The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-10-21 00:00:00

LAW AND CRIME.

Stephen Joseph Meany, who was tried last week at
tbe Middlesex Sessions for obtaining goods under
false pretenses, and who was put back in order that the
verdict in his case might be considered, was brought
up again on Wednesday. It will be remembered that
the jury in the first instance, returned a verdict to the
effect that the prisoner got the goods by false pretences,
but intended to pay for them. This, it was contended,
was a verdict of not guilty; but Mr. Payne refused
to receive it, and the jury subsequei.tly returned a
verdict of guilty. A second discussion then arose on
the subject, and Mr. Payne postponed judgment in
order that lie might consult with Mr. Bodkin. Mr.
Bodkin said be thought Mr. Payne had acted properly
in rejsoting the first verdict, but as there had been a
difference of opinion on the subject a case would be
stated for the Court of Criminal Appeal, and meantime
the prisoner would be released on bail. The whole
discussion seems to be absurd. The evidence showed
that the prisoner had made a false pretence, and the
jury said in their verdict that he got the goods by
means of that false pretence. Probably nine out of ten
of those who commit forgeries, or similar offences by
which they get goods, intend at the time to pay for
them when they have the opportunity, but that does
not save them from imprisonment more or less lengthy.
THE LOAN SWINDLE GAME.—On Thursday Esther
Bays, a laundress, aged 29; Eliza Townshend, widow,
of No. 12, Mercer-street, Long-acre; Patrick Day,
bill-sticker, 22 : Peter Paul alias Walter Brown, 36,
and James Smith, 32, falsely describing himself as a
coinniission agent, of Sussex Chambers, Bouverie-street,
were brought up on remand before Mr. Stile at the
Thames Police Office, charged with conspiring to defraud
many persons of their money and promissory notes,
under pretence of advancing loans from the Richard's
Estate Fund Association, 23,Richard-street, Limebouse.
—The following gentlemen appeared in this case :—Mr.
Diekie, barrister, instructed by Mr. Venn, solicitor
for Day ; Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, for Smith ;
and Mr. Stoddart for Paul. Mr. Wavell and Mr.
Robinson, from Stubb's Trade Protection Society,
which exposed the gang a year ago, while trading as
R. Bevan and Co., were also in attendance on behalf
of their subscribers, who have in a great many in-
stances been defrauded by the prisoners and their con-
federates. A fellow named Dr. Waters, who was con-
victed a few years ago at the Central Criminal Court,
and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and hard
labour for swindling people of their money under pre-
tence of curing deafness and disease of the ear, is still
at large. He was at the head of the concern styled the
Richard's Estate Land Association. Mr. Selfe, in the
course of a long investigation, repeatedly expressed his
surprise that people should put any faith ía the many
spurious advertisements inserted in the country news-
papers by swindlers olLring loans on easy terms.—A
mass of evidence was gone into connecting the pri-
soners with the conspiracy. —Mr. James Stickland, boot
mid shoe maker, of Wimborne, Dorset, who had
applied for a loan of £2OO, and been defrauded of £l2
78., and Mr. Ruben Clark, hoot-maker, of Winterslow,
near Salisbury, from whom the gang had obtained £4
ss. 61. repeated their evidence, and numerous wit-
nesses were examined in confirmation. The money
order was in one case paid to Paul, who represented
himself as Samuel Gilbert, and an the other case to
Smith, who tailed himself R. H. Twining.—Mr. Selfe
thought that the two cases on which the depositions
were taken were quite sufficient —Joseph Dewar, a
letter-carrier, said that for two months he had de-
Heeled letters every morning, Sunday excepted, at
No. 23, Richard-street. They were directed to R. H.
Twining, Esq., Richard Estate Fund Association. The
numbers varied from forty to ninety. Mr. Bays re-
ceived them all, and signed the receipts for registered
letters containing money, " Esther Bays, for R. H.
Twinning. He asked her once or twice whi. Mr.
Twinning was, and she rei lied, "He is a coin inercial
traveller. lam ant into this house to receive letters
for him." Evidence was then given by Inspectors
Griffin, Briden, and Venables, that the gang bad been
carrying on a similar swindle at No. 3, Alfred-place,
Kentish Town, and that letters addressed to It. H.
Beven, W. B. Lindsay, and others were found on Mrs.
Townshead. Stubb's trade protection office once ex-
posed and broke up the gang while advertising to
grant loans as the firm of R. H. Beven and Co. The
prisoners had also been operating over the water, in
Surrey.—Mr. Stift, committed all the prisoners for
trial for conspiracy to defraud, and refused to take
bail fir either.