On this page
-
Text (4)
-
No. 414, February 27, 1858.] THE tEADEa....
-
THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK TKIAL. The trial ...
-
NAVAL AND MILITARY. Coast Dkfmncks.— The...
-
_ MISCELLANEOUS. __ _ The Coukt.—Tho onl...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Gatejeuings From The Law And Police Cour...
not knowing the lady , declined to grant the request , but recommended her to apply to one of the "West-end offices , as she stated she was known in that quarter of the town . The Mr . Davis , a Spanish merchant , who was last week charged at Guildhall with the abduction of a young girl , but who was set at liberty on its appearing that the girl went with him voluntarily , applied on Tuesday to Mr . Alderman Copeland , for a recommendation for a passport . He stated that lie had since married the girl—a course he would have taken before , as that was his intention from the first , but that he did not like to be interfered with by his friends ; and he produced the marriage certificate in proof of what he said . The Alderman expressed great satisfaction at this result ; wished the newly-married couple all comfort and prosperity ; and granted the recommendation .
The police magistrates continue to > receive applications from wives deserted by their husbands for protection to their property . Indeed , this feature of domestic life promises to be of constant recurrence at the offices . All the stories exhibit the usual incidents of profligacy and hard-heartedness on the part of the husbands , and of suffering on that of the wives . A young woman , named Flora Augusta Nolin , has made an application for assistance to the Lambeth magistrate , under singular circumstances . About five years ago , at Cambridge , she made the acquaintance of a French gentleman , who , though avowedly a Roman Catholic , did not object to accompany her and her
relations to a Protestant place of worship . In the year 1854 , they were married , and in 1856 they went to France , where in time she discovered that he was a French priest , and that consequently her marriage was invalid . Subsequently he deserted her , and she had reason to believe he passed nine months in the monastery of La Trappe . He then rejoined her , and she was persuaded to accompany him back to England . Two months ago , he again deserted her , and she believed he had returned to La Trappe . She and her child ( a little girl three years old ) were in great destitution , and she therefore solicited assistance . Mr . Elliott ordered that a sum of money should be given to her out of the poorbox , and requested her to call again on a future day .
The affairs of Francis Brewer Coleman , a linendraper , of Queen's-bnildings , Brompton , have come before the Court of Bankruptcy . The accounts commenced August 30 th , 1853 , with a capital of 700 ? ., and closed October 3 rd , 1857 , with debts 5216 * ., and assets 8507 . The bankrupt had obtained goods upon credit , and then sold them wholesale at a great loss , as a means of raising money . Mr . Commissioner Holroyd said he felt it to be his duty to withhold the certificate altogether ; but certificates of arrest would be kept back for twenty-one days , to allow an opportunity of appeal .
An application was made on Monday to the Marlborough-street magistrate , for advice , by a tradesman who stated that he had applied to the Town and Country Loan and Discount Bank , Orange-street , for a loan of 100 / . on leasehold property ; that he had filled up the required printed form , given references , and paid 17 . 2 s . 6 d . ; but that , notwithstanding this , his application had been refused . The magistrate said the only course for the applicant to take was to try the County Court , which ho said he would certainly do . Several applications of a similar kind , having reference to the same society , have been recently made at the Marlborough-street court .
No. 414, February 27, 1858.] The Teadea....
No . 414 , February 27 , 1858 . ] THE tEADEa . , 201
The Royal British Bank Tkial. The Trial ...
THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK TKIAL . The trial of the Royal British Bank Directors has continued , during the whole of the present week , to drag its wearisome details through the daily papers ; and it is not yet completed . The speeches for the defence commenced on Wednesday , when Lord Campbell , after congratulating Sir Fitzroy Kelly ( counsol for Mr . Stapleton ) on his elevation to the office of Attorney-General in the new Ministry , directed him to take precedence of the other counsel . Sir Fitzroy proceeded to argue that there was not one tittle of evidence to implicate his client . Mr . Stapleton became a depositor and director on the 31 st of July , 1865 . » ' If , " argued Sir Fitzroy , " the bank were sound on the 81 st of December , 1856 , it was Uflo sound at the time when Mr . Stapleton joined it ; and if it were true that the balance-sheet was wrong at ono time , it was clear , and had been proved , it was false at any other period ; and Mr . Stapleton , in the hour wlien he became a shareholder of the Koyal British Bank , in July , 1855 , became a ruined man . Ho was the deceived , and not the deceiver ; ho waa the victim , and not the perpetrator of the crime with which ho was charged . " In conclusion , Sir Fitzroy contended that there was nothing in Mr . Staplcton ' s conduct that could cast suspicion on the honour , tho integrity , or the good name of that gentleman . " At this there was applause—an ebullition of fooling which Lord Campbell rebuked . , ., - TO—„ ,,. „ —„ , „_ , Mr . Serjeant Shco , in addressing the , jury for Alderman Kennedy , said that he " was one of the original promoters of the bank , in which he had staked the whole of hie fortune , and , during tho time ho had boon connected with it , ho had never trafficked in its sharps or earned a ohilling from the concent . When ho became aware of some discounts in connexion with Maogrogor , who , from his having been Under-Scorctary to tho Bourd of Trade in Sir Robert Pool ' s Government , was believed
