The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-06-06 00:00:00

ZITICILSHOT.

"JOHN WEST "- A STRANGE, EVENTFUL

HISTORY.

John Mobley, a daring impostor, well known in the West
of England, has written a history of his life, under the
title of "An Antsioiography of a Lkestsed Hawker."
From this it appears he WU born in Ireland 1791fi When
a young man John Mobley engaged himself as • time-
keeper to a contractor in the dockyard at Portsmouth.
After being there seven years be opened a coffee-house in
London, by which he lost his money, and was next obliged
to hire himself as a shepherd to • farmer at Weston Tar.
villa. At the end of twelve months he journied to Ports-
mouth, and as a sailor, went twice to France. He then
bought some "flash goods " at Birmingham, and took out
a Ileum for hawking. His find jowl:err wee in the north
of England and Scotland, and he mentions with pride, the
artless way in which he deceived the acute Yorkshiremen.
Having replenished his stock at Birmingham, be made for
the West of England. At Beth he was taken into custody
oft suspicion of having broken into the Bear at Holloway.
At the Bridgewater Anises he proved an alai, and was
acquitted. He then made his way to Scotland; then to
London and Brighton, where he sold off and opened •
shop. He w soon in the rag and bone
t3Z,olrrer:r as
timekeeper and clerk, and fore long time he
ras a betting man, card seller, card sharper, and
welcher." on every race-coone in the country. After
this experience he was appointed the schoolmaster at
Weston Turirille, where he remained seven years, but, a
new rector coming to the place, Mobley had to make way
far • certified master. He says however "They have had
so better schooltruister since." Before leaving he promised
the youngsters • treat, and, in anticipation of this feast,
so many Joined the school that he was dismayed at the
emense of feeding them. When the auspicious day arrived
the children came in swarms, with their cups, éc.; but
Headley sent them empty away. This No exasperated the
villagers that they bound him with • cord, harnessed him
to a large dot, and thus drove him through the village duck
VMobley bare aye, "Truth isletranger than fiction."
itended the races for many years after this, filling
up the intervals with licensed and
unlicensed hawking.
He often got into gaol for the latter, and when ill be went
Into the nearest workbosue. In this way he has men the
inside of nearly every MA and workhouse in the country.
He has also been • concert singer and Public reciter, • time-
keeper. clerk, scavenger, marine store dealer, engraver,
quack (Motor. fishmonger. poulterer and fruiterer, match-
seller, and has travelled with Wombwell's msnagirte, and
as • sailor went to America and Holland, where, betng
such a clumsy one, they once flung him over .
Mobley was passionately fond of reading, and could
concoct a tale to deceive anyone under almost any circum-
stances. With one leg and one eye he has had as many se
10 (sham) wives, with an endless number of uncles, aunts,
chikren and grandchildren. When he landed in England
he was destitute, and after much anxiety as to the way
of getting a living, he came to the conclusion-1. That
country people were simple and easily taken in. & That
many people were transported to Australia years ago. 3.
That he might palm himself off on living relatives as the
returned convict. This wee when Tichborne wee • baby,
Before Mobley started he threw up • stick; it fell towards
the north, and to the north he went. At Halifax he
represented himself as John Wilson, and lived in clover
15 months, when to his regret he was obliged to quit •
well-furnished house and wife, for by some means it coned
out that he was not the reel John Wilson. At Msplewell
he acted much in the same way as he did at Lavington
with the Potters, only he was more successful; he got
about £5O and bolted. At Gorton, in Yorkshire, he repre-
sented himself as Jos Duckworth, and lived comfortably
for three years, when his wife died and be divided the
property between his two daughters. As John Tompkins,of
he got clean off with Al 5. As Thos. Bradshaw. at
XduidZatAtes Chester. he obtained £5OO by threatening on.
of the executon with a low suit. When he had yet the .C5OO
be borrowed 11290 mare and bolted. As John Wersila
Evereltot, he received 00. • house, garden and o
After living there four years he sold off and left the place
like an hosed man. At BLuulford he got a little his wife
there wee an the parish, d mated to stick to him As
Gike Wm; at he was living happily with
another of his wives, when 'letter arrived from the real
Gum Sims, and Mobley was sent by the Mayor to take his
trial at Wlnchsster Assists. The grand Jury ignored the
lall, and be was liberated " Autobiography of the
Licensed Hawker "is not completed. It extends to some
where about his eictieth year but he has done • wonder-
-141 deal of work since then. He has lately been in
lieeding Gael, gild is now an inmate of the Aylesbury
Workhouse. If any one sioubts this Mori and the Laving-
_
_ toe one, let them reed his own words •—" I went into a
Comm ?gm Seassomi._@eiturdslcildore Mr. piddic.haaaa at Darhyshimi,Thi,„ some Tomb..
Waseca mobs ehatr), sir. G. Churchill and Hr. 0. meat, and was saris( came from Australia, and that I
ma sent from that village seam years before, when the
eesNt, G•arga Cog and ieedlord betted a man in the house if, to ten the truth, be
=aro% the *at of *art perish walla ten who / was. He said I was— (people living).
."" ganahing for Oah a. WOWS aver said If j dimmed mein he might be further out. He al Bradford Pirvs. • hag libe sight a The thaa said mg. woe fere mem at • factory Whore Lis
which Mr. J. fisnita
defeedeate pleaded guilty
gad °Lb., jleweiingiliand tag nito..twrc" t*reedgthimkto
for itemscutiou "tom,
the Penalty the Beech ula e 4.71" r VC:JAW Wr#V4L-Mittrtiint
took P. 09 on • Bundy aug=o.=
Irmo
All* and Mirk, I aluildd
much pai in that
be was aft •
te mais Hun protectautais6Aehia.... Tad imedad reraiirlid frc, WI,
w•red sick rad orris Id.

