The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-18 00:00:00

TIIA.MES.

SCANDALOUS FRAUD ON GAS CONSUIIERS.—Mr. Ilkley,
a gentleman connected with the Commercial Gas Company,
Stepney, came before Mr. Paget and asked for his advice
under the following circumstances :

A man had been in the practice of calling on the cus-
tomers of the Commercial Gas Company under the pretence
of lcoking at the meter and altering the burners, and repre-
senting that he would be followed by the inspector of the
company, and that a diminution in the price of gas would
follow. The fellow then obtained a sight of the gas account
of the preceding quarter and asked for payment, which in
too many instances he had obtained. Mr. Ilkley then put
in a gas account for 10s. which had been paid to the impos-
tor, who signed the receipt, "L. Davis."
Mr. Paget—ls this a genuine document ?
Mr. Ilkley—lt is, sir. It is one of the invoices of the
company left with the consumer. This system of fraud has
been carried on to a considerable extent in Whitechapel,
Stepney, and Mile-end New-town.
Mr, Paget—Do you know who the party is who is guilty
of these most abominable frauds ?
Mr. Ilkley—No, w a do not.
Mr. Paget—There is the difficulty.
Mr. Ilkley—We had a lad named Davis in the employ
of the company, and he is suspected. We make this appli-
cation in the interests of the consumers, who, if they pay
any person but our authorised collectors, will have to pay
a second time.

Mr. Paget—The payment to a person not authorised to
receive thR money will not relieve the consumer of the
obligation to piy the gas company again. This is clear]) a
case of obtaining money under ialee pretences. Give in-
formation to the police.

Mr, Ilkley—Shall we be justified in giving the delinquent
into custody without a warrant ?

Mr. Paget would advise the Commercial Gas Company to
consult their solicitor and act on his advice. Any person
defrauded by toe man, or who had paid him money wrong-
fully, would be justified in giving him into custody.
When the party was before him (Mr. Paget), he should
know how to deal with him. The object of the Commer-
cial Gas Company was to protect their numerous cus-
tomers, and he had no doubt this application would be-
come known, and the object of the company in some
measure attained.

Mr. Ilkley said in one case, where 335. was owing to the
gas company, 30s. was obtained on account. A customer of
the Imperial Gas Company had been imposed upon in like
manner.

Mr. Paget--I will put the law in force if the offender is
brought before me. A mcre impudent fraud was never per-
petrated, and I hope gas consumers will be on their guard,
and pay none but the authorised and known collectors of the
company.

Nr. Ilkley thanked the magistrate and retired.

MARYLEBONE.

A COMPANION OF DEVINE'S A CANDIDATE FOR THE
GALLOWS.—Thomas Jones, aged 23, a surly looking fellow,
of no home, was charged before Mr. Yardley under the
following circumstances :
Edward Everd ell, the gate porter at the Marylebone
Workhouse, stated that about eight o'clock on the previous
evening there were about twenty young men waiting for
admission into the casual ward for a night's lodging, and
Mr. Douglas, the master, told him to admit all that had
net been in before. The prisoner said he would not be ad-
mitted, and forced his way in and was put out. As the
names of the others were being entered the prisoner kicked
violently at the door, and made use of most foul language.
The gate was opened, and he was requested to desist. He
made another rush to get in, when witness stopped bim, and
prisoner kicked him on the leg and struck him on the breast.
He said if he had a knife he would stick it into witness, and
that he was a " pall":of Devine's, and he would not mind
swinging with him. _ .

Mr Gorge Edward Douglas, the master, said that last
night there were 23 at the gate, and, according to the rule,
they were asked if they had been there before, as the new
corners were admitted first. There was room for 30 in
the casual ward, and it was filled, with the exception of six,
as during the night the police invariably bring in some
houseless person. Last evening prisoner made use of most
foul language, and said he had been there before, and he
would be let in again. He said, " Let mein, you —, for
I am a ' pal' of Devine's, and I should like to be where he is
nnw." He had had tickets from time to time to go to work.
Ansted (the gaoler)—He has been here before for refusing
to work and disorderly conduct.

Air. Yamley said he would send him where he would
have to works and sentenced him to one month's hard
labour,

WESTMINSTER.

SINGULAR APPLICATION.— A middle aged respectable
looking woman this morning addressed the magistrate as
follows :—" If you please, sir, I want a hummos against the
secretaryress of a society to which I belong, for using
me improperly and preventing me from having my rights
which I am entitled to.
. .

Mr. Arnold—lt is a teetotal society.
We are " the Independent sisters of Progress," you un•
derstend your worship.
Mr. Arnold-0 yes, I understand perfectly. Your are an
Independent Sister of Progress, and you have a female
secretary, at least, that is I suppose what you mean.
Applicant—Exactly, and the impropriety of her conduct
consists in refusing to give me my kick pay to which lam
by law entitled.
Mr. Arnold—On what ground has she refused ?
Applicant—Because she says I am not a married woman.
Mr. Arnold—Aro the Independent Sisters of Progress
necessarily married ladies ? _ _

Applicant—Well—no, your worship, they maybe married
or they may be single, but they must be teetotallers. When
you join the Society you are asked the question whether
you are married or single, and I told them that I Was mar-
ried, but she says I am not, and therefore not entitled to
seek pay, as I imposed upon the Society.
Mr. Arnold—Why don't you satisfy her that you are
married ?

