The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-28 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

.• _
THE INCLEMENCY OF THE WEATHER AND THE HOUSELESS
POOR.—John Morris, a man between 40 and 50 years of
age, afflicted with lameness, was charged with begging.
William Hopton, 245 B, said that at 11 o'clock last night
he was in plain clothes in Vauxhall-bridge road, when he
heard the defendant accost a gentleman and solicit alms.
He did not get anything, and then came up to witness and
asked him to give him a half-penny to make up his night's
lodging. Witness told him he was a police-constable and
took him into custody. _ _

Mr. Selfe—What did you find upon him?
Constable—Only fivepence three farthings, your worship.
Defendant in reply to the charge said, that he was a
native of Bath, Somersetshire, who had come to London in
search of employment as a stonemason. He had been un-
fortunately taken ill, and while in that state had parted
with what little he possessed, and had been driven by the
most absolute necessity to beg. He had had a job promised
him, to cut some stone at Battersea next week, and only
wanted a little employment to set him right. He had just
recovered from a severe attack of rheumatism, and had he
been exposed to the severity of the weather last night, by
laying about the streets, it would have settled him. He
had no roof to shelter him, and was endeavouring to pro-
cure enough for a bit of food and a night's lodging, when
he unfortunately accosted the complainant, not knowing
that he was a policeman.

Mr. Selfe—ls the defendant known ?
The police—He is a perfect stranger. We do not know
anything of him.
Defendant—l have only been a very short time in Lon-
don. I would not have begged, but I could not stop out
all night in such weather.
Mr. Selfe—You are discharged. While lam determined
to punish to the fullest extent the professional beggar, I
can make every allowance for a man being driven, as in
your case, to offend for once against the law.
THAMES.

MOCK AUCTIONS.—A man and his wife, named Phillips,
complained to Mr. Paget of being defrauded of 305., in a
mock auction-shop, in the Commercial-road, near the court,
of which many complaints have been made.
Mrs. Phillips and her sister were passing the mock auc-
tion-shop, in Grenada-place, and hearing the cries of
"going, going, gone," entered the shop. They were soon
parted by a woman, one of the mock auction gang, and
when a silver watch was put up for sale, persuaded both to
bid, and avail themselves of an opportunity of a bargain.
The merits of a "fine silver hunting watch, of the best
manufacture, worth at least 10 guineas" was extolled, and
the watch was knocked down to Mrs. Phillips
for £l. She went up to the rostrum to pay for
the watch and secure it, but the auctioneer insisted
that the sister of Mrs. Phillips had bidden 305., and re-
fused to part with the watch until that sum was paid. The
confederates in the shop all insisted that 30s. was bid for
the watch, the two women were abused, bullied and talked
at and paid the money, glad to escape from the place with
whole bones. Mr. Phillips produced a worthless silver
watch, valued at ss. Mr. Phillips said that Mr. Rogers,
of 67, Park-street, Bromley, and Mrs. Wilson, of No. 104;
White Horse-street, had been defrauded of their money in
the same room.
Mr. Griffin, inspector of police, said he had placed men
at the door of the mock auction shop to warn people
against being defrauded.
Mr. Taplin, a summoning officer of the court, said
there were several mock auction shops in the district.
One or two gangs were connected with all of them.
Mr. Paget said he would leave the case in the hands of
Taplin, and the complaining parties retired with that
officer.