to be a man of substance and respectability , he left the directory , but was induced to return in October , 1854 , and remained till the stoppage of the bank , doing his best to mitigate the losses that had been incurred since its establishment . There could be no doubt that Mr-Alderman Kennedy knew of some locks-up of the bank , through the Welsh mines and other advances ; but there was no reason to believe , till after the bankruptcy , that any other than Mullens's securities were hopeless . His belief all along was that the bank only wanted commercial strength at the board to make it one of the safest and soundest of its kind in the kingdom . "
On Thursday , the proceedings commenced with the speech of Mr . Edwin James for Mr . Esdaile . That gentleman , it was urged , "had always asserted that the bank ' s capital was not nearly sufficient . He remained a director until February , 1855 , when he assumed the chair . He ( Mr . James ) had already said that his client did not wish to shelter himself behind the back of any one ; but it was only right to state that the position of Mr . Cameron in the bank was one of importance , and that the directors were mere tools and puppets entirely under his control and at his mercy . The finance committee was a mere farce and mockery ; and Mr . Cameron must have laughed in his sleeve at the three members sitting * up-stairs in the innocent belief that they were discounting all the bills , when he was below , passing his
own bills and those of his friends , just as he pleased , and without their intervention . Another actor was Mr . Mullens , who , as professional adviser , had the entire confidence of the directors , and shamefully abused it . " Mr . Edwin James further argued that Mr . Esdaile had all along acted for the benefit of the bank ; that he constantly endeavoured to bring to book Mr . Cameron , Mr . Mullins , Mr . Gwynne , Mr . Humphrey Brown , and other debtors to the business ; that he had not gained any advantage by his position in the concern ; that , had he been dishonest , he might have helped himself to any extent he liked ; but that , " with the true fidelity and courage of an English gentleman , he had clung undismayed to the last beam of that enormous wreck . " Here again there was applause .
Mr . Slade , on behalf of Mr . Owen , pursued a similar line of defence , viz ., that his client being nothing more than a shareholder from 1849 to 1855 , was not in a position to prevent any frauds that might have been committed . Mr . Huddlestone , Q . C ., followed on behalf of Humphrey Brown , and acknowledged that he had to perform a somewhat difficult task . He had at the outset to admit that Mr . Brown had availed himself of the resources of the bank to a large extent ; and he was aware that there was a strong prejudice in the public mind against his client . But he contended that the bank was at all times amply secured for the amount of Mr . Brown's debt . His client had joined the bank with the modest fortune of 20 , 0007 ., and was a person highly honoured in his native town . The prosecution had not produced a tittle of evidence to prove that Mr . Brown had been guilty of the crime with which he was charged .
Mr . Laurence , for Mr . M'Leod , called attention to the fact that his client was the . largest shareholder in the bank , and therefore , had lie conspired to defraud the public , he would have been conspiring to defraud himself as well . Mr . Cameron was his father-in-law ; and was it surprising that he should believe the assertions of that gentleman with respect to the concern ? Mr . Digby Seymour , on the part of Mr . Cameron , denied that his client was the promoter of the bank , but said that the business was introduced to him , as a parliamentary agent , by Mr . Macgregor , and he ultimately became general manager . " Because tho Act of 1 arliament would not allow a director to bo general matfager , his client objected to keep that office , and bo snubbed when offering any suggestion , instead of having a seat and vote at the board . Mr . Cameron , the bankhad
on leaving his own business to join , given up a great deal of his private interests , and the care and anxiety ho had experienced in tho performance of his duties had placed an additional ten years on his age . " Tho learned counsel then referred to tho charge against Cameron of introducing the Scotch system of banking , saying that the chief point in it is that it provides for tho safety of the bank in case of a large run . He also defended tho conduct of Cameron in introducing tho cash orodit system ; and , as to his conduct with regard to tho bad debt fund , he contended it was kept in accordance w ith tho rules laid down in all important commercial undertakings . Finally , he appealed to the jury to remember mercy in tho midst of judgment . Hero applauso onco more broke forth . Soveral witnesses were tlion examined for tho dofonco , and the court adjourned at a quarter past five . Sir Frederick Thoaigor having retired from tho case on Tuesday , owing to his elevation to tho Lord Chancellorship of the new Government ( on which honour Lord Campbell highly complimented him ) , Mr . Athor-TSSTyoaterd ay ^ replied for the Crown on tho whole case 5 after which , tho court adjourned . It io anticipated that tho trial will bo concluded to-day .
Naval And Military. Coast Dkfmncks.— The...
