In the Prerogative Court, on Thursday, the trial of the
validity of a codicil to the will of the late James Wood, banker of Gloucester, was commenced. The following is given as a copy of the codicil.
"In a codicil to my will, I gave to the Corporation of Gloucester the sum of 140,0001., and in this I now give 60,000/. more to my executors for the same purposes as I have before mentioned. I also give to my friends—Mr. Philpotts, the sum of 50,000/. ; Mr. E. Council, 10,000/. ; Mr. Thomas Helps, of Cheapside, no,000t. ; Mrs. Eliza Goodlake and Mr. Thomas Wood, of Smith Street, Chelsea, each 20,000/. ; Samuel Wood, of Cleveland Street, Mile End, 14,0001., and this gentleman's family, 6,000/. I confirm also any other bequests which I have made ; and give the rest to my executors, for their own interests. " JAMES WOOD. " Gloucester City Old Rank. July 1835."
Upon inquiry, it was found that there are five parties interested in the cause. The King's Advocate, assisted by Doctors Lushington and Addams, appeared for the executors, Alderman Wood, Mr. Chadwell, Mr. Sermen, and another person not named ; Doctors Burnaby and Nichols for Mr. Helps ; Doctors Phillimore and Haggard for Mrs. Goodlake ; Doctor Curtis for Mr. G. Hitehins, a party benefited by the orignal will ; and Doctor Robinson for Mr. Philpotts. The value of Mr. Wood's property is stated at 10,000/. a year in land, and up- wards of a million in personalty. The King's Advocate and Dr. Lushington addressed the Court for the executors ; and Dr. Addams will also be heard on the same side against the validity of the codicil.
In the Central Criminal Court, on Thursday, John Minter Hart was found guilty of forging an acceptance of the Reverend Mr. Jenner. We mentioned this case last week, when Hart was committed for trial.
At the Marlborough Street Office, yesterday, several fashionably- dressed young men presented themselves ; and one of them, in a rough pilot-coat, told the Magistrate that be came to answer a charge against him on the Police-sheet. We take the account of what fol- lowed from the Morning Post; as the noble Tory, who was the prin- cipal party concerned, has complained of the misrepresentation of the Liberal press when he has got into scrapes as disgraceful as that of Thursday night.
A Policeman of the C division came forward, and said he found the defen- dant very drunk in Albemarle Street, at two o'clock in the morning, and creating a great disturbance.
Mr. Conant—" Well, Sir, you hear the charge."
Defendant—(laughing)—" Oh yes; I was rather gone; the penalty for which is rm., I suppose.', Mr. Conant—" Not entirely so. You created a disturbance, and I do not know that I shall not require you to find bail." Defendant—(with a loud laugh)—" find bail without much difficulty, if you think proper. The fact is, I dined at the Clarendon yesterday; and havjng drunk pretty freely, 1 dare say I kicked up rather more disturbance than was proper." Mr. Conant—" You seem to treat the matter very lightly. Pray who are you, Sir?"
Deferulant—" My name is correctly stated in the Police.shect." Mr. Conant—" Do you not choose to say who you are?" Defendant—" I consider the information before you is sufficient." Mr. Conant—" I shall require you to find bail ; and if you are not able to do i
so, I shall certainly send you to prison. The manner n which you conduct yourself is not becoming in a court of justice "
Defendant—" I have no objection to state that I am Lord Waterford." Mr. Conant—" From your station you should know that the laws ought not to be treated with the flippancy you have used. You ought likewise to know that respect is due to the office of a Magistrate. Perhaps you are a Magistrate yourself?"
Defendant—" No I am not. I assure you I had no intention to give offence or to show any want of respect to your Magisterial office. I laughed, certainly • but it was at the situation in which I found myself placed." Mr. Conant—" I shall not call on you to put in bail this time. You DMA pay the fine of five shillings for intoxication." His Lordship paid the money ; and one of his friends having whispered to him, his Lordship addressed the Magistrate and apologized for the appearance of levity he had displayed; declaring that he intended nothing disrespectful, his mirth having been entirely occasioned by the nature of the complaint against him. His Lordship and friends then retired.
[It is still a fine thing, you see, to be a Lord ! Had any poor labourer or mechanic been in the place of the Marquis of Waterford, would he have escaped without punishment for a riot—especially if he were a notorious disturber of the peace ?] At the Marlborough Street Office, yesterday, two shopkeepers in the parish of St. Pancras were ordered to find bail to take their trial at the Sessions, for using threatening language, and otherwise obstructing Mr. Bond, a broker, who had distrained for Church-rates on the pro.. perty of one of them. Bond said, that he thirst not execute several war- rants with which he was intrusted, as his life was in danger from the violence of the mob collected by the defendants.
The soap and colour manufactory of Mr. John Knight, Old Gravel Lane, Ratcliffe Highway, was destroyed by fire on Thursday night. The property consumed was said to be worth 16,0001.; but Mr. Knight is insured.
Previous page
