The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-10 00:00:00

SWINDLER EXTRAORDINARY.

It was stated last week that Sudley Lodge, a
Bognor, had been engaged for the Duchess of Kent,
but it turns out to be a complete hoax, or rather
something worse. The facts are as follows :—A
young man who had come by the London coach to
Chichester, sent for a house agent, who had the
honour to furnish her Royal Highness with a resi-
dence nine years ago, and stated that he was com-
missioned to look out for a mansion for the Royal
Duchess for retirement on the present occasion ; and
to give weight to his mission, related a long con-
versation alleged to have taken place between her
Royal Highness and Lady Wildly, and which had
ended in her Royal Highness fixing. on this seques-
tered watering place. Accordingly, he was
driven by the agent down to Bognor, where he ul-
timately engaged Sudley Lodge.' Saturday and
Sunday (though on the latter day he went to
church) were chiefly spent in eating and drinking;
he appeared to have a strong predilection for cray-
fish, which he washed down with some of the Chi-
chester milk punch and pale sherry. The joy of the
inhabitants of Bognor, at the prospect of such a
royal harvest was unbounded, and many tried to
express their feelings on the occasion, by preparing
for a brilliant illumination—variegated lamps and
transparencies were in high requisition, and much
expence entered into to. obtain them ; a band was
engaged to play her Royal Highness into the palace; a
supply of powder was cautiously prepared by the
Port-Admiral, who had the whole of the Ordnance
department in readiness for the event. It is really in-
credible what a number of tradesmen were eager to
obtain the patronage of herßoyal Highness's supposed
steward. Cards kept pouring in from every direc-
tion—butchers, bakers, grocers, milkmen, uphol-
stererers, corn-doctors, rat-catchers, chemists, hair-
dressers, and every other trade, sent their cards to
this gentleman, all of whom he promised should be
employed wizen her Royal Highness arrived. Mr.
Levit, a converted Jew, residing at Chichester,
took a ride down to Bognor to see this gentleman,
who assured him that lie should have the honour of
extracting her Royal Highness's corns. The corn-
doctor came home full of joy at the success he had
met with, telling the citizens how he had swortded,4
and that his horse was hisintroduction teethe:lOn-*
tleman ; for if he had walked over, he
have been engaged. On Monday morning, hbifFik,
suspicion began to be awakened, and Mr. Med-

having beet► called in, succeeded in apprehending
the swindler at the very moment he was planning
his exit.

On his being taken before the Magistrates, a cu-
rious scene ensued. Various shopkeepers, publi-
cans, and even a tailor, appeared as his dupes. The
latter, however, got back the clothes he had made.
The prisoner, while under examination, convulsed
the spectators with laughter while he related the
importunities he had been subject to from tradesmen,
both of the city and at Bognor; lie exhibited nearly
one hundred different cards, and assured the Ma-
gistrates that he had actually been forced, in order to
avoid solicitation, to steal away to a public-house
‘vhere he was unknown, that he might, for a few
minutes, enjoy his pipe. After two examinations
the fellow was committed to the city gaol for trial.
He is suspected to belong to a gang. A letter, ad-
dressed to him, was found on his person, describing
a house near Kingston, in Surrey, with terms, &c.
He stated his name to be Andrews, and that he had
been in her Royal Highness's service.—Brighton
Herald.