Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-29
COMMERCIAL FRAUD IN ENGLAND.

Our paper OF Saturday contained brief account Of the
proceedings in bankruptcy against MesHs Davidson 4
Gordon, aoon!s brokers' metal agents and dsIers The
debts expected 10 he proved aean5t them then
ted To exceed E5OuOou and tne asses Ia be very ALL
Tbey failed abuut t'i'oS "vyhN as". Since they failed
Two other houses connected with them have filled
OF them is said haze advanced go 600 on
that Orgeries, and worth absolutely nothing Such
securities according 10 report which il hope rxagce
rated have been forged To the Of 600 6On Con
neced with the house which frs, failed trial took place
in the Court OF Queens Bench Wednesday az the com
clusiOn Of which the jurv said they were paned AZ the
evidence" add the Lord Chief Justice said it was quite
alarming that such proceedings should be carried on in
the city Oi London
An action, i. appears by the report was brought on
bill OF exchange Tor 1896 los Sd drawn hy Davidson 4
Gordon on Richard Paris Co.. d.s,ilers &C. Back lane
Tor street, ST. Georges in the East and the defence to
The action that the acceptance was not that of the
firm, and was forgery. Mr Paris appeared to prove
the forgery but on cross examination admitted that he
mad nothing TO do With the dstery that he was carving
on tie works OF cork cutting invention OF his for Mr.
De Rusett and that he lent lis to this person for
two guEeas week. to carry the distilery business
PROBABLY something more might have been extracted from
ihe unhappy man, but, overwhelmed hope 10y q sense
OF shame at his position, she staggered In the witness
box, ree!ed and FELL striking his head with alarming force
against the floor Of the court" The event produced
deep sensation, and he was ordered by Lord Campbell
| be put aside.
The other witness to prove the forgery was Mr. George
Harris de Russell who confirmed the evidence Of Paris
as to the use OF his name and deposei that the disiiery
/
name did not sppear he described himself a. private
gentleman, as having been general merchant at Calcutta
aud made large fortune and did not like to have hi.
name put mp over the disery. At the same time he I,
IN business rs general merchant appears also by the
Directory" in Birchn lane. He had never OPENED an
account at Masternans, where the bill made PAYABLE
in his own name had authorized any other person
TO do So and had never accepted any bill in the name
Richard Paris Co., though he the sole person int
rested in the concern he denied that he bad been bar
her 10 India His CLERK deposed that the ncceparo wa,
neither in Mr. De Rnsctt. handwriting nor in that OF AZ
rs The jury however refused their conf eucc TO Par
ra TO Mr. De Rusett aud his clerk and found yerdic
for the plaintiff The Chief Justice who in the course
the trial and at the end made severe remark grant
ed immediate execution.
This trial. the bankruptcy Of Davidson and Gordon IN,
creation OF good number of false or forged trade war
rants, on which money has been borrowed the late si
lar case oil Mr. Plies the first OF the kind 10 which suc'
orgcres came to light OF Mr. Anderson vet sub ia
dice and therefore not open remark are cacu Il
cause aud they have caused, much ALARM Suspicion ant
distrst in the city. The kind Of warrants forged hay
till lately been received with perfect confidence the,
constitute the securities which the largest
are made 10 the mercantile interest They are proofs
the borrowers being in possession Of certain conmodtie
which in the ordinary course Of business will in shor
time be sold, and he be enabled repay the advance
| To asiy them il to root out mercantile credit IL
very natural therefore, that great alarm should preya
among,t tie mercantile and moued classes of the city