Applicant—lt is a very rude observation to say a woman
is not married when she is. I have satisfied some of the
Sisters by showing them my marriage lines.
Mr. Arnold \V by not show them to the lady who is
secretary
Applicant—Providing that all the Sisters have to pro-
duce theirs, then I don't mind producing mine.

Mr. Arnold—Where are your lines ?
Applicant handed them to the magistrate, who found
that he had no power to interfere, .

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— CONCERT ROOM.—
An amateur concert will take place on Wednesday next,
the 20th April, at this theatre. The performeri are entirely
selected from the civil service; the programme includes a
selection of miseellnneons music., vocal and instrumental,
and will conclude with Mr. F. Clay's operetta of "Out of
Sigh,," for -which the cervices of Miss Edith Wynno have
been secured,

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HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Saturday.
Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Helena end
and Princess Louise, attended by Lady Caroline
Barrington and tae Hon. Mortmer Sackville West,
went to Claremont yesterday afternoon and visited
the Queen Mario Amelie.
The Duke and Duchess of Argyll arrived at the
Castle.

Sunday.

Ptincc Alfred, Princess Helena, an Princess
Louise, attended by Viscountess Jocelyn, LF.cly Cato.
line Barrington, the Hon. Mortimer Sackvil2e Wrest,
and 1.4f.u!. Haig, went to London yesterday.
Princess HQlcua and Princess Louise visited the
Exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water-.
d
colours in Pall-mall East, and the French Fine Art
Gallery.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred met the
Princesses at the French Gallery, and drove from
thence to Buckingham Palace.
Her Royal Highness Princess Louise, attended
by Viscountess Jocelyn, returned to Windsor Castle
in the afternoon.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and Pith'
cess Helena, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington,
rhe Hoo. Mortimer Sdckville West, and Lieut.
H4ig, honoured the performance at the Covent-
garden Theatre with their presence in the evening,
and returned to Windsor Castle at night.
His Majesty the King of the Belgians, attended
by General Count de Moerkerke and Dr. Koepl,
arriNei at the Castle from London yesterday even-
ing.

Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone,
arrived at the Castle from Greenwich Park.

Her Majesty the Queen, the King of the Bel-
their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred, Prin-
cess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, Prince
Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, with the Ladies and
Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine service this
morning in the private chapel. The Rev. F. C.
Cook, Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen, preached
the sermon.

On Wednesday he Queen will leave Windsor for
the Isle of Wight, Her Majesty will remain at Osborne
until the 10th proximo, when she will either return to
Windsor for two or three days, or proceed direct to
Balmoral.

To•morrow the King of the Belgians will take his
departure from this country for Belgium.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France enter-
tained at dinner on Saturday evening, at the residence of
the embassy, Albert gate HGuse, his Excellency the Aus-
trian Ambassador, his Excellency the Peussian Ambassa-
dor, his Excellency the Swedish Minister and the Countess
Wachmiester, his Excellency the Saxon Minister, his
Excellency the Spanish Minister and Madame Comyn, his
Excellency the Portuguese Minister, the Hanoverian
Charge d'Affaires and the Baroness Blome, the Marquis
and Marchioness Cadore, the Marquis d'Audigne, Count
and Countess Contades, Count Montmarin, Count
Whimpffee, Viscount Beaumont, Baron de Katti, M. do
Rivel, &c.

His Excellency the Belgian Minister and Ma-
dame Van de Weyer will arrive at their residence in
Grosvenor-square to-day from New Lodge, Windsor

Forest.

The Archbishop of Dublin and Mrs. Trench will
arrive in town to-morrow from the Archiepiscopal Palace,
Dublin, for the season.
Tne Duchess of Manchester has arrived in Great
Stanhope•streat from Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdon-
shire.

Me Duke of Bucciench has arrived in Beigrave-
square from Dalkeith licuse, near Edinburgh.

Toe Marchioness of Abercorn and Lady Georgina
Hami.iton arrived at Chesterfield House on Saturday from
a tour in the south of France.

Tile Earl and Countess of Wilton have left town
on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Craven, at Coonie
Abbey, near Coventry.

The Countess of Harrington and Lady Anna
Chandos Pole arrived at Harrington House a few days
since from Eivaston Castle, Derbyshire.
Vlscount and Viscountess Stormont have arrived
at their residence in Charles .street, Berkeley-square, from
Scone Palace, N. 8,, for the season.

L(,rd and Li.dy L )ncle,borough will arrive at
their residence in Grosvenor-place to-day from Grimston
Park for the season.

Lord Ebury 1-ft town on Saturday, to join her
ladyship and family at Moor Park, Herts.
Lord L'sToLfield has arrived at his residence in
Grosvenor-place, from Petworth House, Sussex,

Fashionable Arrangements for the Week.

TO-MORROW.—General Garibaldi's visit to Her
Majesty's Theatre; Mr. Seely's afternoon party to
meet General Garibaldi.

WEDNESDAY.—The Marchioness of Salisbury's
evening party ; Frances Countess of Wel-
degrave's evening pasty; the Right Hon. the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone's
dinner and evening party to General Garibaldi;
the Hon. Mrs. Fellowes's dance.

THURSDAY.—Entertainment to General Gari-
baldi at the Reform Club; General Garibaldi's visit
to Fishmongers' Hall.
FRIDAY.—Mrs. Cecil Fane's first dance, at
Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's.
SATURDAY.—Viscountess Palmerston's assembly.