The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-22 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

A middle-aged man, of respectable appearance, who gave
the name of William White, was charged with conspiracy
and fraud under the following circumstances :
On Tuesday, Mr. W. Admits, a retired farmer, was looking
into a shop window in the Strand, when he was accosted by
a man who subsequently stated his name to be Baker, with
whom he entered into conversation. Baker represented
himself to be an opulent Kentish farmer, and so well sus-
tained his part that he threw Mr. Adams off his guard, and
the latter, speaking of his recent retirement from farming
pursuit., mentioned that he had a large quantityof cheese to
dispose of. Baker undertook to introduce him to a friend, who
would be likely to deal with him. They msdean appointment
for Thursday morning, when, as they were passing the Palace
Hotel, Buckinghism•gate, the prisoner came down the steps,
and Baker introduced him also as a Kentish farmer. Baker
and the pnwtier entered into a conversation, from which it
appeared that they bad just had a dispute about the price
of a very valuable horse, which the latter had for sale, sod
which Baker was anxious to parasol', in order to present it
to a sou of Lord Delawarr, under whom he held a great deal
of land. Baker then said to the prisoner, who was stated to
have the horse in his hands for disposal, " H you can't sell
the horse to me, as your uncle won't let me have it, you
can sell it to my friend" (pointing to Mr. Adams.) Pri-
soner replied he could do that, and Baker then told Mr.
Adams that he would re-purchase it of him. 50/. was the
price asked for the horse, which wee subsequently se-
duced to 461. The three parties then went to look at the
animal, at Dyer's stables, Hugh.street West. after which
they adjourned to a public house, where Baker put what
appeared to be 46/. in gold and notes upon the table, and
requested prisoner to take it for the horse, but prisoner said
be could not take it, as it would be acting wrongly to his
uncle, who had refused to sell him (Baker) the bone. It
was then proposed by Baker that prisoner should take the
value io cheese from Mr. Adams, and that Baker should
then purchase the horse of the latter. Baker then assisted
Mr. Adams to reckon up the value of twenty cheeses, which
came to 42/., and Mr. Adams added 41. to make 46/., the
price of the hone. Mr. Adams then went with them to
the Pantechoicon, and delivered the cheeses to the prisoner.
It was then proposed that Mr. Adams should go with
prisoner for the horse, which be did, and Baker
was to remain at the public-hove until his return
with it, but when he got there expecting to receive the
461., he found him gone, and saw no more of either of
the men. The horse, upon close examination, was old, had
bad all has teeth knocked out, and was what is termed in
the trade " a perfect screw," not worth above 5/. It had
only been taken to Dyer's stables that afternoon.
Mr. Anrold asked Mr. Adams whether be was a judge of
horses, and had examined the one in question when first
taken to see it.
Mr. Adams said be was a judge of horses, but this one
would not let him look into his mouth, when

Mr. Smyth (who bad stated the case for the prosecu-
tion) rid that be bad evidence to show that instead of pri-
soner being a respectable Kentish farmer, he was a well-
known " magsmau. '
Mr. Arnold remanded him for a week, but consented to
take good bail.
Sergeant Hornblower, of the B division, said that be bad
recovered the cheese.