The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

THE POLICE COUBIS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Thomas Downing, a person of respectable appearance,
was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having
fraudulently and by a false pretence attempted to obtain
money from Mr. Fertescue, loik manufacturer, of Cheap-
side. The name given by the prisoner Is supposed to be fic-
titious. _ _

Mr. Forteseue said—About 10 minutes past 5 o'clock on
Saturday evening the prisoner called at the shop, and told
me he kuew an intimate friend of mine named Weston, and
asked me for one of our cards of address, as he had a country
friend who wished to buy some of our locks. I gave him
the card of our firm, " Hobbs, Ashley, and Fianna',"
and he left the shop. In a few minutes he returned, and
asked me if I could give him Mr. Weston's address. I did
so, and he went away, and in about four minutes be re-
turned, and said that Mr. Weston was not at home, that he
had a bill to meet of 71. in Walbeook, but was deficient four
shillings of the amount, and he asked me to let him have
the loan of that sum as • friend of Mr. Weston. I told him
I made it a rule not to lend moneyq to strangen, but that
he had better go and knock at Mr. Weston's door again,
who I thought would be sure to be at home, and he lett
' me. I then saw him go into our factory, in Lawrence-lane,
adjoining our house, and speak to the foreman, and then
he went to Mr. Weston's house in Lawrence-lime, and I

saw him go up the staircase, and heard some conversation
between him and Mr. Weston, and I went lip stairs and
asked Mr. Weston if he knew the prisoner, to which the
reply was, that ho had seen the man before in his
life. I said I would give the prisoner in charge for endea-
vouring to obtain money under false pretences. The pri-
soner then said, " Mr. Fortescue, I beg mercy of you; con-
sider my poiita..o."
Mr. T. S. Weston, general warehouseman, of No. 31,
Lawrence.lane, Cheepside, said, Mr. lonian's is a friend
of mine. I was at my warehouse on Saturday evening at
ten minutes past 5 o'clock. I had been at the warehouse,
perhaps, two hours previously to my seeing the pri-
soner. Ido not know him. I wes at the top of the stairs
when be called. I heard some one ask for Mr. Weston's
warehouse, and he was told to go up stairs to the first floor.
The prisoner then came up and said, " Is Mr. Weston at
home 1" I said, "Yes my name is Welton." He said,
" May I beg the favour of a few minutes' conversation
with you ?" lye said, "I am a particular friend of Mr.
Fortescue's, and I have called upon him just now, but
neither he nor his partner is at home. (Laughter.) The
object of my coiling upon him was that I nave • little ac-
count of about 41. to make up, to pay in Walbrook ;" and
he pulled out his porte monnaie ; and at that moment Mr.
Fortescue came up the stain and said to me, "Do you
know that party 1" I said "No, he has just called upon
me and said he was a particular friend of yours." Mr.
Fortescue said the prisoner had just called upon him and
said he claimed the acquaintance and friendship of me. I said
"I never saw the prisoner before in my_life." The prisoner
then said, " I beg your pardon, Mr. Weston ; I have seen
you frequently." I asked him where. Ile replied at the
house opposite. I asked what house. He said at a public-
house. There was no publio-houn. Ile tnen said at
Lake's dining-rooms in Cheapside. I stated that I had not
been there for two years, and Mr. Fortescue said the pri-
soner was an impostor, and gave him in charge to a
policeman.
The prisoner said, upon receiving the usual caution from
his lordship—l hope you will be inclined to think that it
is more au error of the bead than any intention to de-
fraud. It is true Ido not question their evidence th.t
I did as they descriotd. I have had three attacks of
delirium tremens, and I we., on the 24th of last
month, discharged from St. Thomas's Hospital, after
having had the third attack, and such is my pros-
tration of mini and body with the recollection
of what has occurred and the severance of friendships
I held most dear that sometimes Ido not recollect what has
occurred. In May last I charged myself with embezzle-
ment, which was not true. In feet I am a perfect wreck,
anddeed II it please the Almighty to take me I skin be thankful
in. _

♦ licensed victualler Who eat is the *hoe rem said—l

TIM ELLIPTIC COLE"
• T
To
VII SACK.
VAMP

WITH PATENT ELASTIC FASTENING.

