The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-24 00:00:00

THE EXTENSIVE FRAUDS ON CITY
MERCHANTS.

At the Mansion-house yesterday Julius Hugo
Levinstein, merchant, of Southgate-road, Dalston, was
brought up on remand before the Lord Mayor on the
charge of conspiring with Hermann Mecklenburg and
others, not in custody, and obtaining by means of false
pretences, between 25th June and 20th September, a quan-
tity of damasks and linens, value about 346/., the property
of Meagre. Crawford and Lindsay, merchants, of 26, Milk-
street, Cheapside. There was a second charge of fraudu-
lently obtaining from Messrs. Pim Brothers, of 30, Milk-
street, Cheapside, a quantity of linens, poplins, and
limeys, amounting in value to upwards of 0001.
Mr. Straight, instructed by Mr. Colley, conducted the
prosecution ; and Mr. Sleigh, instructed by Mr. Beard,
appeared for the defence.
On the former examination evidence was given to show
that Levinstein and Mecklenburg, who had an office in
Lombard-street, called upon Mr. Joseph Martin, the Lon-
don agent of Messrs. Crawford and Lindsay, linen mann-
, facturers of Banbridge, county Down, and represented
themselves to be the agents of Messrs. Levinstein Br*-
, then, general dealers, Berlin. On the faith of this repre-
sentation goods toe considerable extent were supplied to
them, but Mr. Martin's suspicions were ultimately excited,
and on his writing to Berlin he received information from
Messrs. Levinstein Brothers that neither the prisoner
nor Mecklenburg had any authority to set on their behalf.
The only witness called in support of the case yesterday
was Adolphe Jungtans, who stated in reply to Mr. Straight
that he was a commission merchant and resided at No. 6,
Sussex-place, Queen's-road, Dalaton. In March last he
became clerk to Mr. Levinstein, who had an office at No.
7, Bury-court, St. Mary Axe, and also at ss, Lombard-
street. He knew Mecklenburg. Levinstein was a " com-
panion" of Mecklenburg's.
At this stage the witness stated that he was only
I slightly acquainted with the English language, and that
he would be able to give his evidence in a more satisfactory
manner in his native tongue. The services of Dr. Bee-
horst were accordingly called into requisition as inter-
preter.
Examination continued—Levinstein told him that
he was in partnership with Mecklenburg for the purchase
of articles for the Brothers Levinstein at Berlin. The
name put up at the office in Bury-court was " Levinstein
and Co." Prisoner never said anything to him about
Crawford and Lindsay, and he had not seen any linens.
Prisoner told witness to all him G. Mecklenburg. In the
month of August a person called Leon was sent to Rotter-
dam to open an office and put up the name of Nathaniel
Hope and Co. He was instructed to do so by Levinstein,
and witness was to get a stamp with the words
Nathaniel Hope and Co. Levinstein told him the goods
to be sent to Rotterdam were to go no further. They
were to be addressed to the firm of N. Hope and Co., and
if any goods arrived addressed to Levinstein Brothers they
were to be returned to be sold in London. By saying the
goods were to be sent " no further," be meant they were
not to be sent to Berlin. Witness went to Rotterdam for
eight days, and was about taking an office but as no
money was sent to him he did not take the office, and the
stamps were not made. He saw Leon at Rotterdam.
Leon had some linen, of which witness saw the samples.
About the same time Mecklenburg came to Rotterdam,
and they tried to sell the linen, but as they did not
succeed they pledged it. He (the witness) knew where it
was pledg,W. The bill of exchange produced was filled up
by witness, with the exception of the signatures, at the
office in Lombard-street. Mecklenburg and Levinstein
were present. There was another bill of exchange before
him from which he was to copy, but as there were some
mistakes in the other bill he got directions to correct
them from Levinstein. After the bill was filled up he
gave it to Levinatein, and none of the names now on the
back were then on it. He knew Levinstein's handwriting.
By Mr. Sleigh—Mecklenburg took the office in Lombard-
street, and his name was on the door. He went there
either in June or July this year. Levinstein was there
about a hundred times. Witness had been in this country
more than four years. Previously be lived in Berlin. He
was a merchant there, and left because it pleased him. He
knew Levinstein in Berlin, because he used to live in his
(witness's) house. After an interval of IS years be first
saw Levinstein in the beginning of last March. Witness
was • clerk in a bank in Berlin. He was not discharged,
but left of his own accord. He had been imprisoned for
two months for appropriating money belonging to the
bank, and be was now out on bail to appear at the next
session of the Central Criminal Court to take his trial on
• charge of fraud, in which Levinstein was a witness
against him. He had not offered his services to the pro-
secution in this case, but they had applied to him.
Mi. Straight then asked for a further remand, as there
were some material witnesses who had not yet reached
this country.
Mr. Sleigh made no opposition ; but asked that the pri-
soner should be admitted to hail as he was in delicate
health, and there was no evidence to convict him of
forgery.
The Lord Mayor refused the application to admit the
defendant to bail, and the case was then remanded till
Monday.