The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-07 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSION&

(Before Mr. Bodkin, Assistant Judge.)
George Boum alias Herbert, and William Charles Allen, a
medical student, were indicted for conspiring together to
obtain by false pretences from Robert Baker a cheque for
121. 15a., and divers postage stamps, value is., with intent
to defraud. There were six other indictments against
them.
Mr. Poland prosecuted ; Mr. M. Williams appeared for
Rosen, and Mr. Daly for Allen.
This was the case in which the prisoners advertised in
the papers that loans would be granted to any amount on
personal security at five per cent. When applications were
made to them they asked for a remittance of a year's in-
terest in advance, and at the same time sent • hall cheque
for the amount to be lent. Upon receipt of this remittance
the remaining half of the cheque was forwarded, but of
course on presentation at the bank there were "no
effects." The particular cam gone into wee that of a
Mr. Baker, • lissenfiraper at Hoffer& in Lincolnshire. Re
applied for a losn bf 5001., was told that the request would
be complied with, the "committee" being satisfied with
his references, and thereupon forwarded 12/. 10e. for
interest, only to find out shortly afterwards that the whole
transaction was a swindle.
These facts were established by the evidence of several
witnesses, and the jury without a moment's hesitation re-
turned • verdict of Guilty against both the prisoners.
The court declined to proceed with the other indictments.
Inspector Young, of the L division, said the prisoner
Allen was tried with two other persons, Dr. Waters and
Claude Edwards, for pretending to effect sures of deafness,
and under this pretence they obtained many thousands of
pounds. They carried on their practice in Spring-gardens,
under the name of "'Beanett and C 0.," and afterwards in
two places in Lambeth. The whole of the prisoners were
Wed at the Central Criminal Court in 1859, and Waters
and Edwards were sentenced to 18 months and the
prisoner Allen to nine months' imprisonment sad hard
labour.
George Manners, police-constable 172 F, said, sines the
prisoners had been in custody he had received a large
amount of correspondence—upwards of NIO letters—from
the country, showing that the prisoners had in six weeks
received the amount of 911. 18e.
Mr. Poland said he wished to
th beta und
oferthis rase, no
the notice of
the court that, throughout e whole
solicitor had been employed in it, and great credit was due
to the constable, who bad alone presented it in such a com-
plete manner to the court.
The prisoner Allen addressed the court, and said it ap-
peared to him that the object of public prosecutions was
twofold: one was to punish the offender for any offence
be might have committed ; sad the other was to eve •
sufficient warning to the public, so that by their credulity
they should not again be subject to simile: fraud& Now,
as there were • great nenther of warnings when this ease
was before the magistrate, tram the frequent remsada,
which would he added to by the proceedings of that day,
the caution to the public bad been sufficiently answered.
Am reeperded the other point, he had be six weeks in
'prison, sad althoughr the time might appearen
to be short,
yet from ibs terible sammes be hadmired under it
lei bulged hem ray I. and be deeply felt his punish-
ment. Me left hit aim the heads of his lordship,
trnsl-
isiaagg
_then in mein; netlin irdes be would blend with it the
noble attribute of milkey.
The Amartant Juhressid the *data" whir& the rimer
Allen had just made only the more impressed him with
the belief of the dangerous character he wae—in fast, he