The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-21 00:00:00

ENORMOUS FRAUD IN THE CITY.

The Lord Mayor has issued a warrant for the apprehen-
sion of a foreigner named Sigisraund Dietrichstein, who
stands charged with having absconded, and taking with him
no lass a sum than £lO,OOO in Bank of England notes, which
had been obtained by moans of fraud and conspiracy.
It appears that the fugitive is by birth a Hungarian, and
that he has resided fort everal years in England, and carried
on ostensibly the business of a merchant in the City of '
London, where he had offices, and he had also a residence
at the West. end of the town. There appears to be no doubt,
however, that hie circumstances were not all prosperous,
and although he appears to have two banking accounts, one
with Messrs. Drummond and another at the City Bank, it
has been ascertained since his flight that the amount of
money deposited was very small, and his object was evi-
dently to create confidence in his resources, with a view to
assist him in carrying out his ulterior objects. The mode
in which the money was obtained was this :—lt appears
that for several months the fugitive, in addition to his ordi-
nary occupation of a merchant, has been carrying on some
extensive engagements in time bargains, in foreign stock,
upon the Exchange, and from all that has transpired there
is every reason to believe that be has been backed up in these
proceedings by one or two other foreigners,
who are no doubt
parties to the ultimate fraud, and they provided Dietrich-
stein with funds whenever they were required, to pay the
differences that arose upon any account, and this was always
regularly done, sir that the brokers were induced to place
reliance upon the resources of the fugitive. Dietrichatein
appeared to have purchased very largely for the account
ending August 29, which happened to be on Saturday, and
the arrangements of the Confederates were all completed by
that day. According to the custom of the Stock Exchange,
when foreign bonds or other securities are taken up by
the parties who purehase them, a cheque is given when
they are handed over, and when the stock purchased by
Dietrichatein, which consisted of :Egyptian and Brazilian
Bonds, and which are a description of security as readily
negotiable as Bank of England notes, was handed to him,
he paid for each security by a cheque upon Messrs. Drum-
mond. The public is aware that the banks close at 2 o'clock
on Saturdays, and the cheques were not given until after
that, this being, no doubt, a part of the plan of Die trich-
stein and his confederates to give them more time, as under
ordinary circumstances the fact that there were no assets
to meet the cheques would not have been known until the
following Monday, and thus 24 hours' more delay would
have been obtained. This part of the scheme, however,
failed from the following circumstance. The parties to
whom the cheques were given, knowing that Dietrichatein
also kept an account at the City Bank, paid the cheques
into that establishment, and through their clerk the cheques
upon Drummonds' were sent to the clearing-house; but it
would seem that the large sum for which they were drawn,
taken in connection with the state of Dietrichatein's ac-
count at the City Bank, created some suspicion, and this
and other circumstances were considered sufficient to justify
an application being made by a confidential party to Messrs.
Drummond, to know whether there were any assets suffi-
cient to meet the two cheques that had been drawn upon
them by Dietrichstein, and this led to a discovery of the
astounding fact that there were only about £25, or at all
events some very small sum, standing to his credit. The
fraud being thus discovered, steps were of course imme-
diately taken to endeavour to regain possession of the pro-
perty, but it was too late. it was ascertained that im-
mediately the bonds had been obtained they were taken
to two of the City banks either by Dietrichstein or by
some one on his behalf, where they were deposited
as security for the advance of nearly £lO,OOO.
The value of the stock was over £ll,OOO, but a small
margin, as usual, was kept for the protection of
the bankers making the advance against any fluctuation
that might take place in the market. The money was all
obtained in bank-notes—namely, two of £5OO, six of £2OO,
32 of £lOO, 39 of £5O, and 51 of £2O each; and, no doubt,
the moment it was received Dietrichatein decamped, and he
has not since been heard of. No clue has hitherto been ob-
tained to the bulk of the moneys, a small portion only
having been traced to one person. who states that he re-
ceived the notes from Dietrichstein in the ordinary course
of his business, and there are no means of contradicting
this statement.

It is, of course, almost unnecessary to say that not the
slightest blame is attachable to the bankers with reference
to the advance of the money upon the deposit of the stock,
as this is a proceeding of every-day occurrence, many firms
of the highest position frequently finding
it necessary to ob-
tain temporary accommodation under similar circumstances,
and consequently the persons who will be the sufferers by
this fraud will bo the brokers who delivered the stock.
The fugitive is described as being 33 years of age, sallow
complexion, and wearing small moustache and small
whiskers. His hands and feet are described as being very
delicate, like those of a woman. He is supposed to be ac-
companied by his wife, a very good-looking woman,2l Years
of age. end a son three years old. A reward of £l,OOO has
been offered for his apprehension.

The Murder and Attempted Suicide in the
Marylebone-road.

On Saturday Sarah Emily Mitchell, otherwise ChaPb el3ll'
aged 24, and described as of no occupation, and residing at
108, Marylebone-road, was brought to the Marylebons
Police-court in a cab by Inspectors Sims and Burrows,
helladinbeen
attended by her nurse and medical gentleman. The charge
on the sheet was for feloniously and wilfully murdering her
chili, Sarah Emma Adeline Mitchell, aged 14 months, by
stabbing her in the breast with a dagger, on the 31st jtoY
-
last. She was also further charged with attempting to
commit suicide by cutting her throat with a razor.
ycot
coroner's
esrh,
se
warranth ad loe
Upon this charge Mr. Tiddy, the:superintendent of the
division, brought her up for examination, but the worthy
magistrate declined to take cognisance of the case,as she was
citaawtoaislyreopfrtehseenptoedlie beybefMor.reTtihded
already committed on the coroner's warrant. Mr. Mans"
field thought the proceadings altogether unnecessary;y: butUl
issued, and no attempt had as yet been made, owing to
the
extremely feeble state in which she was, to apprehend
her
upon it. Great consideration was consequently
shown for
her by the officers in charge.
Mr. Sleigh, instructed by Mr. StoPher F
7 ••• reeStO ,
Co., solicitors, 36, Coleman'street, appeared for the na"
accused.
After much discussion as to the best course
to be taken
under the circumstances,
Mr. Sleigh suggested that the best plan would be to have
the prisoner brought in and take the ghte
8:.;
evidenco. st amount of
It was then arranged that she should be brought
in, but
on her reaching the passage leading. to the court,
evidently very weak and agitated and a urt, she was
Eventually it was arranged that Bayles, theg gape
a shriek.
offi-
cer, should take her to Newgate on
hiscoroner's
was now certified to be in a fit state forr Warrant, as she
the magistrate should mark the charge sheet removal, oval, and. that
cause of the case not being heard by him to explain the
Mr. Mansfield accordingly marked '
follows : the charge sheet as
"Before the prisoner was brought before
taken into custody by the coroner's beadle,. me. she was
in virtue of a
warrant for her commitment for tria
murder. f f joax
8311 on the charge, of
Prisoner was then conveyed i
al a calaTtß _ll4ArisFruLD.'
virtually the police are no longer ;
,n the ocaNseewgate. Thus