The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-20 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

CAUTION TO HOUSEHOLDRRS—AN ARTFUL TRICK,--
A gentleman applied to Mr. Knox this morning for advice
in regard to a claim which had been brought against him
by a house agent, and respecting which he wished to put
persons who had houses or apartments to let on their guard.
The applicant went on to say that about a year ago an ad-
vertisement appeared in the Times newspaper as follows :
" Furnished Apartments.—Wanted, for a permanency, by
a gentleman, between Piccadilly and Oxford-street. Good
sitting-room and bedroom. Terms, from £l2O to £l5O for
a year. Apply, Sta." The advertisement, apparently com-
ing from a gentleman seeking apartments, his (applicant's)
wife answered, he having, like many other professional men,
a larger house than he required. Two or three days after
a person called to see the rooms (a second floor), and after
seeing them, and when upon the point of leaving he said
to his wife, " Will you be kind enough to put the right
name and address, and perhaps you will add the date."
The person said the last few words in a callous off-hand
manner, at the same time handing applicant's wife a paper.
His wife thought there could be no objection to do so, and
wrote as desired, and would make an affidavit that there
was nothing on the paper respecting any agreement
or contract—at least as presented to her, for it
might have been doubled ; nothing was said either
respecting any "commission," because his wife did not
when writing know the person was not seeking the rooms
for himself ; and that she did not intend to sign any engage-
ment was evident, because she wrote his (applicant's) name
and not her own, and gave him the distinction certainly
unnecessary under the circumstances, of " Esq." after his
name. After the person had obtained the writing on the
paper, he admitted, to his (applicant's) wife's surprise, that
he did not require the rooms for himself, but had been sent
by the house-agent, or as his (applicant's) wife thought the
gentleman to whom she had written, and he added they
might suit the gentleman named in the advertisement, or,
if not, some other they would send. The person then left.
No one came, however, from the agent for some months
after, and then no arrangement was made; and later a
person, evidently drunk, called, but was not admitted
Meanwhile the rooms had been let more than once, not,
however, to any one sent by this agent, who was not in-
formed of the fact, as ho had never in any way been es.-
ployed. A few days ago the same person called to know if
the rooms were let. and finding they were he demanded the
name of the occupant. He was supplied with it, so that he
might know he had not sent the gentleman(as the gentleman
would prove if necessary). To his (applicant's) astonish-
ment ho received a day or two later a claim for £5 108.
for so-called " commission" as per " signed terms."
Having requested an explanation, he received in answer
what proposed to be a " copy" of the paper with his name,
address, and date, as before mentioned, given by his wife,
but with, to the best of her belief, some printed " terms "
added at the head of the paper. These " terms " were
printed in very small characters (the applicant handed the
paper to Mr. Knox for his inspection), and very artfully
concocted, and concluded with the words " I assent to these
terms respecting"—then follows the written particulars.
One of these "terms," however, would be sufficient to
make the most reckless person pause if seen at all, for it
makes the percentage payable on the whole period for
which the property is let or disposed of by any one or with-
drawn. This being his (applicant's) case he wished to know
wnat he could do, as he considered it a most extortionate
demand, and whether he could not prosecute the agent for
obtaining a signature under false pretences, with a view to
extract money or obtain some indemnification for the
annoyance and loss of time. He asked the question on
behalf of many persons, who, from fear or other motives—
especially females—might not resist such a claim, especially
as his wife had seen a number of the persons at the agent's
office with postage stamps, and then when she called to
know what was meant by " signed terms," the applicant
was threatened to be served with a writ.

Mr. Knox said there was no possible claim against the
applicant, and if he resisted payment and an action was
brought, the judge would laugh at the plaintiff and order
him to pay the costs. The applicant, however, might be
pretty sure that steps would not be taken, and need not
fear action. He (Mr. Knox) felt sure that publicity being
given to the matter, would meet the end the applicant had
in view, and put persons on their guard.

WESTMINSTER.
AN EXTRAORDINARY VISIT TO THE RUSSIAN AURAS-
SADOR'S.—A warmly-clad middle-aged man, of respectable
appearacce, was brought before Mr. Arnold, from the Cot-
tage• road Station, Pimlico.

Mr. Sharpe, solicitor, said he had been requested to at-
tend from the Russian Ambassador's. The defendant had
used some very threatening language to his Excellency,
and it suggested itself that, owing to some recent proceed-
ings taken under the Enlistment Act, he might have been
prompted by others.

. -
Mr. Arnold—He is charged with being drunk, riotous,
and using threatening language in the street.
Mr. Sharpe—He intruded himself into the court yard of
Chesham House, and threatened to shoot his Excellency.
He was removed from the court yard, and was then taken
in the street for his misconduct there.

John Elliott, 282 A, said—l was on duty at Chesham
Rouse at 10 minutes past 4 yesterday afternoon, when I
saw the prisoner drive up in a cab, and asked if Baron
Brunnow lived there. The porter told him " Yes," and
defendant then said he wanted to see him very particularly.
The porter said he could not then, when defendant replied
that he must and would see him before he went away.
Mr. Arnold—Did he assign any reason ?

Witness—He said that Baron Brunnow had been the
cause of many of his brother Poles being shut, and he
would shoot him.

Mr. Arnold—" His brother Poles."_
Witness—Yes, your worship.
Mr. Arnold—Ha has got an exceedingly Irish name for
a Pole.

Witness—He is Irish, your worship.
Mr. Arnold—Well, what occurred after this threat
Witness—l took him by the arm and walked him out of
the court-yard into the street, and I then persuaded him to
go away, but:he said " the Russians had killed many of
his brother Poles," and tried to force his way into the gate
again.

Mr. Arnold—Was he drunk or sober ?
itness—Very drunk.
Mr. Arnold (to defendant)—What have you got to say
to this ?
Detendant—l know nothing about it.
Mr. Arnold—Was he sober enough to know what he was
doing ?
Witness—Yes.

Defendant—l have been drinking this fortnight, throw-
ing my money about the streets, and treating every ono I
know.

Mr. Arnold—This may turn out merely drunken folly,
but I must know something more about you. You must
find one security in £lO for your appearance here again on
Thursday.
Removed in custody.