In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Wednesday, Mr. Morton,
the dramatist, obtained a verdict, with forty shilliegs damages, against Mr. Shalders, owner of a theatre at Southampton, who bad caused The Spitfire, a farce written by Morton, to be acted without the author's consent. The farce had been published by the Dramatic Authors Society ; and a question was raised, whether Mr. Morton had not thereby lost his interest in it ; but the Court, in the absence of other evidence, decided that the fact of publication by the Society had not that effect, and directed the Jury to find for the plaintiff. The
action was brought under Mr. Bulwer's Act fur the protection of dramatic literature.
In the Court of Exchequer, on Tuesday, Mr. Fraser, the singer, obtained a verdict for 37/., being the balance of a sum due to him from Mr. Bunn, lessee of Drury Lane Theatre. Mr. Bunn maintained that the plaintiff was only entitled to 9/., which sum had been paid into Court; but he could not prove this statement to the Jury's satisfaction.
At the Aliddlesex Sessions, on Monday, it was decided that the West India Dock Company should be rated in the parish of Poplar at the annual value of 54,5791., instead of 67,0101., the sum at which they had been put down in the parish-books.
In the Insolvent Debtors Court, on Wednesday, Colin Baxter Greenhill, a clerk in the Ordnance department, applied for his discharge. He was supported by Mr. Cooke. The insolvent, who was only twenty4hree years of age, had been in the Ordnance department about four years; his salary was 100/, a year. lie had, ern after he bad obtained the situation, commenced accepting accommodation. bills, and to that circumstance he ascribed his imprisonment. He had, within two months after he received the appointment, accepted a bill to accommodate a fellow clerk, one who had a better salary, and had been some years in that department. Mr. Cooke ternarked, that there must be something foul in the atmosphere of public offices. Young men on their entrance generally commenced the accommodation-bill system. Air. Commissioner Bowen said, that the insolvent must have begun when he Was under age. Mr. Coake r!eclared it was astoniehing to witness the extent the eystein was pursued. lie remembered rile case of a young man, n hose schedule showed in a short period Co leso than 4.000/. of accominorlatiumbills.
The opposing creditor complained that the inoolvent got into Iris debt for clothes on the recommendation of a fellow clerk, and he could not obtain hie money. his had feceived several letters ; and on one occasion the insolvent told him he Wa1 about to be married, and it would be all right. It appeared that the insolvent bad, be said, been foolish enough to accept bills for other persons.
Mr. Cooke asked the insolvent whether he was married.
The insolvent answered in the affirmative.
Mr. Cooke—" Oh dear ! that is as bad as accepting accommodation-billr with 100/. a year."
The sum of 20/. per annum, out of Greenhill's salary, was ordered to be applied to payment of his debts.
At the Marylelione Office, on Monday, Mary Herbert, who kept linen-chop in Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, was charged with forging the acceptance of Lady Wood, 4, Bedford Square, to a bill for 2301. When taken into custody, she attempted to commit suicide by means of laudanum ; but only made herself excessively sick. She was remanded till Wednesday ; when additional evidence was given ; and a man, suspected of being an accomplice in the fraud, was ordered to give security to take his trial with the woman, who was committed.
A !one investigation at the Union Hall Office, on Tuesday, into the circumstances of the attack on the pretended Duke of Normandy. produced no fresh evidence of moment. Rousselle, the suspected assassin, will be brought up to-day, when the depositions will be read over and signed ; and he will be committed for trial, unless he can furnish satisfactory bail. Mr. Jeremy, the Magistrate, did not think that there was sufficient evidence again4 him to procure even a true bill from a Grand Jury; but as additional facts, in confirmation of some suspicious circumstances, might be procured, he would not set Rottsselle at liberty. Yesterday, Rousselle was again brought to the Police-office, nli ffi ce-oce, and discharged ; the " Duke" declining to prosecute h The rice and oil mills of Foster and Company, at lIorselyclown, were destroyed by fire on Saturday. The property was worth 15,000/.
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