The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-09 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS —A stout, hearty-looking
fellow, who gave the name of William Jones, was charged
with placing himstlf in a position to solicit alms in Lower
Grc sv enor-place.
Defendant's appearance was that of the well practised
professional beggar, to a most desponding look he added
the advantages of being barefooted and coatless.
Peter Smith, 163 B, said—At a quarter to four ye ster-
day afternoon, I saw the prisoner sitting on the steps of a
door in Lower Grosvenor-place, dressed as he is now,
and shivering and shaking to attract the attention of the
passers by. Several persons came up and gave him half-
pence. Witness took him into custody.
Mr. Arnold—What was found upon him ?
Witness—One and sixpence halfpenny in coppers.
Mr. Arnold (to prisoner)—What have you to say to this ?
Prisoner—l was in distress.
Mr. Arnold—Why don't you apply to the workhouse ?
Prisoner—l have, but they won't admit me. I was re-
fused.

Mr. Arnold—When did you last apply ?
Prisoner—Well I have not applied since last winter.
Smith—He was taken to the workhouse, but was there
only a short time ; he would not stop.
Prisoner—The Board of Guardians turned me out of St.
Margaret's workhouse.
Mr. Arnold—You said just now that they would not
admit you? Supposing it to be true that. they turned you
out they naturally considered that a strong, hearty man
like you ought to work for his living.
Smith—He do-s
—every week begging. When I had
him before last March he had 3s. on him, and admitted he
had only been out. an hour. You let him off then upon
his promise to go out of the country.
Mr. Arnold (to the accused)—You had no reason to have
remained shivering and shaking on Grosvenor-place with
money about you to procure warmth and food. You are
committed for ten da•)s.
Smith—What is to become of the money found upon
him ?
Mr. Arnold—Let it go towards his maintenance in
prison.

THAMES.
EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FRAUD.— Joseph Davis,
aged 2d years, rivetter, Isaiah Rosser, 24, rivetter, and
Charles Seager, 37, assistant storekeeper, were charged
with fraudently obtaining various sums of money with
intent to cheat and defraud Messrs. Westwood, Burley,
Campbell, and Company, iron shipbuilders and engineers,
of London-yard, Millwall, Poplar.
Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, conducted the prosecution.
Mr. Joseph Smith, solicitor, defended Davis and Rosser.
Mr. Charles Young, in opening the case for the prosecu-
tion, said it wanted to be well looked into, and that he only
intended to offer sufficient evidence to justify a remand.
The fraud charged against the prisoners was effected in
this way. Mr. John Hawkins, a storekeeper in the service
of the prosecutors, made entries in his book of the quantity
of rivets manufactured by Davis and Rosser, and the
cashier of the firm paid the prisoners according to the ac-
count as it appeared in the storekeeper's book. It had been
lately discovered that, after the proper entries were made,
the figures had been altered, and in many instances a 1 was
converted into a 2. Th..o alterations wore made by the
aiatant storekeeper, the other prisoners were paid for the
excess, and all three shared the money thus fraudulently
obtained.
Mr. Hawkins was called and said his book had been tam-
pered with and the figures altered. He made up the sum
owing from the altered figures. He kept an account of all
the rivets brought in by Davis and Rosser, and generally
weighed them himself. He then pointed out several entries
in his book where a 1 had been altered to a 2.
In cross-examination by Mr. Smith, the witness said he
had once made a mistake in a figure himself, but he can-
celled it again, when he discovered the error. It was not
from distinct recollection of particular days, but from the
general appearance of the book that he was enabled to say
figures had been altered.

Mr. Alfred White, pay clerk to the prosecutors, deposed
to the payment of various sums of money to Davis for
himealf and two others, for iron rails, bolts, and nuts, ac-
cording to the account rendered by Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. William Smith, confidential clerk to the prosecutors,
said that in a conversation with Mr. Westwood, the head
of the firm, Seagor was asked if the alterations in the book
were made by him, to which he replied they
may be. I
have been led astray. Seager was then asked how many
figures he had altered, and he answered, I cannot say.
Seager was asked how much money he had received as his
share of the plunder, and his reply was, I think about a
sovereign. I can't say exactly; a few shillings now and
then. Seager 13150 made an acknowledgment of his error,
and said, I hope you will be lenient with me.
After some further evidence, the prisoners were remanded,
and Mr: Selfe said he would accept of bail for Davis and
Rosser, one surety in the sum of £5O for each, or two of
£25. Seager's bail must be in double that amount.

AMERICAN OPINION. A
gentleman of Toronto,
a member of the medical profession, who has been
with the Federal army before Fredericksburg, in giving an
account of his return says—" All along the road, every.'
where, I have found the greatest depression resting upon
the American people in consequence of the continued want
of success which has attended the Federal arms. Every-
body expresses himself freely aboutit, and I have been time
after time invited to express my views freely as a Canadian.
It seems to me very clearly that they are wanting light—
that is to say, they seek for others' opinion in the hope
that the mystery, for such it seems to them, may be
solved. The Democrats hesitate not to say—' If
Lincoln cannot subdue
,the South, rather than have two
nations, we will take Jeff. Davis and save the Union.' This :
teeling,
philadeiphia and New York is very strong-
This gentleman speaks
favourably of the Washingtonllos-
'pitals.