The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-05 00:00:00

14-IVENING PIDITION.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.

EXTENSIVE CONSPIRACY TO DEFILUID.—WiIIiam
Kinnear, a respectable-looking person, who was appre-
hended a few days ago for having, along with a person
named Armstrong, defrauded Mr. Buhrer, toy-dealer, of
Skinner-street, Snow-hill, was again brought up on Fri-
day morning, before Mr. Alderman WHITE. The
Court was crowded by individuals who were anxious to
bring forward other charges against the p: isoner.
It appeared from the statement of Mr. Buhrer, that
in the month of May last the prisoner, who then resided
in Seymour-place, Walworth, recommended to him a
customer at Mortlake, named Armstrong, stating that
Armstrong had a certain sum of money passing through
his hands quarterly, and that he (Kinnear) would be
responsible for him. Kinnear also stated that he had
himself been in business, had worked hard, and that he
had realised sufficient never again to have occasion to do
I a stroke of work in his life. In consequence of this
representation, be allowed Armstrong to have a quantity
of goods. Kinnear and Armstrong afterwards came
together, and witness drew a bill for 601., which was
accepted by Armstrong and endorsed by Kinnear. He
allowed Armstrong to have other goods afterwards,
the total amount being 1131. Before the bill became
due, Armstrong had left his shop, and the prisoner was
not to be found at his residence, and was not seen again
by witness until he met him in the street, and gave him
into custody.
The prisoner, on the first examination, said that he
resided seven weeks in Angel-court, Strand. That he
had nothing to do with the transaction, further than
being a party to the bill, which would be paid.
Mr. Clarkson, who now attended for the prisoner,
submitted that no conspiracy had been made out. If
credit had been given in this case, the remedy was by
action, to recover the amount secured by the indorse.
ment.
Mr. Alderman WHITE said the case was attended
with such circumstances of suspicion as warranted him
in sending it to a jury.
Second Charges—Mr. Sharp, oil and colour manufac-
turer, deposed that in April last he was applied to by a
person named Clarke, who lived in the Bethnal-green-
road, for goods on credit, and referred to Mr. Kinnear.
Mr. K. called on witness aday or two afterwards, and re-
presentedthat he had been in the corn trade, and was now
a retired tradesman living on his property, that Clarke's
father was an intimate friend of his, and had requested
him to assist the son, and that he would bear him harm-
less. In consequence this representation he gave of
Clarke credit to the amount of 351., and Kinnear gave
a guarantee for the payment of the money. A bill was
afterwards drawn, but when it was due it was not paid.
Third Charge.—Mr. Charles Kelham, of East Cheap,
deposed.—ln April last Clarke called on me to pur-
chase goods for opening a shop in Bethnal-green-road.
He said he could not produce money for the first time,
but would refer me to a friend of his father's, Mr. Kin-
near. I waited on Mr. Kinnear, at Seymour-place,
Walworth ; he said that Clarke's father was a farmer
in Norfolk or Suffolk ; that Clarke had been in busi-
ness at Norwich, but had not succeeded ; that he
had given his father a great deal of trouble and anxiety,
and that his father had now written to him (Kinnear)
to see what could be done for him to the amount of
2001., for which he (the father) would be answerable.
He further stated that he had made arrangements with
one or two other persons for certain amounts, and in-
quired what wouldi be required in the oil and Italian
line. I said Clarke had given a larger order than he
ought to have done for so small a shop, and that I had
cut it down to 201. or 251. Kinnear said I had better
say the lower sum, and he would give a guarantee to the
extent of 201. Shortly before the bill became due, Kin-
near called on me to say that Clarke had shut up his
shop and run away, and that if I would wait a little
time he would pay the amount after it was due. The
money had never been paid.
Fourth Charge.—Mr. Michael Luke Walsh, of 18,
Castle-street, Southwark, hatmaker, deposed—ln July,
( 1838, a person named Coulson called on me. He re-
) sided at 239, High-street, Poplar.
i Mr. Clarkson—Did you bring an action apinst Kin-
/ near on this ?

Mr. Walsh—l did, but I have a statement to make
of vi hat occurred since.

Mr. Clarkson—Did not the prisoner bring an acticn
artainst you for defamation ?

Mr. ktialsh—He did.

'! Mr. Clarkson—And did you pay the costs ?
Mr. Walsh— It is now in the bands of the attorney.
Mr. Coulson gave me an order for goods, and referred
me to Mr. Kinnear. I went to Mr. K., who said Mr.
I Coulson was a straightforward man, and that he had
l done business with him three years ago. I declined the
order until Mr. Kinnear signed a guarantee for the
I amount,s2/. 10,. When the sum was due, Coulson
had gone away. I afterwards saw Kinnear, who said
lhe was not able to pay the money, but if I would
give up the guarantee, he would give a bill at nine days.
1 I did so, and it was dishonoured.
Kinnear—He has received part of the money.
Mr. Ciarkson—Did you agree to take the money by
instalme,.,ts ?
Mr. Walsh—l did.
Mr. Alderman WHITE—HOW much have you re-
ceived ?

Mr. Walsh—ll, out of ,521. 10s.—(Llughter.) But
the most impothant is to come. About a fortnight ago,
I met Kinnear ; he said, " Walsh, you have stuck
very c!ose to us, and it is no use mincing;
the matter with you. We are a gang of swin-
dlers, t macers' we call ourselves, and you
cannot du hotter than join the ring—you are a poor man,
and make you so that you need never be withoat a
guiaea in your pocket." I said, " No, I have got a
character that I hope will stick to me as long as yours does
to you." He said it was all nonsense, that all the great
folks were doing so, and he named an Alderman who
would net remand him if he was brought up. The whole
was wound up by his giving me 10s.
Fifth Charge—Mr. Richard Gardner, of 37, Cole-
man-street, licensed victualler, deposed that in the year
1834 the prisoner called at his house and bought wines
to the amount of 91., K hich were given to a porter
and taken away. Whilst he was making out the bill
the prisoner vanished, and had not been seen by him
since until to-day. He gave his address at the time,
" L'sson Grove," but witness could never find him.
Mr. Alderman WHITE thought a charge of felony had
bfen wale out in this case, and committed the prisoner
for trial.
Mr. Clarkson trusted that an intimation wound be
given to the prisoner of tit, different chartes that were
intended to be proceeded with.

The Solicitor who attended on the part of the prose-
cution intimated that this should be done, and the pri-
soner was then removed.

A great number of other persons were in attendance,
but their cases were not gone into.