The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-15 00:00:00

I.

G.4MBLIRO DEBTS.

MOIL V. Jell.

Mr. F. PoLt.oce stated this case was an action upon a
bill of exchange for 411/. made payable to a person named
Altar', and accepted by the defendant. His client and '
Captain Jebb bad frequently met at a gaming-house, and
played together: on one occasion Capt. Jebb lost 4W.
to Mr. Sigel, and not having so much money by him at
the time, he gave a bill, upon which the plaintiff had
declared in the present action. In support of his claim
he had only to put in the instrument itself; anal though
he understood the defence to be an illegal consideration,
be trusted, when he had shown that et was a bona fide
tau action, he would be entitled to the verdict of the
Jury. He added, if more proof was necessary, he could
produce letters from the defendant confessing the debt,
when applied to to discharge it.
The bill was then put in, and Capt. Jehh's signature
to it anthenticatetl. Two letters were also read from
hies, desiring time for payment.
hio other evidence was called.
Me. linamay said, his Learned Friend, whilst he told
the condition of the defendant, had forgotten to say
what his client was. The witness who bad just been
examined said, Mr. Sigel was a sporting gentleman. It
was stated that the transaction arose out of a gambling
aisaqtrn, and he need not tell his Lordship or the Jury,
that each a consideration was illegal. Capt. .1.5 b con-
famed the debt, it was true, and would have paid it
eventually, but when Mr. Sigel thought Kipper to call
in the assistance of the law, ao one could blame him for
making the best defence be could. Mr. Sigel had taken
his °bailee by action, rather than trust Capt. Jebb, and
hr east now abide the result.
Captain W. Jebb was then called. He was defendant's
brotiter..who was an officer of the 10th foot. Mr. Sigel
i.e. time ago, applied to him at Tattersal's, to get some
iufneasstion of his brother, thee out of the kingdom. Ha
snitilitille his lasts of imatnionrcefacty pounds, which be
won wrbim at a gambling- in Pall-Mall. Witness
promised to put the business in a train of being settled.
On his eross-examinatioa, be said It was near three years
since he first saw him.
Mr. Allstt was next called, but he did not appear.
The COMP JUSTICt asked the plaintiff's Counsel, if be
could answer this ease.
Mr. F. Pommy' endeavoured to get rid of the objec-
tion, by drawls% an ingenious distinction between
sof skill and games of mere chalice. The former
reennteaded, werelegal, and the latter only proscribed
bylaw. By the gambling here, chess was meant, which
was well known to depend entirely on the skill of the
players. It should, therefore, be taken in the same light
as all other speculations, where a man adventured his
money upon the calculated success of his talents or in-
dulger,. l'nder these circumstances, lie hoped the Court
!!satin look upon it as a simple contract for a legal con-
sideration.
The Clasp JVATICI said, he knew very little of gam-
bling ; and, it so happened, that, in this instance, little
teas required of him. Our good ancestors, without at-
tending to metaphysical distinctions, decried all species
of gambling whatever. ray the 9th of 41nne, "all in-
struments, for which the consideration is money won or
lost at card*, dice, tennis, howls, or any other game of
',chance whatever, as well as money in side bets, &c. were
declared, and hereby are declarer) void." This statute
'ceased to bawl been wisely made to check improvi-
. deuce; and, as it drew no distinctions, this ease was
within its mischief.
. Mr. F. POLLACK submitted, that the words " game of
4 shanee" could not affect a game at chess.
'rhe CISIZI Justice, however, thought differently, and
directed the Jury to ilnd for the defendant.
J nry found accordingly.

TO THE EDITOR OF TILE TIMES.

NOM t. Jzsa -•
TO THE HOTEOR—OI7--THE

Sea—l have, thin ladellidg, periled a letter addromad
by Messrs. Carla.; Balton, and Pariby, to the Mkt
of The Mies, en the sebjett of the trial Sigel v. Jail"'
The object of the above Vetter is to clear the Moat
of Captain Jebb from any dishonourable implodes.
The authors seem well !wars that when an officer,
holding a high rank is the Majesty's army neglects
or refuses to liquidate a debt of honour, his brother
officers deem him unworthy of their friendship, their
countenance, of their society, and that the world itself
despises hint. They have, therefore, published their
own comments up*c the matter, iu order to meet aad
reprove the unfavourable impreision which must other-
wise have been made.

