together, except on board

Joseph Packer, a law-stationer, stated that be was em-
ployed to engross the deed of the company, which was dated
26th September, 1837. Saw the first nine names on the list
of shareholders signed on that day. He was afterwards de-
sired to obtain other signatures to it. He did so during the
vacation of 1840. He applied to persons indiscriminately to
put their signatures to it, and it remained at his office for the
purpose. He was employed by Knowles and Williams. Re-
collects being at the company's office one morning when the
defendant and his wife were there. The post had just been
delivered, and he saw the defendant open some letters and
take some bank-notes from them. He made some observa-
tion to his wife ; believed the words were " look here." He
then put the notes into his pocket : and went away with his
wife. Whenever he got any persons to sign the deed, a num-
ber of shares were always placed opposite their names.
Cross-examined.—Knowles married his (witness's) wife's
sister. Knowles employed him to engross the deed.
The deed creating the company was then read, and it ap-
peared that the defendant was appointed secretary and ex
officio a director for life ; it further stated that he was to be
allowed, besides his salary, 70 shares, and his wife, as a pro-
vision
for her and for her absolute use and benefit, was to be
allowed 700 shares.

Another letter, of which the following is a copy, was then
put in:—

" France, Jan. 1, 1811.
" Knowles,—Thou art a scoundrel, and thy son no better.
I shall print and publish all the by-laws and proceedings
which relate to any transactions which I had with the com-
pany, and expose your villainy to Mackenzie and others, and
I give you and your lying rascal of a b— notice, that if you
or he should dare to publish any slander relative to my cha-
racter, I shall instruct my solicitor to prosecute you, you
d—d perjured scoundrel—you base wretch ; swear against
your own handwriting? what! swear you never borrowed
any money of use for the office ? Oh ! wicked wretch ; I
have your signature, and my solicitor has seen it. Base, base,
base; hang thyself with your friend Williams. Truth.
" WILLIAM H."
" P.S.—I have heard you have again plundered theOLE
office.
Oh ! how many times, wretch ?
Addressed to " Mr. Thomas Knowles, 44, Cambridge-
terrace, Paddington, London."
This was the plaintiff's case.

Mr. Chatnbers then addressed the jury for the defendant.
He argued that there was no evidence to show that Hole had
not originated the speculation believing that it would be pro-
fitable to the public as well as to himself, and that the break-
ing up of the establishment was attributable to the miscon-
duct of Knowles and Williams. And although he admitted
that it had been the occasion of great distress and misery,
yet the defendant was not responsible for it, and he ought
not to be ruined because the speculation lie had promoted
bad not proved successful to those who embarked in it. The
learned counsel then proceeded at some length to comment
upon the facts of the case, and concluded by stating that the
charge of fraud had not been proved, and that the defendant
was entitled to a verdict.

' Baron Gurney addressed the jury, tinQ said that the pldin•
tiff in this action sought to recover from the defendant a sum
of money of which he bad, as was alleged, deprived her by.
fraud ; and if the jury believed that the money was obtained
by fraud by the defendant; or by others acting in concert and
conspiracy with him, the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict.
The jury immediately returned a verdict for the plaintiff—
Damages, £9OO.

Eleven other actions of the same description were brought
against this defendant, for sums varying from £2,500 to £6O,
and all with a similar result.

