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

THAMES.

SCANDALOUS FRAUD ON GAS CONSUMERS.—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 looking 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, wa 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 bat our authorised collectors, will have to pay
a second time.

Mr. Paget—The payment to a person not authorised to
receive the money will not relieve the consumer of the
obligation to psy the gas company again. This is clearly a
OPRP of obtaining money under lalße preteuees. 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 the man, or who had paid him money wrong-
fully, would be justified in giving him into custody,
When the party was before him (Mr. Pages), 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—l will put the law in force if the offender is
brought before me. A mere 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.

Mr. 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 tliat about eight o'clock on the previous
evening there were about twenty young men waiting for
admission into the casual ward fa:. a night's lodging, and
Mr. Douglas, the master, told him to admit all that had
not 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 ru.th 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 bim.

Mr George 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 all 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 me in, you --, for
lam a pal' of Devine's, and I should like to be where he is
now." He lute 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.
Mr. Yardley said he would send him where he would
havo to work, and sentenced him to one month's hard
labour.