A most perfect and ewspetting !Shirt, and, by a
strep`e invention of the Patentee, adjusts itself to
all morementa of the body, both beet and front, I
either waiting, sitting, or riding. Price, inelm's
•
lag the Ilsousnaso &Alms Warerassn, 445. the
ludr.dosen. The Elliptic Collar, quite unique, in
all shapes, with nitwit Eleatic Fmtenings,
the dozen. The Paten 'estie 0311ar fawning
can be attached to any Collar, *rain' back or
front. Sis sent by Past on receipt of 13 rootage
stamps.

have known the prisoner for some years. He came to me
and to others (our years ago, and victimised us exactly in
the same way.
The prisoner was then committed (or trial.
The Lord Mayor requested that the press would ackuow•
ledge his receipt of 11.1 s. from A.I.C. (or the poor-box.

GUILDHALL.
George Parker' John Saunders, alias hf Guire Charles
Mar:hail, and Lewis Myers, were placed at the bar' before
Sir It. W. Carden and Alderman Humphery charged with
being concerned in the late extensive robbery of plate,
watches, and jewellery, at Leighton Buzzard.
Mr. Weller, who appeared for the prosecution, said that
Mr. Reuben Rouse Rowell, a watchmaker and jeweller, of
Oxford, was present to complain of a assailer robbery com-
mitted upon his premises in July last, when a quantity of
watches were stolen, one of which was ultimately offered to
him again for sale. lie was enabled thereby to trace the
possession of it through several hands to Mr. Jones, the
refiner, of Wilderness-row, who declined to tell of whom he
purchaasd it, and as a cheque for 151. of Jones's, of a sub-
sequent date to that of the robbery, was found in Myers's
possession, Mr. Rowell was induced to believe that the
prisoners at the bar were concerned in the burglary at
Oxford, as well as the one with which they stood charged.

Alderman Humphery said that was a distinct charge, and
he would take care and have Mr. Jones before him to ac-
count for his possession of the stolen watch.
A number of other witnesses were then examined ; and
the following letter found at Marshall's lodgings was also
read :

" London, Dee. 7, 1853.
" Friend Henry,—You must excuse me writing to you,
but I have left the Royal Oak, as Mr. Parker is not there.
Write to me by return of post, as I shall operate next
Sunday night if possible.—l remain yours, &c.
" FatEtw.
Direct for me, No. 84, Hil4street, Walworth-road,
London. I have left Union. treet."

This letter was addressed Mr. H. Auckland, at Mr.
Coupland's, farmer, Carlton, 'near Worksop, Nottingham-
shire."

Mr. Waller said the prisoners were apprehended on the
night before the Sunday specified in the letter (or the
writer and his friend to " operate," or in other wordy, to
rob Mr. Coupland's premises, and their intended visit was
therefore prevented.
Huggett said Marshall had been living in Union-street
until very lately.
Henry Peasant was then called to show that Marshall
occupied the room in which the letter was found, and that
since the burglary at Leighton B d he had purchased
about 61. or. 71. worth of new furniture.

Sr It. Cerden intimated his intention to remand all the
prisoners to Leighton Buzzard. The possession by Myers
of stolen property, so soon after the commission of the
crime, was a good reason for including him in the chars*.
If he were acquitted he might then be tried at the Old
Bailey for the unlawful possession of stolen goods in
London.

Mr. Solomon, for Myers, asked if the worthy alderman
would take bail for his client ?

Sir Robert Carden—Certainl♦ not.
Mr. Solomon had only asked the question, in order that
he might apply to one of the judges to take bail.
Alderman Hunsphery did not think say judge would
accept bail in such a case.
Parker complained that they were about to be sent to a
place to be tried where there was already an unfavourable
impression against them, end they did not consider they
were getting fair play. They had no funds to take their
legal advisers down with them into the country, so that
they were entirely in the hands of the police.
Bir Robert Carden thought the police engaged in the
case had shown the most praiseworthy zeal, and they de-
d great credit for the manner in which they had
traced the prisoners and recovered portions of the stolen
property. He felt convinced that in the hands of such
experienced officers the prisoners would meet with every
fairness, and all the assistance consistent with their duty.
The depositions were completed in the course of the
afternoon, and will be sent with the prisoners this morning
to Leighton Buzzard.
Alderman Humphery acknowledged the receipt of 101.
from " C. V." for the poor-box.