The following are the receipts of railways for the past week
—that is to say, up to the date to which the respective re-
turns are made :—Birmingham, £14,112 ; Great 'Western,
£11,033; Brighton, £2,821 '
• South Western'
£5,075 ; York
and North Midland, £1,669; Blackwall, £736;
Edinburgh
and Glasgow, £1,628; Midland Counties, £9,316 ; North
Midland, £3,725 ; Great North of England, -£1,067 ; Bir-
mingham and Derby, £1,033 ; Northern and Eastern,
£1,266 Croyden, £320 ; Manchester and Birmingham,
£471 ; Eastern Counties, 876 ; Birmingham and Gloucester,
£1,517 ; and Hull and Selby, £953.
MURDER AVD SUICIDE.—On the morning of Thursday
last, the hamlet and vicinity'. of Kingswood, principally in-
habited by colliers, about two miles from this city, on the
Bath road, was thrown into the most appalling state of con-
sternation by the tragic occurrences which we have now the
painful duty of detailing. Amongst its inhabitants was a
roan named Samuel Cook, between 40 and 50 years of age,
unmarried, and who resided with his sister, Edith Cook, said
to have been a few years older, in his own freehold cottage.
Samuel, who formerly was a collier, had by industry and
frugality realised a competency, and his income consisted
principally of the rents of his own freehold cottages. His
habits were serious ; he was a regular attendant at the metho-
dist chapel ; perfectly sober, even to being a member of the
teetotal society ; and through lif
Thursday morning, shortly
e was considered to be of a
most kindly disposition. On
after seven o'clock, the milk-man, Abraham Fry, came as
usual to the cottage with milk, when in passing through the
little garden in front, he was struck with horror at beholding
the body of Edith Cook lying in a pool
of blood, life quite
her body. An in-
voluntary
extinct, and her head nearly severed from .
Cook on the floor, with nearly as ghastly a wound on his own
they found Samuel
, g
neighbours, when on enterin the cottage
rapidly cry which broke from him ray collected the
throat, and a razor in his hand. The wretched man, who
was fast hurrying to eternity , had barely strength to articu-
late " I have murdered my sister, and now I have murdered
myself." Medical assistance was sent for, and Mr. Biggs,
surgeon of Kingswood, was speedily on the spot; he sewed
up the wound and rendered every possible attention, but the
unhappy victim of, we hope, some sudden impulse of insanity,
died about nine o'clock. Of the causes which have led to
this horrid perpetration, we can learn nothing that fully clears
the mystery hanging over it.—Bristol Journal.

KINGSTON ASSIZES, APIUL 1
NAPPER V. HOLE.
(Before Mr. Baron Gurney.)

This was an actionbrought yt ep plaintiff against the de-
.- 1-if •
fendant, as the originator and principal in the establishment
of the West Middlesex Insurance Association, to recover from
him the sum of £9OO, which she had paid to that company
for an annuity of £76 10s., and of which sum it was alleged
that she had been defrauded by the defendant ; and also that
the association had merely been got up for the purposes of

Mr. Platt and Mr. Gurney were for the plaintiff, and Mr
Chambers for the defendant.
_ .

Mr. Platt, in opening the case, observed that in the year
1836 the defendant set on foot an establishment which was
called the West Middlesex Assurance Association, and from
which the public were to derive great advantages. Prospec-
tuses of 4 most alluring description were circulated, and in
the course of a short time sums to a very considerable
amount were deposited for the purchase of annuities. The
prospectuses set forth that the capital of the company was
£1,000,000, which had been raised by the sale of 20,000 shares
at £5O each ; and the names -of fifteen persons, all bearing
the title of " Esquire," were duly advertised as directors ;
and it was further announced that the bankers were the Bank
of England, the Bank of Ireland, and the Western Bank of
Scotland. For about four years the concern appeared to be

going on prosperously, and the annuities were regularly paid ;
but at the commencement of the last year the bubble burst,
and it was then ascertained that the whole was a fraudulent
scheme, concocted for the purpose of entrapping the unwary
and plundering them of all their property. It would be dis-
tinctly shown, that of the fifteen directors announced in the
prospectuses, ten or twelve of the names were entirely ficti-
tious, and the others were persons in a ;very humble station
in life • that not only was there no capital whatever, but that
none of the shares alleged to have been taken had ever been
paid for. The learned counsel, after alluding to the alluring
character of the prospectuses, concluded by saying that it was
evident the defendant at the time he commenced the under-
taking was aware that it would not be profitable—that he
embarked in it for the purpose of defrauding the unwary—
that the whole scheme was founded in fraud, and for the ex-
press purpose of applying to his own use the money invested
with the alleged company.

