Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-05-16
From the Ne,c York Journal Of Commerce.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The application of John Boruck, an imprson-
ed debtor, for discharge under the provisions
Of the law generating the person OF debtor
from imprisonment, was heard on Tuesday last
before his honor the Recorder, and a Jury of
freehOlders summoned on the demand of the
opposing creditors, who are foreigners residing
IN Europe i, and were represented by their coun-
sci, Messrs. Seaman and Cameron. Upon hear
ing the examination Of the insolvent, and some
other testimony, the Jury discharged him, under
a direction from the Recorder to the effect, that
if they believed him to be without property, he
was entitled to discharge within the spirit and
meaning Of the law; Notwithstanding the imPro-
per manner in which he may have lost or squan-
dered his own money or that OF others. The pro-
ceedings on behalf Of the insolvent were con-
Quoted by Messrs. Price and Wallis.
The insolvent, it appears, had been employ
ed as a clerk or agent by commercial house IN
Europe. upon the recommendation of near re-
latiye of his, a merchant of wealth and respecta-
bility. for the purpose of procuring conslgnments
of goods and merchandise from this country to
Europe And in order to enable HIM to make
advances upon such consignments, the lnsol'ent
being then entirely destitute Of property or means,
be was supplied by that house with credit tn
very large amount, upon certain mercantile
houses here. who were authorized to negotiate
the bills he might draw, upon his depositing with
them an open letter of advice, specifying the
merchandise 10 which the proceeds OF the bills
were 60 be applied by way of advance. and the
vessel in which the same were to be shipped.
In apparent conformity to this arrangement he
drew bills upon the credit Of his employers, and
received the proceeds thereof, 20 the amount OF
upwards of $4,000, while the actual advances
a, IN
only 81, 900 dollars, leaving deficiency OF TO-
900 which be appropriated to his own use. Up
ON his examination before the Recorder, he ac-
counted for about Is, 900 Of this deficiency, in
the following manner: HIS expenses in about | 8
months up to the time Of his arrest, he estimated
were 6, 500 dollars; towards which, however, he
received 600 dollars from his employers He
lost on a shipment Of Cotton from New Orleans
500 dollars, and 247 dollars on the sale of some
merchandise upon which he made an advance at
the same place: That he lost in the various
Gambling Houses at New Orleans 2, 500 dollars,
and in lotteries about 5000 dollars: That he ex
pended 5000 dollars in 6nery, dresses and jewel
~. for a certain married female, not his wife,
who until recently was resident Of this city,
and that the balance due his employers, viz. 49,
600 dollars, he lost in gambling in this city and
some of the adjacent villages.
That during the early part OF last summer,
upon a Sunday, he went into house in Fulton
street in company with another person, where he
lost 1900 dollars at Faro in the course Of few
hours That he afterwards lost at the same
place several sums of money amounting to 10000
dollars. That a house was afterwards opened in
Lumber street. and kept by the same persons he
had seen at the house in Fulton street, at which
he lost various large sums of money, at the same
game, the precise amount of which he could not
state, losing never less than 1000 dollars at
time. That he had played variety of games at
cards, and lost upon the toss of copper, 90 dol
lars. perhaps so OF 100 dollars. He PLAYED in
the house in Fulton street in the early part of last
summer. Tie house in Lumber street was open
ed afterwards by the same persons, and broken
up during the month Of August " September
last. In the course Of a very few months, ne
lost BY gambling the large sum of $4,000 dollars,
as appears thus: Deficiency $4,000
Expenses oo'1oo
Losses ~
Gambling at n, Orleans $500
Lotteries S,OOO
Woman 5000 say 10000