Madras: Excitement Among Native Merchants: The High Court was on Thursday last the scene of great excitement, in consequence, as it is believed, of a rumour as to the financial position of the firm of Messrs. Shaw and Winch, merchants of Madras. Seven injunction-suits were on that day filed against the firm – one by Messrs. Branson and Branson, on behalf of Kondia Chetty, an indigo merchant, one of Messrs. Grant and Laing, on behalf of one Baliah Chetty, also an indigo merchant, and five by Messrs. Grant and Short on behalf of five skin merchants viz. Wallasah Cassin Saib, Shumshooden Khan, Khaleel Lutchmacanthan Chetty, Amheuooden Saib, and another. From the plaints and affidavits read in court it world appear that two Mahomedans named Hyath Meah and Hyath Mutban Saib, who were a short time ago prosecuted by Messrs. Shaw and Winch in the Presidency Magistrate’ court, Black Town, on charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust, arranged shortly after the termination of the police proceedings, to renew their business dealings with the said firm and gradually pay off their debt, with the aid of future advances that Messrs. Shaw and Winch had agreed to pay. Between the 9th and 15th instant the several plaintiffs were induced to bring in considerable quantities of indigo and skins upon a promise that they would he paid for the same upon the skins and indigo being weighed, counted, and delivered, the 17th instant, finding that payment was being delayed, the several plaintiffs, together with a large number of other merchants, proceeded to the offices of Messrs. Shaw and Winch and insisted upon either being paid immediately the sums respectively due to them, or having the goods returned. The police were called in to prevent the merchants from taking forcible possession of any property. Great excitement prevailed during the greater part of Wednesday-night, during which time all of the goods in the godowns of the firm of Messrs. Shaw and Winch were taken possession of by the Agra Bank, which was represented by Messrs. Leslie and Blackall. Messrs. Pinsent, Stiven, T. B. Spark, J. R. Atkinson and Morgan were also present at the office of Messrs. Shaw and Winch, the greater part of the night. His Lordship, Mr. Justice Hutchins, before whom Mr. R. D. Shaw made the applications, granted injunctions restraining the several defendants from dealing with the property under litigation and notices of injunctions in three suits were made returnable on Monday, next. The Agra Bank is also partly defendant to the suits. …
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