The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-02 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 2, 1862.

VICTIMISING AN EMIGRANT.

John Marshall, alias Davies, was charged at the
Liverpool Police-court on Saturday with having defrauded
Richard James, an intending emigrant, of 1801. is love.
reigns, by the old dodge of "ringing the changes." The pro-
secutor (who in appearance is • much sharper fellow than
this affair has proved him to be) intended to emigrate to
New Zealand, and came to Liverpool for that purpose at
the beginning of August. On the ith of that month be
was on board the ship Champion of the Seas, then
lying in the Coburg Dock, when be met with the pri-
soner, who managed to engage him in conversation, and
they then left the vessel and started off for a walk
through the town. In the course of their perambulations
they called at several public-houses, and at one of them a
second man made his appearance, introduced himself, and
the three had some drink together. This "gentleman,"
pretending to be • perfect stranger to Marshall, coinmeuced
talking about money matters, and informed his newly-
found "friends" that lie had recently come into possession
of a large property—several thousands a year- and was
consequently very free with his money. Having invited
hie companions into another public.bouse, he produced two
purses, saying he had purchased them from an old woman
in the streets, and he considernd them of an excellent
description. He presented one to the man Marshall,
and pl-ced • sovereign in it "for luck," and at the
prisoner's request gave one also, containing • sove-
reign, to Mr. James!, advisiog them both to keep their
money in these purses, "and then," raid be, "it would be
sale." The prosecutor, "at this stage of the proceedings,"
proved himself to be remarkably verdant. He produced
his money (1801. in gold, and no troublesome notes with
the numbers known, perhaps), and the prisoner kindly un-
dertook to place it in the puree for him. This was done
very nicely, and a purse filled with "California sove-
reigns," or "jacks," was handed to James in the place of
his hard-earned gold. Easy, unsuspecting, confiding fellow,
be put the purse and tho contents into his pocket
without examination, and the three worthies resumed
their peregrinations. Soon after they had done so,
however, the inheritor of the immense estate proposed
that as they bad had so much drink they should
now " have something to eat," suggesting beefsteaks as
something they would relish.
,He generously offered to
"stand" the steaks, gave Mr. James a half-crown, and de-
spatched him to purchase them, it being arranged that
Marshall and his wealthy friend should await his return in
the street. The prosecutor willingly undertook the com-
mission, but, on returning with the steals to the spot where
he expected to find his late companions, he discovered they
had vanished. He very soon made a still more im-
portant discovery—that instead of • pocketful of gold
he had nothing but worthless brass. luformation of
the swindle was given to the police, and the prisoner
was apprehended in Manchester by Detective Smith.
When the latter first seized Marshall he struck the officer
on the side of the head, tripped up hie heels, threw him
down, and attempted to snake his escape, but Smith
knocked him down and secured him. As the detective was
bringing him to Liverpool, Marshall apologised for assaulting
him, saying, " You know, Smith, when a man's right fur
fifteen years, you can't expect but what he'll do the best
he can for himself." He subsequently remarked, "1 hope
I shan't be tried before the recorder, for he's mocha
hot 'un." Marshall had been remanded in the hope that
the police would get hold of Lis accomplice, but they Lave
not yet been able to do so, and the prisoner was committed
for triaL—Lie, rpuof Mercury.