NAVAL AND MILITARY . Coast Dkfmncks . — The Itoyal carriage department , uiuUr tho superintendence of Colonel Tulloch , K . A ., is actively engaged in forwarding the immediate execution
of the outstanding orders for coast defences , which have been unavoidably allowed to fall into arrear . The artificers in that department are therefore ordered to be employed over hours for that purpose , so as to turn out , in addition to the allotted number of gun-carriages , platforms , & c , one complete battery per week . Shipwreck . —The brig John and James , of Whitby , coal-laden , and bound to Boulogne , foundered in the night of the 14 th inst . between Boulogne and Calais , having previously touched on the rocks of Cape Blanc Nez . The master , his wife , and four seamen got into the boat , and were soon afterwards picked up by another English vessel , and landed at Boulogne . Loss of the Ship Duke of Portland by Fibb . — This ship , 600 tons burden , Captain Harden , was totally destroyed by fire while on her outward passage to Singapore from Ardrossan , owing , it is supposed , to the spontaneous combustion of coals .
A Soldier Degraded . —A gunner of the Royal Artillery was drummed out of her Majesty ' s service on Monday morning at Woolwich . During a period of barely three years' service , he has been guilty of various military crimes , for which he has been twice imprisoned , the two incarcerations spreading over the greater part of the time since he has enlisted . On the day of his liberation from his last confinement , he stole a comrade ' s great-coat , and sold his own coat and boots . Being found guilty by a court-martial , he received fifty lashes , and , on being dismissed from the hospital , was drummed out with the usual marks of ignominy .
The Lasu . —A case of flogging has occurred on board the Wellesley , 72 , ordinary guard-ship at Chatham . The man had been guilty of disobedience of orders , and he received thirty-six lashes with great fortitude . This is the first case of flogging on board a man-of-war which has taken place in Chatham for many years .- —With respect to the flogging case at Newcastle , to which we referred last week , a letter has been written to Mr . John Bright , M . P ., by a gentleman residing on the spot . This letter has been transmitted by Mr . Bright to the Morning Star , and contains the following statements : — " The name of the regiment is the 5 th Fusiliers ; the commanding officer , Colonel Kirkland ; the name of the soldier , Mullens ; his offence , that of refusing to be stripped , and striking the sergeant . He was tried and sentenced by a party of officers selected by the colonel , and the sentence was sent to Sir Harry Smith , who confirmed it . The date of his punishment , the 27 th ult . He was removed to Weedon oa the 11 th inst . I think there is no truth in the statement that the lashes of the ' cat '
were loaded with lead or steel . It appears , however , that the flogging was very severe , and it is described as being ' horrible . ' " Storm off the East Coast . —The east coast was visited by a heavy gale of wind on Monday , during which a brig was wrecked on the Spanish Battery liocks at Tynomouth-point . The crew were rescued , but the vessel went to pieces . The Steam Fleet in reserve at Portsmouth is being got ready for equipment at the shortest notice . The ships composing it , especially the line-of-battle-ships , are being tried almost daily , and the staff of the steam reserve are indefatigably employed in getting the ships ' machinery into reliable working order . The Duke of Wellington , Cnesar , Victor Emmanuel , and Algiers , are the most forward , and are expected to be the next large ships commissioned . The gunboats at . Haslar are also under course of overhaul .
Barrack Cookery . —With a desire of contributing to the comforts of the soldiers' mess , and of remedying the acknowledged evils produced by the present monotonous system of barrack cookery , MajorrGeneral Sir W . F . Williams , Commandant of Woolwich Garrison , has introduced the newly-invented apparatus brought forward by Captain Grant , late of tho Royal Artillery . By this stovo , frying , stewing , baking , and boiling , can be performed . Woolwich Dockyard . —A considerable reduction in tho factor / establishment of Woolwich Dockyard has been ordered to meet the reduced scale of expenditure voted for that department of tho naval service . Forty of the factory labourers have consequently received notices of dismissal .
Thk Hon . Randolph Capel , of II . M . S . Cumberland , Flag-Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral Wollls , died of yellow fovor at Rio do la Plata on Christmas-eve . This gallant and lamented young officer had served with distinction in the Naval Brigudo before Sobaatopol . Colonel Grant . —The Queen has beon pleased to command that Colonel James Hope Grant , K . C . B ., of the 9 th Lancers , bo promoted to tho rank of Major-Uenoral in tho army , in consequence of his eminent uorvicea in command of tho Cavalry Division nt tho uioge of Delhi .
_ Miscellaneous. __ _ The Coukt.—Tho Onl...
_ MISCELLANEOUS . __ _ The Coukt . —Tho only news of interest this " webk in connexion with tho Court is that which is alao connected with tho resignation of the Palmeraton and tho « 1 > PJ >»« - ment of the Derby Ministry . Tho particulars of tula Governmental change will bo found in another column . Tun Bionv Hon . W . G . Haytuii hus accepted the offer of a baronetcy , which Lord Palmoraton expressed hla desire to rocommond her Majesty to bestow on him .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 27, 1858, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27021858/page/9/
-