DOZOICESTEIL
THE depth of rain that fell during May this year
wan 0.62 ; the sante month last year, 2.48
We regret to lawn that Lady Charlotte Sturt Is
lying dangerously M at her residence, in Charles-street,
Berkeley-square, London.
In a Convocation held at Oxford on Tuesday, the
proposal to confer.the degree of act. by diploma upon
Prince Leopold was aueied unanimously. It is under-
stood that his Royal Highness will be present at Com-
memoration.

--Wgitrii; CRAPE. —At the above chspel on Sun-
day the first anniversary sermons Were preached by
the Rev. W. Allen, circuit minister. Collections were
made after each service in aid of the Chapel fund.
Yesterday a public tea was held in the echoolroom,
foUowed by a public meeting at which addresses were
delivered by ministers and friends.

CONNITT6 TO THE DO-PIN; COUNTY PlMON.—Hard
Labour. Herbert Shepherd, assault at Buckhad
Newton, 3 calendar months, and to find sureties ;
Alfred Peter Benham and George Benham, rogue and
vagabond at Owermoigne, 6 weeks ; James Gunn,
assaulting constable at Stalbridge and George Duck-
worth, dealing a slop and brush at Portland, I calendar
month ; WWam Lester and Mary loader, stealing
onions atSymondsbory and James Ward, misbehaviour
In Dorchester Unionbouse, 14 days; Ann Jones,
vnicncy at Bridport, 7 days.
—TM following is our meteorological
report :

1 Loma
Data. Nom. Point at Mod. State of WesUaor.
I NlBll6
May ! • •
7:o' 60 40 N Cloody. Sao
38 67 51 NW Fins
31. 61 41 N Mao
I own, 113 ' 37 N& 8 lino
3' 61 42 NW & N nos
3 52 42 • SW Ms, run
4 64 1 46 W Cloudy, too

girls I shall never foirget. We went home by train that
night. I found a house well furnished with plenty of
Mfood, and a half-a-dozen other girls as lodger*. The
coatained six moms, h•*i.iltd • wash.liouse and
other conveniences. My heart 1111•*••• roe, but what was
I to do/ If I had drawn hack I should have been sent to
prison, so I mule up my nand to top with theiu."