The New York herald., 1851-11-06
Our nond uras Correspondence.

BELIZE. HONDURAS, Oct l9, 1861.
Skftrsck- Serrs Rains Siw guar Mode Of Doing
Bmstmess otthe Police Courts of Btiise.
My last, on tho l4th inst, contained all news of
moment, except the loss Of the Spanish brigantine
Sepriana, on her passage from Truxillo to Havana.
She went ahpre on Bonacco reef and became
total wreck; Ter cargo indigo, cochineal sarsapa.
rilla, and hides, was mostly saved and taken back
to Truxillo, partially damaged. The rain con-
tnues to fall in torrents, which brings to a stand
still all business as il is next to impossible To stir
out, the streets beirg uEdsr water.
For want of something better, l send you the
following reports Of cases which have come of in
our several courts, which will give you some idea of
the way they admi mister justice in British Hondu-
ras. In cur last Grand Court case was tried-his
Honor, Chief Justice Temple, presding-in which
his honor said. "This is a hard casa very hard
case; but the jury must find for the plaintiff The
foreman Of the jury" Your Honor, the jury are
not satisfied with the evidence" His Honor
The jury have nothing to do but TO deliver YER
dict as the Court directs" Foreman" But, your
honor, the jury would like to hear more evidence"
His HsnOr-"Sit down, sir" Defendant-"May
it please your honor and the Court (the Court
being composed OF the Chief Justice, John Cough,
Esq Public Treasurer, and Mr. Austin w. Cox)
j have in my hand receipts for cash paid on the
account for which am now sued, and am prepared
to prove to the Court that there are errors in the
addition, sums charged twice, and great mistake
in the charge Of interest: His Honor" The
defendant may sue for errors or overcharges at the
next Grand Court The jury will find for plaintiff"
Foreman" But, your honor, the jury wish to
sS ae ov w
to defendant" His Honor-''Mr. Fore man, sit
down, sir. The Court will not allow you, sir, to
interrupt it; you must find as the Court directs"
tempted to retire 20 the jury room to consult,
when his Honor, in a loud and perem ptory IN manner
said-''The jury has nothing to consult about
they have no cause to Ietire-and if they do not
find Vel dict at for the plaintiff as the Ceurt
directs, the Court win find q way to make them do
So" Fouman-"ln that case, we find for plain
tiff but &C nsider it very hard and unjust case for
amounts which have been paid to be set of!' His
Honor-" You can sue for them at the next Grand
Court" Defendant" Your honors, the parties
are not responsible; and if the money passes from
my hands, judgment at the next Court will not
bring it back. Will the Court grant an order to
stay proceedings until can bring an action at the
next CourtP' His Honor" The verdict of the
Court is that you, sir. pay the money into
bonds in two sureties Of twice the ount (S 1907,
to bring suit at our next Grand Court, to reco-
yer this amount"
There, Mr.. Editor, is a specimen of the way
Chief Justice Temple, an English barrstcr- law,
administers justice. Now for q specimen of the
way they do things in the Summary Court-John
Uttr, Esq, carpenter, presiding as Judge, who
opened the Court, when the Clerk drew the follow
John J. Anderson, George Daniel Hewlett, and
George Benjamin Garnett, Esqrs.
MIR. Anderson is the attorney and manager Of tho
house of Antonio. Mathe Co, of this place, and
is supposed to be a man of intelligence and ho-
nesty He was appointed foreman.
The first cause was Joseph Stephan, shoe
the oficers in command Of her Britannia Ma:
jestys troops at this place. The plaintiff
stated his case thus:-I made one pair Of boots
for MIR Stewart; he was pleased with them, and
took them to him a short time after, went to get
the pay for them he put his hand in his po,ket and
took ou. handful Of gold and silver, and said,
" Yes, come in, and will pay you;" went in; be
brandy % SAID, "yes;'' he went to his table and
mixed something; he said it was brandy; drank
it, and remember no more until next morning; |
woke up and found myself very bad; thought
came there was surprised to find ore pair of the
boots had made for defendant on my feet pre-
sently defendants servant came in; l asked him
where was and how ! came there he told me tn at
and he was kind enough'to let me lay on tho floor
all night; then dared not leave, for fear might be
accused Of stealing the boots by and bye Mr..
Stewart came in, and said, "Well, old boy, will
you have some brady :" ! said, "No, want no
more of yosr brandy; bat how camo your boots on
my 'eet, sir - be said, 81 make you present Of
them, as you have got none - thanked him, and,
as felt very foolish, left without again asking for
my pay, and went home. On my way, | saw every
body laugh when came home and opened my
shop, man came in and said, "what is the mat
ter g and laughed at me another came in, and
said, il c., shoemaker, what have you been
doingP' another said, g My God, what have you
been doing to yourselfr' ! then got up and looked
in the glass, and my face was blacked, half of my
hair was cut of, and one side Of my whiskers Che
bad very largo whiskers) was gone | said to my
10 wonder they laugh; them officers are
too bad
Judge UTER-Wen, have you anything more to
sayl
PLAINTFF-No. sir.
JUDeE-Well, MIR. Stewart, what have you to
sayl
SIEwART--Well, your homer, admit this Dutch
n made NE two pair of boots, at four dollars and
half each, but did not ft, and he put them on
his feet aud wore them away; so, refused to pay
him for them | admit that owe him for one pair,
and am willing to pay him for them. AS regards
his whskers, my quarters are infested with rats,
and, as he was very drunk, ! suppose they gnawed
of his wbhkers to make their nest in
JUDoE-Well, Mr.. stephan, bring your wit
nesses.
He called two, neither of whom answered. The
Judge sent the cause to the jury thus :-"You have
heard the case there is no evidence. Each has
old his own story and, as there is no doubt
lbout pair Of boots, the jury will have to
der whether Mr. Stewart gave the boots to Mr..
stephan, or whether he took them away without
lis consent The jury at once found for defendant,
hereby throwing the cost on the shoema aker, and I
obbing him Of his ri ybts.
The JrDeE-The jury must find for one pair Of
boots, as there Is no dispute about them; the De.
endant admits he owes for them.
SEVERAL VoIcEs-The verdict is rendered you
amt disturb it now-smong whom was the Queens |
and q reporter Of the Honduras Paoh-
nan.
This, Mr.. Editor, is specimen of the way judges
md jurors-liege, loyal, enlightened British sub
ects- administer law and justice. These are not |
olitary cases. nor are they over colored. They
ire true statements, and | am sorry to say that |
,thers, more urgent and aggravated, often happen
n the police court, account Of which may send
Tou hereafter and by which your readers may learn
Tow we are used in these dgeings, contrasted with
he impartial and fair manner in which the people \
ire treated in America. e. ID.
The Wills and Forrest Case.
SUPERIOR COURT.
Before Hon. Judge Paine.
Nov. 5.-.8ssGuii and Baf,ey-N r. Utnis rs. Ed,cin