The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-21 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

ILI.'iSION-HOUSE.

At the conclusion of the ordinary basin ees a number of
young men waited upon the Lord May or to ask his advice
under the following circumstances:
For some time past advertisements have appeared in
several of the morning papers, stating that young men out
of employment may readily obtain situations by applying at
a certain place and paying half-a-crown per month and
per certage upon the first year's salary. Numbers of
young men have applied, and have paid the subscription of
half-a-crown for months without having obtained a situa-
tion, other+ have had an address given to them, being told
there is a vacancy in the establishment mentioned, and
upon arriving there they have found the parties have not
been in want of any one. Some more unfortunate than
others have been sent to all parts of the country upon the
same fruitless errand.

Under these circumstances, the young man who acted as
spokesman to the party, said they had thought it proper
not only on their own account, but to prevent others as far
ss possible from being duped, to see if something could not
be done to put a stop to the evil, and they thought the beet
plan would be to apply to his lordship, and handed him •
Weir containing the full particnlan with the names of the
parties
The Lord Mayor said he use very sorry it was not in his
power to render them any assistsuce in the matter. It
would hardly do for him to make public the name of a firm
under such circumstances. If they could bring a direct
charge against the parties, it would be a different thing.
They paid their money upon receivoig a promise that •
situation should be procurtsl for them ; but no specific time
was mentioned.

Mr. Goodman said, perhaps if they were to write a letter
to the olitois of some of the morning papers it would have
the desired effect.

The spokesman said he thought something ought to be
doe* to put an end to such a eillanous system.
The Lord Mayor quite agreed with him in that respect,
but said a■ long as there were dupes in this great city so
long would there be parties who would live upon their wits.
He was very sorry he could aot render them any assistance
in the matter.

The deputation, after thankieg his lordship for his kind
attention to thbir application, withdrew.

BOW -STR BET.

liilliaes Thomas was placed at the bar on remand,
charged with obtaining money from Indian officers by false
pretences.

It will be recollected the prisoner called a few days ago
upon a gentleman named Leggett, at the Exeter-hall Hotel,
and eked for some pecuniary aid towards establishing a
private 'drool in India, calculated to be of great service
to persons resident is that country. Being upon the Indian
l'oaimittee for the Propagation of the Gospel and the So-
ciety for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, Mr.
t informed him he could not snot him in rrying
Leggett ca
i s object, but from a conversation he bad with him
he was induced to believe him an impostor, and be accord-
ingly gave him into custody, as his (Mr. Leggett's)
brother, an Indian officer, had been duped by a person
making precisely the same representations to him as the
prisoner had done.
Mr. Corrie. in order to discover whether the prisoner had
been practising upon other gentleman, remanded the pri-
soner until Saturday, when a number of gentleman were in
attendance.

Colonel relbot shakspere mid remember seeing the
prisoner at my residence some time ago. He knocked at
the door and immediately my servant opened it he walked
in and requested to see me. When I went to him he spoke
in Hindortanee, and told me he had been directed to call
me by some brother officers. He spoke very duently on
upon lodian civilisation and education, and mentioned the
station at Lucknow where I had been for two years. He
abo mentioned the schools founded in India by Sir
Henry Lawrence, and said he proposed to found
private establishments on the same principle. He
then introduced a long list of Dame& amongst
which I recognised those of several officers with whom I
was acquainted. I was completely taken in. I gave him
three guineas, and he accordingly entered my name OD his
bet of subscribers.

Mr. Cowie-1 hardly think that will make out a CYO of
&Ns pretence.
Colonel Shakapere—He most certainly swindled me out
of three guineas in the same manner that he Lad done other
officers.

.
Mr._ Corne—lie represented the money wee to get an
outfit.

Colonel Shakspere—So fair u I em concerned he swindled
me.

