The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-22 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

A woman, calling herself Bike Odeon, was brought before
the Lord Mayor up= • warrant which cheesed her with
having " unlawfully and for the purpose of obtaining for
herself the money and effect. of a mtain deceased seams.,
named William Mae, given and made certain false repre-
sentations, wall knowing the same to be false, contrary to
section 203 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1334."
Mr. Cumberland, who appeared for the prosecution, said—
This is • prosecution by direction of the Board of Trade,
under the 203rd action of the Mercantile Shipping Act,
which sustain very stringent provisions 'garnet persona
who endeavour fraudulently to obtain from that board the
wages and effects of deceased seamen. Under the act in
question the Board of Trade are virtually made the executors
of deceased 'amen, end therefore it is ebeolutoly neoemary
that they should be protected from the acts of pampa who
fraudulently claim to represent seamen.
The Lad Mayor—Do you wish that the came, if proved to
my satisfaction, should be sent to a higher tribunal, or that
I should deal with It summarily!
Mr. Cumberland—l wish that it should be summarily dis-
posed of. The prisoner, on the 2nd December lest, went to
the shipping office in Hammett-street, tainories, and obtained
a form of claim which is sanctioned by the Board of Trade
for persons to fill up who wish to obtain the wages and effects
of deceased seamen. Sho then took It to an agent living in
the neighbourhood, who, under bee directions, filled ft
op with certain particulars. In that paper, which will
be produced, she signs Emelt as the sister of
the deceased Beeman in question, one William Gibson,
who was a seaman on board a chip called the John
Somdbelonging to the port of London, end who was lost
that ship. In that paper she describes herself a the
sister of this William Gilson, and Mateo, moreover, that
none of his relations are living. tiering got this paper
filled up she presents It to the shipping master in Hammett-
street, and claims to be paid the wages and efforts of Gibson.
The shipping muter, in accordance with the usual practice,
sends tho document to the Board of Trade, where it is
examined, considered, and kept f • time, In order to
allow of any inquiry being male. In the interval which
elapsed before any decision was come to another claim
reached the Board of Trade from one Jahn Gibson, who re-
presented himself as the father of William Gibson, and ft
had tarred out that the prisoner wee not the miner
of William Gibson at all, that the had formerly cohabited
with him, and that the whole statement in her claim was
false. Upon that the Board of Trade directed a prosecution
against her, and the was yesterday arrested under a warrant
granted by Sir It. W. Carden.
Mr. J. C. Evans, superintendent of Thames Police, said
—I yesterday took the prisoner into monody at the chip-
pa& office, Hammett-street. I asked her if oho was Ellen
Gibson, of 13, Glasehonseertreet, and she said she wee. I
said, " Are you the person who made • claim In respect to
the wages and effects of Wiliam Gibson, deccased it" She
replied, "Yee, I am." I told her there appeared to be
something wrong about it, and I was diroolod to execute •
warreat charging her with having made false representations,
for the purpose of getting Gibeion's wages and efforts. She
said, "Who can prove that lam not the sister f" I then
took bar into custody.
Mr. J.Goolnell, clerk in the shipping offioe, said—The form
of claim produced was brought to me by the prisoner on the
2nd of December last, when she stated that she was the only
remaining relative and sister of the dammed saunas men-
tioned therein, and that all his other minivan were deed. I
'Anwar& transmitted the form to the Board of Trade.
Prisoner—The deceased man wee my brother. I declare
that is the truth. . . .

-
Mr. T. Hate—l MO an accountant. The primmer ap-
plied tome, sad I filled op the form at her raceme., she stat-
ing that she was the slater of the deceased sailor. I reworks&
to her at the ltme, " very Waage you don't know where
your bream was hem" sad ohs replied that the WI looms
wham yam* sod did not bow it. I filled up the doommsmt
at her dlotatiem.
Mr. I. Ottimm—l am • farm bailiff at Fallow, to Wly
tonal». I had • mom mated Willie. Giboon, who wow •
sailor. The last vessel in which Ito sailed woo the Job.
Bogota. 1 hoard od W deo% from *h. capita. 1 rpoilvei