I ans, Sir, by no mean@ a defender of familiar or of
gaial.k re, for I deprecate and detest a system which is
calculated to lead youth astray, blight the prospects of
individuals, and destroy the happiness of domestic life;
but I do think, add most maintain, that the man who ii
imprudent enough to hasard a sum or sums, or even his
very fortune and subsistence upon the cast of a die; is
bound by the law of Reason, as well as Ho:won, to
abide the decision of Coaxes; othetwise he Ussery avails
hiniselfof the risk of winning from his adversary without
affording his adversary the sure advantage which he
himself reimitas, Maar thou prey cry rework% I wish
further to observe, that I cannot impugn the motives
of Captain Jebb's advocates id thus claiming attention;
hut when the public is told that the conduct of the de-
fendant cannot ‘. be implicated even in a gambling
transaction," It becomes my duty to inform that public
of a circumstance which hat actually occurred to myself,
and in which Mr. Jebb will not appear in quite so fa,
r ourable a light as his advocates wish to display him.
For your satisfaction, however, previous to my enter-
ing upon my short narrative, I wish to inform you, that
what I advance I shill be ready and most lien to
prove an any Siena, or itt any, Court of Judicature
a batever.
Capt. Jebb, who is in Officer in the Oxford Blies,
had contracted a debt with me of five hundred guises,
in the month of May he tendered me a hill, at (our
months, for the amount, drawn by himself and ac-
cepted by a Mr. Ratcliffe, of Situagburee' Meat.—
Just previous to its becoming due, be apprised me of
some arrangement that he had made with the acceptor.
and insisted on .1 rendering the bill without payment,
or without providing me with another. I densurted at
this modest request, upon which be Very deliberately
informed use that the bill I held was of no see, for
there were some tabat. oarecos in the intoner billow-
ing it. Somewhat astonished at this, I requested the
holder of it to consult a tientleman of theigw„ who gore
it as his opinion, that the objections, though tolas%ro,
able in point of law, might be oierfuled id Cbitrt.—
Legal process was issued, but up to this motet I ant
informed, that no bailiff has bad the fOrttitie to mist
with either him de the acceptor. I have confided my-
self for the present, tom brief outline of the transaction ; I
have said nothing of an attempt to shake my credit
with the person to wheat the bill was paid, nor of the
correspondence between the Captain and myself; should,
however, Captain Jebb deem it prudent or of adrautlige
to himself to reply to my communication (if you're kited J
enough to insert et in the STaTallataW) Ott UAW 41110.
Whom.", it may met hi improper to pull& ad the fasts
relative to the affair.
Hyde Park-corner. W.
edimowammoi
CLERKENWELL SESSIONS.—(Tess h.trj
--41.--
James Barapron, alai-stealer, was iodieted for forging
a coal-meter ticket, with intent to defraud one Hardy-
man, a tailor, of Commercial-road.
Mr. BoLLAND stated, that this was a prosecutise la-
stituted by the Coal-meters of the City against the de-
fendant, in order to suppress, if possible, the numerous
frauds which are daily taking place in the too trade.
The first witness was Elisabeth Hardyntaa„ who stated,
that she resided at No. fled, Whitechapel-rood. At the
beginning of last November, she ordered a ehaldron of
coals of the defendant, who resides in Dridgewater-gor-
dens. The coals came at seven o'clock is the morniag.
She got up, and had one of the sacks measured, when Ii
appeared to be half a bushel short. This raised leer sus-
picion, 'mid she went to the Meters'-olliso, and procured
a person to measure the coals, when they were found so
be considerably deficient.
, lk. Dardner, the clerk 0 the eul-thieter'S nice.
I stated. that the daughter of the afore-mestioited wh-
imsies site to the olfice, and showed him the ticket Which
had been givep with the coals. Whams saw at oast
that it was a fabtication, and gave it to the chairman of
the committee. Witness went to defendant, and recom-
mended to him to explain the eircamstasce to the
chairman. Defendant said he did not de it, bet knew
who did.
Deorge Lidyer was a meter in Stocklade's wharf.
The defendant had had two quantities of coals, hel-
immure, a day or two previous. which required Italy a
tool-vender's ticket. He thought the indorsement es
the back of the ticket was the baashwriting of the de-
fraJa nt.
John Vass was a coal-meter at Ansel's' warehouse.
Did not mete any coals for defendant, nor sesonspasied
say coals to his house, The ticket was not his hand-
writing.
Mr. Atitatv spoke in 'mitigation of the sauce, and
said that be believed the defendant had been led into
error, but that be had made every reparation in his
Fower.
Mr. Brogilen, the Chairman, stated that it was not
the intention of the Committee to be severe to the pi-
Miner, but only to sbew tech parses@ that they could
got commit these acts with impanity.
Mr. COM, the Chairman, summed up at length. .
taus. The Jury instantly found the defeadant us ty, aid
be was sentenced to pay a fine of Ifil. to the King.
Was. Arnett, a resurrection man, was ladies,* for
stealing a dead body, with intent so sell the s for
the purpose of dissection. . ,
Mr. BRODanicit opened the case. The ao& was
totrainitted so long ago as the year 181$.
The first witness wee Robert Teesdale, wa that
M the 3d of October, 181$, he saw the ise la
gompanv with Member person, cootie/ stem iloidai
he watched them to liraftoo-street, "'temporise*. lie
milted the prisoner what he had got ; and not being sj.
defied with his answer. he took Araett -ip the watch-
hoes* 1 the other person made of The body was atter,
wards taken to inrgeoe's Hall.
James Smith. the beadle. coir‘rosed the *bow artosi•
Mr. Cuftwociti herr oloperveil. that it waist opt Isp,
jarred that the body bail barn taken oat of agem%
Mr. Ahotritus Nod, dirk the indictment char.' 1.1141
with the iotention of procuring the body for diasomfogir
The Csatostax mussood up, and remarked, that miser
there was .no *fiance preyed, every one most be presimmo,
tlie 'asocial. The evidence only proved tba,f thii butt
ishis posorwiat. There was no evidoeste§weo...
hs ha *ism is. De what was hie issoieleathdllllll
llPltts It. . •,,. • fwitsai
,Sias Jury, silk: a.dtersiesigsgekroweelta,tios.
flortisorett In Not Gailty. . • "t'ite64o

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