The trial of DAVIDSON and GORDON, the bankrupt merchants, who are accused also of committing gigantic frauds, commenced at the Central Criminal Court, on the 16th inst.

Joseph Windle COLE, also described as a merchant, who is already under a sentence of penal servitude upon a conviction arising out of some of the transactions on which the prisoners GORDON and DAVIDSON are involved, was also placed at the Bar.

There were four or five indictments against the prisoners, the amounts mentioned as having been obtained by them being stated as £4,100, £2,400, £4,900, £7,000 and £17,000. They were also charged under the Bankrupt Act with felony, in not having surrendered to be examined at the bankruptcy Court on the day fixed for that purpose by the Commissioners.

The last charge was selected on which to prosecute first, and an evidence given in its support at considerable length. It was shown that the prisoner GORDON, when hopelessly insolvent, suddenly went abroad, leaving debts of half a million, and only some £2,000 in assets.

For the defence none of the material facts were disputed, but reliance was placed on a few legal technicalities. These were reserved for decision by another tribunal, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty.

The case against DAVIDSON was postponed until the decision respecting the reserved points could be ascertained.