The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-02 00:00:00

THE MOCK AUCTIONS IN THE CITY.

At the Guildhall Police-court yesterday Mr.
Wontner, jun., applied to Sir Robert W. Carden for a
summons against certain persona for obtaining money
under false pretences, under the following oissnmstanoes.
His client was a gentleman who held • high °Medal posi-
tion at the Gape of Good Hope, and having reoartly
arrived in London was not aware of the frauds that were
carried on here. He was going along one of the most fre-
quented thoroughfares in London when his attention wet
attracted to one of those delightful establishments which
now abound in the City and metropolis, and have " Com-
mission Sale Rooms" painted up over the window, but
which were nothing more than mock auctions. He went
in with a friend, believing it to be • bond gcle ode. He
had no idea that there could be anything like such a
swindle carried on in one of the principal thoroughfares
of London without being immediately put down. When
he entered he saw several women and some men, who
were apparently buying the lots as they were put up ;
but there were two men there in particular who
appeared to be bidding against the strangers. The room
was hung round with plated goods, watches, chains, and
other articles of apparent value. After the sale of several
articles, which the women and men bought, a quantity of
plated goods were put up for sale. As these were things
which his client wanted to take back with him to the Cape
of Good Hope he bid for them. The auctioneer (as he
might call him for distinction) said they were a portion of
• bankrupt's stock from Oxford-street, and he was selling
them under an order from the commissioners in bank-
ruptcy. It was • forced sale, he stated, in order to realise
the aassts of • bankrupt, and that the goods which he bad
to sell in four iota were worth 1501. The first lot the
auctioneer said was worth 191., and that was knocked down
to the complaisant for 81., the next for 211. 155., the next
fot 211. 55., and the fourth for 4s. 3d. They told his
client that the goods were of the best electroplate, and
that it was only because of the forced sale that
they could be had so cheap, otherwise they could
not have been had for three times the mosey.
The auctioneer then put up a lot of cutlery, which one of
the men bid 341. for, and when it was knocked down to
him the auctioneer asked him for • deposit, to which he
replied, "I have no money now, but you know I come up
from Bristol every week, and I will call on Saturday and
pay you." The auctioneer was not satisfied with that, and
refused to admit • sale of the goods. He put them up
again to auedoe, and without his (Mr. Wontner'sl client
making • single bid the auctioneer declared that he had
sold them to him for 351. Al soon as he said so the man
who had previously bought them came to him and offered
him 51. for his bargain. His reply was, "But how will
you pay me ?" and he directly said, "By • cheque," and
fiourtshed • book of blank themes about in his hand.
The gentleman then asked the auctioneer if he would
transfer the purchase to the other man, and he said no, for
he would rather have him for a customer. (Laughter.)
The gentleman and his friend having, however, observed
some private and mysterious conversations going on be.
tween the parties, had their suspicions aroused, and refused
to take the cutlery.
Sir Robert W. Carden interrupted Mr. Wontner, and
said be was then telling him what had been going on to
his knowledge for years, and what had been over and over
again exposed in the papers. It was wonderful to him
how any person could be so green ea to be taken in by
them.

A gentleman here stepped forward, and said that when
he came to London and passed throuch some of its most
bury thoroughfares, with all its inagnuleent buildings, be
did not think that such a swindling establishment would
be allowed to exist.

Sir Robert W. Carden said he quite agreed with the
extant that it was a disgrace to the City that such
should exist ; but when the patties were com-
mitted by the magistrates for trial at the Central Criminal
Court, aod • judge and jury acquitted them, what were
the magistrates to do? Notwithstanding the ruling of
the judge and the decision of the jury, if a ease was
brought before him he would commit them again for trial.
On the last occasion, when he committed the men for
trial, it was shown that there were two firms, one in Bir-
mingham and :one in Sheffield, who were employed is
nothing else but making those spurious articles for de-
frauding the public.
The gentleman said that when he found he bad been
swindled, he went to the shop to demand his money
back, and there he saw the same man with his hammer up,
selling as before, and the same people around him. As
soon as the aneiimieer saw him the curtain was drawn
before him, be threw himself off the stool, and the sale
was instantly stopped. (Laughter.)
Mr. Wontner added that when the applicant was going
into the shop he met • foreigner, who said, " Oh, don't go
in there, for they are swindlers • they sold me • watch yes-
terday for W., and when I hick it to • watchmaker, he
said it was not worth 35e." Further to show the audacity
of this gang of sharpers, when the applicant called on
them for the money, one of the people in the shop said,
" Well, send the things beak to us, and we will sell them
for you again, and swindle somebody else with them."
Sir R. W. Carden said that all that he could do to assist
the gentleman he would do, and be should have sum-
monses against all the parties.

Canes AGAINST A BIRMINGHAM SHAREBROILIL
—At the pubic-office, Binningluun, yesterday, before Mr.
Kynnersley, stipendiary. Mr. Samuel C. Hatch, who has
been acting as a dealer in shares at Birmingham (but not
being a member of the Stock Exchange) was charged
with having misapplied or misappropriated a sum of
1331. 7s. 6d., obtained from Mr. Edward Corbett, of
Chaddesly, near Kidderminster, for the payment of
twenty shares in the Birmingham Banking Company
(Limited). The case had been two or three times previously
before the magistrates. On the 15th of May, the defendant
wrote to Mr. Corbett to say " be had a lot of twenty
Birmingham Banking Company shares for sale, naming
the price; Mr. Corbett agreed to take the same, and upon
the defendant's application, sent a cheque for the amount.
Delivery of the shares was postponed on various grounds ;
ultimately the defendant told Mr. Corbett that on appli-
cation at the bank he was informed that the particular
shares, had been pawned, and he paid he had been gulled.
The shame were never delivered to Mr. Corbett, but Mr.
Hatch owe him instead a promissory note payable at sight
at the National Provincial Bank of England at Birming-
ham for the amount which had been remitted for
the shares. Ca presentation at the bank, the
note was returned, bearing the indorsement "no
account." Several witnesses were called, including the
share transfer clerk at the Birmingham Banking Company,
to show that the defendant never had affu'llieh there for
air any such transfer of shares bad been ; and on
the part of the prosecution it was conten that Mr.
Hatch never had the shares as stated by him, but had
appropriated the money to his ownuse. The defence was
that it was a bond fide transaction throughout ; that the
defendant', client had become insolvent, and failed to
deliver the ilium and that there had been no wilful or
intentional misappropriation of the money received by the
defendant from Mr. Corbett. At the conclusion Mr.
Kynneraley said as the ease wa one for further investiga-
tion," but be admitted the defendant to bell. Mr. War-
ren, of the Oxford circuit, appeared for the prosecution,
sad Mr. Godson, of the same circuit, for the fondant.
OZTEWAL FALAcia.—Obb SHILLING DAT.
TUsBDAY, OCT. I.—Admissions on payment, 3,225 ; ditto
by sauce tiskets, 1499 ; told wilitoss, 4,424.