The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-17 00:00:00

An Impor,ter.

-

At the Manchester P slice-court on Tuesd lee a man, sell"
named Edward Wallacott, was charged with obtaining
money under the false pretence that he was collecting filth'
scriptions towards the purchase of a chapel at Wigan, from
the Baptists, for the Unitarians. When taken into custody'
he admitted that he had no authority to collect such Feb'
scriptions. A book, which he had produced to enbscriberSt
represented that a small but rapidly-increasing Unitarian
society exists in Wigan, composed principally of the Hite
of the working classes, who hid become distinguished bl
the irrational dogmatic theology of so-called orthoda
bodies; a theology more suited to medieval times than
the present age. The leading inhabitants viewed al
attempt to introduce the deadly heresy of Socinianism, as
their most liberal and enlightened form of Christianity had
been styled by a clergyman in the town, with the utmost
posilee aversion and alarm; it surely, therefore, became the
Unitarians, the disciples and advocates, not of a decaylag
superstition, but of a humanising and soul-elevating faith'
to be z3aleus in its dieseminetion. The society at Wigan er
pealed to the wealthy friends of the good cause in Maoches'
ter to assist them in purchasing a neat and comfortable
chapel, built for the Baptists. and which was for disposal'
with a view to their permanent settlement and increase, Nr
E. Higginson was stated to be the treasurer, and the cause
appeared to be recommended by the Rees, G. Rodeo
J. N. Porter, W. C. Sduier, A. Gordon, J. H, Thom, S'
A. Steinthal, and J. Wright. The book purported to show
that Wigan and its neighbourhood had subscribed £lsl'
and to record subscriptions from Sir John Bowring, it
Justice Crompton, and the Lord Mayor of London. nil
Alderman Mackie, merchant, Plymouth-grove, said 011
Saturday the prisoner came to his place of business .
Ducie-street, and showed him the book produced. Wit"
nese real a part of the statement it contained, and 81,-
proving the object there set forth, said he would give
towards it, and put his name on the book for that amount'
The prisoner said his name was Higginson, and that ha
was a brother of Mr. Higginson, a Unitarian minister in
Melbourne, from which place he had j ast returned ; the
prisoner also said ho was distantly related to Mr.
son, of Swansea. Witness told the prisoner he would gat
pay him the amount of his subscription, but that he would
send it to the treasurer at Wigan. The prisoner said it was
usual for him to receive the donation when he obtained the
promise of it, but witness said he had made it a rule only to
give subscriptions in the way he had stated. The prisoner
said he would call on witness again on Monday, and wee
informed that he might do so. Witness felt anxious to 001"
the object in view, and suggested to the prisoner that 11.°
should solicit a subscription from Mrs Nicholls. The prig
soner then directed witness's attention to Mrs Nicholls
name on the book, and said she had already given hint 3
guineas. Witness saw that Mrs Nicholls's name was Ds',
in her writing, and this induced him to entertain some as'
picion of the prisoner. When be returned home on &Mir.
day night he wrote to Mrs Nicholls, and was informed that
she had never seen the prisoner, but that he had seen 31r
Ald Nicholls, who had not given him anything. When the
prisoner called upon witness on Monday, he thanked JO
politely for the use of his name, which be said had been s,
c;
very great service to him in obtaining contributions, al/.
that he had had great success on Saturday afternoon. VirlAt•
ness told the prisoner he had probably been more successful
than he deserved to be, and asked him what name he well",
under that day, as ho had ascertained that the prisons
assumed a variety of names. The prisoner said he ha
been the dupe of others. Witness said ho considered the
prisoner a swindler, but the prisoner said he was not ss
bad as he appeared to be, He asked to be allowed to go BOY'
but witness sent for a policeman and gave him into custody'
In the book witness had seen the signature of Mr Win.
Wood, as a subscriber of £lo.—Mr W, R. Wood, Singia•
ton Lodge, said he never saw the prisoner on the book fl,"
that morning, and never wrote, or gave any person autherl7
to write his name as a subscriber of £lO in the book.--3",r
R. P. Greg, Oatwood Lodge, Prestwich, said on Thursday
the prisoner called at his office in Chancery-lane, produce(' •
the book, gave a general representation of the
facts state
in the preface, and solicited a subscription. Believing the
subscription list to be genuine and the object to be bonafiV
he gave the prisoner £5, and wrote his name'in the hs°''
He was completely deceived. Witness asked the prisoner
for a reference, and he mentioned some resident in Airigatl,
whom witness did not know. The presiding megistre,l
said the prisoner would ultimately be committed for Ole
for obtaining money under false pretences, but in the wean
time he would be remanded to Friday.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

....ci .... ..... ........

MONMOUTH,---TUESDAY.
The local markets have been tolerably attended by -
buyers and sellers during the last six or seven d4Yg:
and there has been a considerable amount of business don,e
Wheat commands an average sale, and barley was in ?t
0,
request. Oats and beans in good demand, at former rates
The average quotations are as follows :
lid
Wheat, 1
white 5s 3d to 5s 10d 1 3s 4d to 3s oi
Ditto red.....0s Od toOs Od Oats .. 2s 4d to 33