After someeevidenOe to prove that the defendant was secre-
tary and principal in the company, Mr. W. Wilson was
called and said—l was one of the directors of the company
in question. When T first became connected with it I kept
a school in the Edgeware-road. I solicited employment as
clerk in the office. The defendant said I should be in the
office, and he at once placed my name in the list of direc-
tors. lt was subsequently arranged that I should receiee ss.
per week for my services. I was only required to attend one
day, in the week ; that was on board days, for the purpose of
signing policies. I used to sign all the policies and annuity
deeds which were laid before me. A number of shares was
allotted to me when I was appointed a director, but I never
. paid anything for them. The company never had any capi-
tal that lan aware bf. I continued do Oct as a director until
the breaking up of the concern. The defendant was secre-
tary and manager nearly the whole of the time. I signed the
deed of partnership previous to the opening of the office,
in 1836. Amongst the directors are the names of H. Alex-
ander, Esq., Bedford, Esq., R. Ayre, Esq., Hopei and
Fergusson, Esq. Ido not know any such persons, never
saw them at the board, or at any of the meetings. There
are also the names of W. Wilson, Esq.. and T. P. Price, in
the list. I am the person first alluded to as W. Wilson, Esq.
and T. P. Price, Esq. is a youth about 16 years of age, who
was employed in the office as writing clerk, and to go on
errands. A certain number of shares were allotted to each
of us, which of course we never paid for. The defendant
always paid me my salary ; he also paid all other persons
employed in the concern : it was agreed that I was to have
ss. a-week for signing the policies, &c., for the first year,
and Ws. a-week afterwards. After I had been a director for
two years I was promoted to the situation of clerk, at £75
per annum ; but still retained my seat at the board. For my
last year's services I received £3OO ; but that was after the
defendant left the concern. I received the letter produced
from the defendant ; it is in his handwriting.
The following letter was then read

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL

DV DEstnr. AND TINDER TIM PATRONAGE OF
JOFIN WILSON FRANCE, Esq..
And the GENTLEMEN of the NORTHERN BAR,

THIS EVENING, TUESDAY, April sth,
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

With the New Comedy of
THE PRISONER OF WAR.
Both of which will be repeated every Evening this Week

First Price.—Lower Boxes, 'ls. ; Upper loxes, 3s. Gd.
Pit, 2s. 6d. ; Gallery, is.
Second Price.—Lower Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Upper Boxes, 2s
Pit, Is. Gd.; Gallery, 6d.

ROYAL LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH-STREET.

MASONIC CHARITY.

THIS DAY

(T UESD A Y,) April:6, 1842,

Dv DESIRE AND UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF
JOHN DRINKWATER, Esq., R.W.D.P. Grand Master
AND THE

GRAND OFFICERS, MASTER M44ONS,
AND

OTHER BRETHREN OF THE WESTERN DIVISION OF
LANCASHIRE.
THE Entire Receipts of the Evening will be appropriated
(without any deduction) in aid of the

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE,
For the Relief of Distressed Freemasons, their Widows, and
Orphans. The Entertainments will commence with
NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS.
Brother HENRY DODD has kindly consented to sing
" PROSPER THE ART," the music by George Hargreaves,
the words by Brother James Stonehouse ; dedicated, by per-
mission, to his Royal Highness the Duke of SussEx, Grand
Master of the Order of Freemasons.
After which,
MILITARY PROMOTION.
To conclude with
ROBERT MACAIRE.
The following will be the Prices of Admission for the above
benevolent purpose (on this occasion only) :—Boxes and
Stalls, 3s. (no Pit on this occasion) ; Second Price to Boxes
and Stalls, 25.; Gallery, ls.—no Second Price.
Tickets and Places for the Boxes to be had (on and after
Thursday, the 30th instant) of Mr. J. FOGG, at the Box-
office, and of Mr. WALMSLEY, Bookseller, Church-street.'

