The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-13 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF AN EXTENSIVE SWINDLER.

A young man of respectable connexions, whose
name is John Steeple Kitchen, is in custody in Sheffield on
a charge of having obtained 3001. from Messrs. Eyre, Ward,
and Co., of that town, merchants, by means of n forged
letter. The prisoner is only 19 years old, but he is an adept
at fraud. Some time s"o he was a clerk in the respectable
house of W. IL Dunes and Kitchen. of Liverpool, shipping
and general merchauts,and it a relative Of the junior pe;:sier
of that firm, whose name he boars. Having left their em-
ploy he commenced a bold career of fraud upon their mer-
cantile connexions, in which he has been only too successful.
We may mention one or two of the main transactions.
Some months ago he drew 6101. at the Royal Dank of
Liverpool in the name of his late employers by means of a
forged cheque, we understand, and afterwards succeeded in
eluding a most vigilant and cleso pursuit. It was believed,
and no doubt hoped, that ho had left his country for his
country's good," and emigrated to Australia, but last week
he called upon Messrs. Sanderson, Sandiman, and Co., the
extensive bill-broken, of King William-street, Landon,
with whom he well knew that Mews. Duncan and Kitchen,
his late employers, had dealings, and on their account
either requested payment of a sum of 3001., or asked for a
temporary loan to that amount. In conversation he stated
that ho was in London on business, and that he hail received
by that morning's post a letter from his employers, instruct-
ing him to draw the 360/. in question. He was asked to
show the letter, and he said he would go to his hotel and
fetch it. Ile returned in a short time with the pretended
letter of instructions, but it was discovered on examination,
from the appearance of the ink, that the letter was newly
written. Finding himself detected, he confessed that he
had forged the letter for the purpose of fraud, and im-
plored to be set at liberty. lie was given into
custody, and the circumstance telegraphed to Duncan and
Kitchen, of Liverpool, who, by the same day's pest,
(last Thursday) apprised Messrs. Eyre, Ward, and Co., of
Sheffield, of the capture. Mr. F.; re thereupon went to
London with a police-officer rind a warrant, and brought
the young prisoner down to Sheffield. Mr. Eyre having
satisfied the authorities in London that he had a perfectly
clear case against the prisoner, it was deemed preferable
to proceed upon that case rather than upon the mere at-
tempt at fraud in the City. The imposture on the Sheffield
firm was effected on the 10,h of March last, in the following
manner : On the limning of that day they received a
letter, apparently in all respects genuine, purporting to be
from Messrs. Duncan and Kitchen, of Liverpool, stating
that young Mr. Kitchen, from their establishment, would ,
call upon them that day, and that they would feel obliged
if the Sheffield fires would advance him on their account
3001., to facilitate certain business transactions in Shef-
field. Young Kitchen presented himself a few
hours after the letter was received, and Mr. Eyre imme-
dietely recognised him as a relative of Mr. Kitchen, of
Liverpool, from a close family resemblance, and therefore
the stranger had no noisier said a few words to identify
himself with the letter, and stated that he was Mr. Kitchen's
brother (he is, in fact, his nephew), than Mr. Eyre gave
him a cheque for 3001. upon o.le Sheffield and liallainshire
Bank, at Sheffield, having full confidence in the Liverpool
firm, after a long course of mutual business dealinge. It
was now after banking hours, however, Mr. Eyre being out
of the way when the young man called. lie expressed
anxiety to procure cash, as he had to pay the money in
Sheffield to several persons, and wished to leave the town
that evening, but he went away, saying he thought he could
manage the matter. Next morning ho got the chutes
cashed in gold as soon as the bank opened, paid his bill at
the Commercial Hotel, and left the town. Mr. Eyre wrote
to Liverpool with reference t., the 3001 transaction, and re-
ceived a prompt answer informing him that the letter
requesting him to advance the money was a forgery. Mea•
sures were taken immediately for the prisoner's apprehen-
aion, but be was not found till last week nutlet the circum-
stances above stated. The forged letter is an admirable
counterfeit, both as to penmanship, signature, paper, and
everything. The prisoner has been carrying on this system
of fraud for a year or little less, and has resided in the
interval chiefly at lloinford, in Essex, under the assumed
' name of Henderson. He was brought before the Sheffield
' beach of magistrates on Monday last, and after a statement
had been made by Mr. Eyre, the prisoner was remanded fur
the production of evidence that the letter of the 9th of
March was a forgery. He did not make any statement.