The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-25 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. Bodkin, Aeidstant Judge.)

JoAn BasborovgA, 24, Benjamin Bober, 23 and George
Pranks, 18, were indicted for conspiring together to obtain
by false pretences from John Roberts, oae penny, with
intent to defraud. There was • second indictment of a
similar nature for obtaining by false pretences from James
Butler the cam of 4d., with intent to defraud.
Mr. Poland prosecuted ; Mr. Ribton appeared for Bile-
borough ; and Mr. Begley for Franks. Baker was unde-
fended.
This was • case in reference to a eyrie= of swindling
now very common in the metropolis, and one that has
been allowed by the police to be carried on almost with
impunity, in consequence of the uncertainty which they
have had as to how far the law allowed them to in-
terfere in preventing these arrant swindlers from ca r-
ryng on their system of plundering the unwary.
It has, however, been established by the cam-
victim' of the prisoners in this case that the law is suffi-
ciently powerful to justify the police in taking persons en-
gaged . thie peculiar trade into custody, and placing them
at the felon's bar of a court of justice. The modus ope-
randi is for two or three of them to go together, one of
them being mounted on a rostrum, and pretend to sell
purses, rings, and other articles, together withdivers sums
of money, either wrapped up in paper or supposed to be
contained in the purses, for • very small amount. It is
needless to say that when opened no money whatever is
found, the whole is a sleight of hand trick, but as the per-
sons so victimised are afraid of being laughed at should
they expose the impostor to the bystanders, they put up
with the loss in silence, and so the swindler is enabled to
bring to his net fresh objects of prey as long as he
chooses to remain and offer such tempting objects.
In this case • little boy and a countryman were foolish
enough to invest their money in two purchases, and the
result was what is above stated. These persons, however,
were not disposed to put up with such fleecing quietly,
and they complained to the bystanders, and a great crowd
was collected in Garrick-street. William Gordon, • police
constable, happening to pass in plain clothes at the time,
he went up to the prisoners and said he should take them
all into custody, upon which a violent resistance took
place, and they would have got away had not Sergeant
Monckton, who fortunately came on the spot, rendered
assistance, and they were all taken to Bow-street station.
The arrival of Sergeant Monckton was moat opportune,
inasmuch as Gordon had been thrown to the ground by
Bilsborough, and severely kicked by the other prisoners
and many of their associates who were not taken into
custody.
When the case had been going on for a short time, there
was a consultation between the counsel on both sides, and
the prisoners said they wished to plead guilty, which ver-
dict wag recorded. _ . .

The Assistant Judge said he hoped the prisoners would
take warning, and know that these practices could not be
carried on with impunity, and he advised them to earn an
honest livelihood. lie should order them to enter into
their own recognisance* to come up for judgment if called
upon. If they did nothing more of the kind they would
hear no more of this, but if they did they could be brought
up and punished severely without any further trial.
All the prisoners seemed delighted at the result, and
Franks laughed outright at what he appeared to look upon
as a very good joke.