The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-14 00:00:00

THAMES.

DEFALCATIONS BY A RATE COLLECTOR.--George Bur-
rows, aged 59, was brought up on remand before Mr. Part-
ridge, charged with embezzling £325 Os. 2d., moneys of the
churchwardens and overseers of the parish of Bromley, St.
Leonard, Middlesex. Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, con-
ducted the prosecution.

The prisoner had been rate collector in Bromley for 23
years, and since the passing of Sir Benjamin Hail's Local
Management Act, in 1855, has been collector of the poor
general, lighting, and sewer rates. He was much respected
in the parish, in which he has carried:on business for nearly
40 years, and brought up a large family. The ratepayers
will not be losers by the prisoner's defalcations, for the whole
of the loss is made good by the European Assurance Society,
with whom the prisoner had effected a policy of assurance,
and who guaranteed the parish against all loss which might
be occasioned by any irregularities or dishonesty of the
prisoner. On the other hand the European Assurance
Society entered into a condition with the parochial autho-
rities that in the event of any defalcations on the part of
the collector, he should be prosecuted at the expense of the
parish. The prisoner returned an unusual number of
persons to Mr. Dunstan, the vestry clerk of Bromley, on
the 18th of June last, as not having paid their rates, and
Mr. Dunstan proceeded to make out summonses against
them. Before they were issued he requested the prisoner
to make out another return of persons who had paid their
rates in the interim. Their numbers were so large
that Mr. Dunstan's suspicions were excited ; nearly one-
half returned on the 18th of June as being defaulters were
returned on the 20th June as having paid their rates. Mr.
Dunstan then sent for Mr. Burrows, and questioned him.
He admitted he was behind in his accounts, and directly I
afterwards absconded. A reward of £lO was offered for his
apprehension by the churchwardens and overseers of Brom-
ley, and while he was away an offer was made to the Euro-
pean Assurance Society to compromise the matter, which
was instantly rejected, and the society, which has guaran-
teed the fidelity of an immense number of clerks, collectors,
and servants in public and private establishmen's, deter-
mined on a prosecution. The prisoner, in carrying
out his frauds, was guilty of great irregularities. He gave
receipts for the poor-rate on the printed forms intended as
receipts for the general lighting and sewer rates. He re-
turned the following among numerous other persons who
had paid their rates when demanded as defaulters :
Denton and Jutsum, £23 17s. Gd. ; Mr. Downam Wood-
house £l7 13s. Odd. ; Mr. Peterkin, £2 16s. 3d. ; and Mr.
Richard Toal, £1 13s. These cases were selected for pro-
secution.

Mr. Dunstan said that the collectors ought to pay the
rates as fast as they were collected to Messrs Currie and
Co., bankers, of Cornhill, the treasurers of the parish.
collector was ever allowed to retain more than V.O in his
possession.

Mr. Partridge committed the prisoner for trial, and bail
was again accepted.

MARKETS--This Day.

MAR-LANE.

Fresh up to this morning's market a fair supply of new
home-grown wheat was received, for the most part in fine
condition. Milers, generally speaking, operated cautiously,
at about Monday's currency. Red wheats realised 44s to
48s; white, 488 to 535; and Talavera, 50s to 56s per
quarter.

There was a full average supply of wheat on offer, and
the demand for all descriptions was in a sluggish state, at
barely stationary prices.

Floating cargoes of grain moved off slowly, at about
previous rates.
The supply of barley was very moderate. The demand,
however, ruled inactive, but no change took place in the
currency.

Malt changed hands slowly, at late rates.
The supply of oats was somewhat extensive. All descrip-
Eons met a slow sale, and prices were barely supported.

Beans and peas were in slow request, yet no change took
place in their value.
Flour moved off slowly on former terms. The supply
of barrels on offer was tolerably large.

ARRIVALS TIEN 'WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flout.
English 1,010 1 10 1 1,910 120 1 280
Irish.... — i 1,500 -
N oraikm 5,090 960 26,5-'0 , 12,220 brls
and ;80 sacks