ROYAL LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH-STREET,

LAST NIGHT OF THE SEASON

O,
N FRIDAY next, the Bth instantjor the IaNEFIT
of Mr. R. M. RAYMOND, previous to ,his appear-
ance at the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, Oh Thursday next.
The Public and Patrons ,of this Theatre are respectfully
informed that an account .of the Proceeding); at Kirkdale
Sessions, (instituted by the Common Informers,) to" take
place on the Morning of Friday, the.Bth instant, at Eleven
o'clock, will be given in the Evening to those who are kind
enough to Patronise the Entertainments for Mr. R. M.
Raymond's Benefit.
The performances will commence with the, very popular and
highly interesting Drama, in Three cts, called
CHANGES AND CHANCES;
OR, WOMAN'S PATE.
_ _

In the course of the Evening an Address will be delivered by
• Mr. R. M. Raymond.
After which,'
BLIND BARGAIN;
OR, A MATCH [N THE DARK.
Ati,ys Cuthbert will ?lance an admired Pas Seul.
To conclude with
THE CHRISTENING;
OR, MY FIRST BORN.

Tickets and Places for the Public Boxes to be had of Mr.
J. FOGG, at the Box-office of the Theatre, from Eleven till
Three.

Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s
will be

Gallery, 6d. (to which the number

Second Price.—Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is. Doors to open at
Half-past Six. Performance to begin at Seven. Second
Price at Half-past Eight.

This THEATRE to be LET for Concerts, Lectures,
Meetings, &c. after the Bth of April, on which day it closes
for the Season.

ROYAL

AMPHITHEATRE

GREAT CHARLOTTE-STREET

Last Week but One of the Company's stay in Liverpool.
THIS present TUESDAY, and TO-MORROW, (Wed-
nesday,) April .sth and 6th, 1812, the Entertainments
will cemmence with
The Pekin Guards, led by Messrs. Derious and Sands.
Mr. Sweeney, the celebrated Banjo Player, will introduce
a number of his Negro Songs.
Master R. Rivea will appear on horsebag as the Tea
Ticker of China, with a Chinese ciince.
Surprising Display of Agility, by .the sniembers of the
Company, in which Mr. W. 0. Dale, the cekbrated Vaulter,
will distinguish himself.
Mr. J. Buckley as the Shipwrecked Sailor.
Cracakatoo ; or, Cocoa-nut Ballet—by Mr. C. hivea, G.
Buckley, F. Rivea, and Master Rivea.
Mr. Sands will introduce his Wonderful Dog, Schodine.
Mr. E. Derious will appear as the Brigand Chief.
Mr. Sands as the Courier of St. Petersburgh.
Master R. Rivea will introduce his St. Swithen Chair.
Posturing, by Mr. R. Rivea.
The Magic Sack, on two horses, by Mr. C. Rivea.
Mr. W. O. Dale in a principal Act of Horsemanship.
Two Great Negroes—J. Sweeney, the Tall Nigger, on the
Banjo : Vanhramer, the Short Nigger, in which they will
present a variety of Songs and Dances.
Grand Fancy Dress Cavalcade; led by Mr. Derious and
Mr. Sands.
Admission throughout the Performance—Boxes, 2s. ; Pit,
Is. ; Gallery, 6d.

TO PROFESSIONAL GENTLEMEN AND
OTHE RS•
JB. HEW ITT, SHORT-HAND WRITER VD PRINCIPAL
. REPORTER TO THE LIVERPOOL STODARD, begs to
offer his services to Legal • Gentlemen and others who may
wish to obtain SPECIAL REPORTS of any Cases for Trial
at the ensuing LIVERPOOL ASSIZES.
StAdard-office.