Mr. Braddon said—l low the prisoner at my residence,
at Cambridge-temiee, in March last. The servant came
up to me and told me that • gentleman wished to see
me. I went down stairs, when the prisoner accosted me
in Hindoetanee. I invited him into my dressing•room, and
after be had been there be very accurately described my
father, who Is at present in India. I cannot tell, without
he has been in India, how he obtained his information. He
told me be wished to found schools in India, and I accord-
ingly gave him • sovereign, which he took, and then asked
me to make it a guinea for form sake, which I did.
Dv. Ogilvie, of Blackheath.park, said—l saw the prisoner
at my residence • few weeks ago, when he represented him-
self as a friend of my commanding ofilcer. I invited him
in, and be then began to sympathise with me regarding
the state of my wifo's health. Ido not know bow he
=lthimself of that information, but after he had
conversation for some time I asked him the
object of his visit, when he said he was about to pro-
ceed to India, and that be wished to raise subscriptions be-
fore he left England to establish schools on the hills, as it
wee a very serious thing for parents in India to send their
children to England for education. I told him the object
was good, but I could not assist him.. He then left the
house.

Mr. St. John Brown said—The prisoner called upon me at
Brompton-square, and told me exactly the same tole as he
had related to the other geotlemen. He also said be was
going to found schools at Tasmania I gave him a guinea,
and he left the house. A lady friend of mine told me
just ea he left the house that sometime ago be had obtained
money on the same representations. I felt I had been
swicilled. but the fellow had gone off, alai there was so
help for it..
Inspector Witham said he bad received letters from
Aldershott, Edinburgh, and Brighton, all stating that the
writers hail been visited bye person of the description of
the Firmer asking fur subscriptions fur schools in India.
Mr. Carrie—As far as the proselt owe goes, I don't me
that a ease of Übe pretence is made out. No doubt, had
be rota good round sum of money, lie would have left the
country. It shows, however, how evilly gentlemen in Loa.
don part with their money when a plausible person obtains
aninterview with them.

—Horeford, of the Mendicity Society, said the prisoner had
been discharged three times on similar evidence. However,
be thought he bad a cue against him for forgery, as he had
sent up • petition to • gentleman residing in Marylebone,
on which wu a signature of • gentleman which could be
proved to he • forgery.
Mr. Oserio—Tlist is certainly • clear case if it can be
found
Po out, and you had better take the prisoner to Meryl.-
Use liewcourt.

The prisoner was then handed over to the custody of the
gesdicity Society officers.

ILA RY LE BON E.

A well-droved man, with beard closely-shaves, mad •
ark moustache. and who wee the name of John B=
agog 13, but refused his address and occupation, was i
at the ler. charged with the following artful fraud :
Mr. i;illespy said he resided at 6, Eustomgrare, and had
apartment. to let. About three o'clock on Friday after.
ions prisoner called upon him, and said be came from
Years. Howard and Co., house agents, of the Strand, and
that they usually did not transact business in Imlgnip,
but in this case they were compelled to do no to oblige •
client. He took the lodgings for a lady for three mouths,
sad said the firm would be responsible for the
rent at tho end of that time, but would expect
5 per cent. for their money.. Prisoner said, In order to
make the c mitred legally 'audios on both parties, wit-
ness must become • debtor to the firm by paying over to
them la. which was placed on the table, andprireser picked
it up. He then drew up • document as follows : Oct.
17, Messrs. Howard and eo. house agents, hereby agree to
take apart:mote belonging to —, for three months, at
the rate per week of commeacing Monday, Oct. 21,
1861. Mies on her part, oonsenie to pay at the end of
three months •COlllllll.lllOll of 5 per cent., and the usual en-
trance fee of Is. upon the date of registry. It is necessary that
the references on both sides should be satisfactory, Of the
agreement will nothold good, and the entrance fee will be roc
turned." The signature of the firm then follows. After prisoner
had left the house • lad came and knocked and asked if premier
had taken lodgings, and on his replying in the affirmative, the
lad said he had been and taken lodgings of his sister in the
morning, and he followed him, and had • list of places when
be bad been into about lodging+, and got the shilling. Pri-
soner was then followed, sod met corning out of a cigar shop,
when he was asked if he had been after any more lodgings,
to which he said, " Oh, dear so ; I have taken enough. I
am going to iterent-street now about • house."
Mr. Mansfield—Pihat did he say he required the shilling
for'

Witneee—For the registering the lodging in the books of
the Brm. Witness also said he would not have let hither,
the shilling if be bad not reprannted himself ma coming
from the firm.

Edwin Chappell, police-countable 38 E, &pond to pri-
sm:ler beiog given into las custody by last niters. On
searching him several documents draw to the above were
found, all giving different names and addrenes in the
&rend, aid wbicb names of firms woe fictitious. Several
tr *domes of the Strand bans been greatly am/yid by par-