Bridgend & Neath Chronicle, and County of Glamorgan Advertiser. — 1891-04-24 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HAMILTON V. BROOK . PROCEEDINGS AT THE BRIDGENI COURT.  On Wednesday, at the Bridgend County Court, before hi., Honour Judge Gwilym William, an application was made by Mr G. B. Harris, solicitor. on behalf of Lord Claude George Hamilton, Hight Hon Sir Henry John Selwyn Ribetson, and Mr Jon, Archibald Stirling, for an order to be on Mr James Brogden, Portheawl. It appeand that the plaintiffs obtained judgment against defendant in the High Court of Justice on the sill November, 1890, for the sum of :£3,467 140 ld. and there was now due and payable upon the sum £3,477 34 iid. The present application was to examine defendant as to means. Mr Foie (barristi r. instructed by Messrs Harrison and Co.. London. opposed the application.  _ Mr Boa explained briefly the circuzustanees and, which the order was made by Mr Justice North in the High Court. Mr Brogden was one of the executors of his father's will, and the question now was whether defendant had meant, to tow the trust,s' claims. They obtained an order from the High Court of Chancery directing the defendant to appear before the court to be examined as to his 11.11.. His contention wan that having obtained the order from another court they had no right to proceed in the County Court under the order, and thus harass the defendant.  His Honour could not see any objection to examining the defendant no to his means in a tribunal held where he happened to reside. Mr Brogden, examined by Mr Harris, colitis had pleaded that he had no means to satisfy the order made upon him. He was a director of the Rhyroney Railway Company, but had no beneficial interest therein. His wife owned the shares, and he acted in her behalf. He had no interest in Cefn, that was his wife's estate. He had no interest in the Porthcawl Gas and Water Company, that aas , entirely his wife's private estate. Some years ago a Islain was made against him by Mrs Alcoa mb Brogdeu for £BO.OOO, and seeing that hiwould to harassed by the debt he had avoided entering into any business. He had no partnership with his wife except by marriage. Ile had no latent interest in the district. He had. • Russia copper shares, but the mneern was now in liquidation, lie was willing to hand them 0.c.rt.1 the court. Sims, the liquidation of his firm he had to apportion all the money he then pos.sessed among his relations. Consequently, he obtained an order to divide that poises. He WU% not is a position to hand over the Rhymney Railway shares. They did not belong to him. lie set”, advised by his legal advisers that he could sit on the directorate as a trustee for his wife. He received a director's fee of about ittO al year. but that was charged. Mr Harris asked his Honour to make an order upon the Russian Copper shares and the director', fee.  His Honour said Mr Brogden had been Larasssl by elaims made upon him, and steps had been takes to %1011, his wife's property for the benefit of his own family. Legal documents were prepared which prote•-ted her property, and the only way in they raid sole, that property was by proving those documents to be frauds. It was not a new story unfortimate/y they knew that Mr Bnm.den had Is.en obliged to do this years ago to avoid ruination. Thost, documents bad been prepared years ago, and although Mr Brogden had had to face unpleasant eimune,tances and eases of this kind those documents had never been set aside. He assuined. therefore, that they were legal documents that could hold water. The only property available were the Russia copper shares. which A-ere really at worth having. as the company wax in liquidation. Before he could make :murder, it was necessary that be should be whistled om the question ,d He did not think Mr Harris could do any more. He had done all he could. It amounted to this : that Mr Broaden had no available property except those copper shares, and it was not worth while pna-oesling any further. He could make no mi.,