The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-23 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX BEBBIOI4B.—TherERDAT.

The sittings of the court .10r the August General &WOW
were resumed this morning, at She Guildhall, Westminster,
by adjournment from Clerkenweb, to f^re Mr. Serjrant
Adorn., Assistant-Judge, and a bench of magistrates. The
number of prisuner fur trial war r,B—riz , 6t) charged with
tinny and It with u.i.oleeneAnuur.
The A.sistant-Judge brir fir charged the grand jury.
Thomas Thompson, a cuddle-aged man, was placed at
the bar.
...
.. . . - .. . . ..

Mr. Bodkin said he appeared for the prosecution in this
ewe, which was one with which the jury would not have to
be troubled. The prisoner had been committed as an in-
corrigible ro.tue and was sent to the sassione to be dealt
with under the power given to the court by the 10th section
of the act 5 Geo. IV., Chap. 83, that power being to sen-
tence the prisoner to whipping and imprisonment, or im-
prisonment without whipping, for • term not exceeding
twelve calendar months. He should prove in evidence that
the prisoner was one of those persons who carried on a re-
gular system of fraud on the benevolent, by fiebriesting
tales of misery and distress to excite commiseration, and by
those means inducing the charitable to send them money.
It appeared that he wrote to Lord Grey in the name of
I. W. Brandliog, stating that he was • junior member of
the family of the Branding*, of Goeforth, and that he was
in great distress, and his lordship sent him a Post-office
order for V. Persons carrying on these fraudulent practices
almost invariably made use of letters they received
from the parties they applied to, to enable them the better
to impose upon and defraud others; and in this case the
prisoner, after he had got Lord Grey's letter, made an ap-
plication to Lord Palmerston enclosing Lord Grey's letter,
to show that his ease had already received Lord Gtey's
favourable coosideration, this application being also in the
name of Bundling; but it happened that the letter wee
opened by Mr. Grey, Lord Palmerston's private secretary,
who was himself distantly related to the Branding family,
and he at once was aware of the falsehood of the espresso-
taboos contained in the application and the letter was at
ones remitted to the Mendicity Society and the result was
the prisoner's apprehension. He (Mr. Bodkin) would show
by evidence that this letter was in the handwriting of the
prisoner ; that it was false that he was one of the junior
branches of the Branding family ; and then, on the pro-
duction of a certified copy of • former conviction of the
prisons, for • similar offence, it would be for the court to
deal with the prisoner; and he should call upon it to pro-
tect the really deserving poor, against whose claims the
hearts of the benevolent and charitable were steeled by
such mischievous frauds as the prisoner had too sueessfully
been carrying on.
Mr. It. W. Grey, Lord Palmenton's private secretary,
proved having received the letter. He was acquainted
I with, and related to, the family of the Brandlings alluded
to in the letter. The trisoner was not related to that
' - - -

The latter wu than read. It wu as follows :
"P. 0. Woodford, Esser, July 25, 1853.

" My lord—Being one of the junior branches of Brand-
tinge, of Goeforth, Newcastle, now mach embarra,,ed, I
hare resolved on emigrating to Australia. Believing that
your lordship will have a perfect knowledge of my family
name, I venture to ask your lordship to imitate the example
of Earl Grey, which will be • boon, end for which I will
be fervidly grateful. I have the honour to subscribe myself
your lordship's most obedient servant,
"JOHN WILLIAM BILANDLING.
"P.B.—Your lordship will please return Lord Orey's
letter."

The enclosure, in the handwriting of Earl Grey ran
thus:—

"Lord Grey is sorry to hear that Mr. J. W. 13randling's
circumstances are so unfortunate, and in compliance with
his request sends hint a Post-office order for 21.
" April 9, 1853."
W. Hanford, jan., said he was acquainted with the
prisoner's handwriting. The letter addressed to Lord Pal-
merston was, he believed, written by him.
A copy of a former conviction of the prisoner was put in.
It was madbevideneetinder a recent statute.

Mr. Bodkin handed in another letter written by the pri-
mum% It was signed " Thos. Dobbiog," and was addre.sed
to Lord Rokeby.
The Assistant Judge to the prisoner—What have you to
say for yourself ?
Prisoner—Nothing. I did not write the letter, but I
was privy to its being written ; so, I suppose, I'm guilty.
Mr. Bodkin then produced a number of letters. He said
the prisoner had been convicted several times, and amongst
the members of the nobility he had applied to, he might
mention the Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke of Portland,
and many others. He had in his hand some applications
sent by the prisoner to the late Queen Dowager.
The Assistant Judge sentenced the prisoner to be impri-
soned and kept to hard labour for one year.