The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-29 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

Yesterday being the day appointed for the final examination of
Peter Atkinson and Milton Perkins, alias Welch, alias Gordon,
this oftiee presented a bustling scene, hem the number of sills ma-
nufacturers of Spitalfields and Bethnal-green in attendance, who
were lately duped out of property to a considerable amount by the
prippers. ' _ •

Mr. At.r.sw attended as counsel on the pan of the prosecution,
and Mr. Huatpunte, and Mr. 3111.1. ER, secretary to the Society
for theSuppresstan of Swindling, well the solicitors. Mr. 8110-
ntn tot, as counsel, and Mr. Paint, a solicitor, attended for the
prisoners, Mr. BuRHELL, a county magistrate, sat on the bench
with Mr. RINETT.

AI,LEY observed, that the prisoners stood charged with
having obtained property to a considerable amount, under frandu-
lent preignelis, namely, that of reuresenting themselves as partners
and salesmen td " Alexander Welch and Co. No. 70, Queen-street,
Cheapidde." If; he 'said, such a firm had existence, or if Mr.
Alexabder 'Welth would come forward' and boldly avow himself,
there Would then be an end to that patter the charge ; but his not
*assist end' thsAigiehaiienwg_lo sseasipp of so many
of the facts,he Will clearly arephiian that then n'or offence, " Con.
apiraci," sin fully 'established. He was, however, prepared to
enter into Nab e'vidence.

r: llarint:tticx here Intent:pled Mt. Alley, and called upon
Water's, the Officer, 'who deposed thar he recollected the last ex-
amination of thb prisoners and that subsequently a person who
called' himielf Alexander. We/ch had betn brought to that office,
and discharged. 11'itness understood he represented himself as the
Name Alexander Welch stated lo belong to the eras. And to a
question from Mr. llenett. Waters stated that he knew the Alex-
ander Welch who represented himself as belonging to the Tower
Hamlets Militia, and as a journeyman silk-weaver.
Mr.. ALLEY thought ludo "night ehoPX be given to an act of
conspirators in the sbsence of the pyosee'utat4
Antieli, an officer. proved the arrest 00 Perkins, under the
assumed name of Gordon.

Mr. ALLEY tilerTprOioeded to give new evidence in eupport of
the charge.

Robert Hunt, of No. 23., Duke-street, Spitaldelds. ailk-manu-
fscturer, stated, that about the-Ilth of December Atkinson called
on him, and asked to look at mote cheap gros.de-Naplea, and alas
inquired bin (witness's) mode of doing business, adding that theirs.
Welch and Co., were one and one month. The prisoner Atkinson
selected two pieces, and left a find with a reference to Waterton
and Co , and should the recomilatien be satisfactory to send the
gond* home. Witnets upon try found the recommendation
highly nattering, and he took' mtelf two pieces of silk, value
28L, to Queen-street, Cheapratttis!.7pon theirdellrery be saw Per-
kins, but was not sure of hie , who desired him to leave the
silk, and Atkinson would cal • on *imam the following day.
Atkinson did call, and though ha did not appear anxious for buy-
Lig. he asked witness if he did any thing in Italian ailk..
near replied in the affirmative. plain Atillinsoh said they etpected
in a few daps &large pared of silk from their agents a Maecredield
and 31anchester, it a row was, pad wisest witness expresand some
surprise at raw silk coming loft those places, Atkinson said, I
have a brother at one re than.. p:d--d deter fidlow, who takes
advantage of the distress of Othelk, and that that Ires the way drip

generally settled with the manufacturer. Atkinson then ordered
another piece of silk, which was sent home, and no payment had
been Once made.

}renew Taylor, of Woodoitreet, Spha!fields, a silk-manufac-
timer, narrated a similar tale to that of the last witness, varying
tittle except in the event of the loss, which he stated at 1084 12s.
Mr. Johnston, of Hunt-street, Spit:Melds. a silk-manufacturer,
deposed to his being duped out of 611., for which he got a bill on
a person named Haines, not yet due.
Hobert Oliver, a manufacturer, stated his loss to be 0821. t but
the MOM particular case, and upon which Mr. Alley chiefly rested
the prosecution, was that of a Mr. William Chester, a manufae-
three, who after supplying silk to the amount of 14!. leis., went to
Queen-street with 'stamped receipt for the money. On that occa.
shin Ileuaw the prisoner Perkins, who assured him that Atkinson
had in his (witness's) absence gone with the money to his house,
and recommended hint to leave the receil.t. Witness complied
with the request, and tipen that point,
Mr. ALLEY contended, thnt although Perkins had actually, yet
he had not legally. possessed himself of the stamp ; and, as one
penny was considered a petty larceny, and liable to be tried tar at
the Old Bailey, it mattered little as to the value of the stamp, for
the principle was the same. The Learned Gentleman then cited a
case where the opinion of the twelve Judges was had upon a re.
tent occurrence, that of a person feloniously poeseased couarry
bank-notes, made payable, and which were paid, in London. whe-
ther or not the possession of them did not establish the guilt
of the parties. and the Judges decided that it did establish the guilt.
Mr. Ha ODE RIC K. on the other hand, contended, that the stamp
being tilled and signed had performed its service, and became va-
lueless. He then instanced the conduct of persons in a more ex-
alted rank in life with respect to their punctuality in the discharge
of their debts; and called upon any creditor present to produce a
bill then due, and in the absence of each it would be the height of
presumption for a moment to suppose it would not be honour•
ably discharged when at maturity.
Mr. BEMETT was of opinion that the charge for obtaining
goads under fraudulent pretences could not be maintained.
Mr. ALLEY then recalled Mr. !lent, and examined him as ro
the character he received of the prisoners at Messrs. lVaterlow's
after which Mr. ALLEY submitted that a case of conspiracy had
bqn clearly made out.
Mr. BEyEtrY, at much length, recapitulated the principal
part of the evidence, and emphatically dwelt, as he proceeded,
on their beariags with the charges adduced against the prisoners;
particularly on Atkinson going round with a card for the purpose
of deceiving the public. under the pretence of a sham partnership
in the name of Alexander Welch and Co., strongly recom-
mended by the house of Wsterlow and Co.; although it ought to
be borne in mind that it was in evidence that Waterlow's partner
hat, been mentioned in the early part of the proceedings. Ile
could not therefore close his eyes to the conspiracy, and would
hold :he prisoners to bail, themselves in Spa each, and two sure-
ties of 2501. each, with 48 hours notice to that effect.