The Sun.
London, England, 1830-09-23 00:00:00

SWINDLING EXTRAORDINARY.

A ludicrous instance of credulity was detailed to
Mr. WYATT,•the Magistrate at Lambeth•street Of-
fice yesterday. The party aggrieved was an honest
hard-working cobbler, living in the neighbourhood
of Brick-lane; and the person accused was a little
old man, with his toes peeping through his shoes,
and his whole appearance presenting a picture of
abject poverty.
The complainant stated that the defendant, who
was an entire stranger to him, came to lodge with him
about a fortnight ago. Ile represented himself as
having vast property in Scotland, and in intimate
correspondence with the Duke of Wellington and
other Ministers of Government respecting a disco-
very which he had made, during his travels, of a
certain medicine, whose virtues were so infallibly
restorative, that he had the right secured by patent.
He further stated that he had already engaged the
extensive sugar-house, late in the occupation of
Messrs. • Severn, King, and Co., in order to carry
on his manufacture of catholicon. In gratitude for
the kindness exhibited by his host, he determined
to patronise him, and, us a mark of earnest, settled
upon him and heirs an annuity of 100 guineas,
and appointed the father-in-law superintendent of
his manufactory, with is salary, in perpetuity, of
200/. per annum. The simple host believed his for-
tune was now made, having received a written
paper, with three large red seals appended, which
was to secure his annuity. In confirmation of this
statement, the defendant exhibited a variety of do-
cuments, some of which be asserted were diplomas
and others letters from the highest Nobility. The
time, however, in which his magnificent promises
were to be realized having gone by, the cobbler be-
came impatr6nt, and insisted upon the first week of
his annuity being paid in hand. But, as no cash
had been discernible during his sojourn, his further
promises roused suspicion, and, at length, the ex-
asperated cobbler brought him to this police-office.
When introduced to the Magistrate, he gave his
name, with great gravity, Arthur Montague Elphin-
son Balburnie, A.M., 8.A., and LL.D., of Wool
Mills, county of Fife, Esq.!
" Then I presume," said,Mr. WYATT, "from
your titles, that you are acquainted with medicine."
" Oh, perfectly," returned Mr. Balburnie, " I
lamed it along with the study of the law, and I
know all about medical cornucopia and the signs of
botany."
A number of papers were here handed up to the
Magistrate, the perusal of which excited greet mer-
riment. One of them appeared to be a letter to a
printer in iloundsditch, promising to give him al
flat in the sugar-house which he was about to take,
and five per cent. on the profits, if he would print
a work which he had completed, and threatening, in
case of refusal, to clap a broad arrow on his door.
Upon Mr. WYATT inquiring the nature of this
work, Mr. Balburnie, with great gravity, announced
that he had been the author of five books, all of
which treated of the deepest subjects; and, as a
specimen of his literary abilities, begged to submit
some extracts of his forthcoming work. Here the
defendant selected from a heap of greasy papers an
original muorceau, which lie called " An Ode to
Arts," &c. He further announced that he was now
busy upon a more important subject, viz., an " Ode
to Solitude, chemically and mechanically consi-
dered," for thel benefit of the empire at large.
Mr. WYATT appeared to be puzzled how to treat
the case, as the man seemed to be serious in assert-
ing that be had large possessions somewhere in
Scotland ; and remarked there could be very little
doubt of his being it most impudent impostor, but
there was nothing tangible in the present charge,
anti he must therefore discharge him.
The projector heard this decision with great
tithetloll, and, bundling up his papers, left the office
with great expedition.