The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-04 00:00:00

be shut out from Mr. Blight's futm7e. We are to
be a nation of shopkeepers, and those who are not
shopkeepers have neither part nor lot in it.

Fleecing a Simpleton.—Curious Case of
Mistaken Identity.

On Monday evening a middle-aged man, of respectable
appearance, was charged before Mr. Elliott, at the Lambeth
Police-court, with being concerned, with another man not
in custody, in stealing two five-pound bank notes and six
sovereigns, the moneys of Jeremiah Plant.
The prosecutor, a person 26 years of age, and who de-
scribed himself as a gentleman's coachman out of place,
said that on Saturday morning, at about 10 o'clock, he went,
into a coffee-house in the neighbourhood of Charing-cross,
and sat down at the same table with the prisoner, who was
a perfect stranger to him, and whom he had never seen
before. While having some refreshments the prisoner asked
him if he was looking for a place, and he replied he was
that of a coachman to a gentleman. The prisoner said he
had a relation an auctioneer, who, he felt certain, would
procure for him the situation he wanted ; and while speak-
ing on the-subject a tall, well-dressed man, of gentlemanly
appearance, came in and sat at the same table with them.
This person said that he had just received a legacy of
£1,500, and should have no objection to lend any honest,
man money, and that as the prisoner and himself (witness)
appeared to be honest persons he should lend them as much
money as they were able to produce. The prisoner said
he could produce £5O, and asked him how much he had.
He said he thought he could produce £2O, but must go to
his lodgings for it, and the prisoner also said he must go
home to get his £5O. It was then arranged that both
should go for their money, and that the "gentleman "'
should remain at the coffee-house until their return. The
prisoner accompanied him (witness) as far as Totten-
ham-court-road, and promised to meet him there on his,
return, when they could go together to the coffee-
house. He (witness) then proceeded to his lodgings, 1,
Eversholt-street, Oakley-square, Somers-town, and took
with him two £5 notes and six sovereigns—all that he had
got—and hastened back to Tottenham-court-road, where
he found the prisoner waiting for him. They then pro- .
ceeded together to the coffee-house, and outside found the
gentleman of property waiting for them. That person said
the coffee-house was too much crowded to settle their
business comfortably in, and suggested that they should
take a cab, for which he should pay, and drive to some re-
spectable publichouse. A cab was called and all three got
in, and drove over Westminster-bridge to the Hercules
publichouse, Hercules-buildings, Lambeth, where they
alighted and went into the parlour. The prisoner called
for three glasses of cooper, and paid for them, and then
asked him (witness) how much money he had got. He told
him 161., and gave him two Si. notes and six sovereigns,
which he took and placed all in the hat of the gentleman,
which was placed on the table, and appeared to put some-
thing in it himself. He then said they had better go out
and get a couple of receipt stamps, and he accordingly left
the house with the prisoner. On getting some distance the
prisoner told him he had better go back and see that the
gentleman did not go away, but on going back he found
he was too late, for the gentleman had disappeared, and
with him the 161. (Laughter.) He then ran after the pri-
soner in the hope to find him, but he, too, had disappeared.
(Renewed laughter.) In reply to a question from the ma-
gistrate, the witness said he was perfectly certain that the
prisoner was one of the men, and the person he had been
describing. He said that on Saturday, immediately after-
his robbery, he had given information to the police, and
on Monday morning, while walking in the neighbourhood
of Charing-cross, he met the prisoner and gave him into

custody.
Wilson Parsons, an exceedingly sharp boy of 15, a waiter
at the Hercules, said he recollected the last witness and
two other men coming to the house on Saturday last, and
swore positively that the prisoner was the person who had
called and paid for the three glasses of cooper. The wit-
ness was desired again to look at the prisoner, which he
did, and again declared with the utmost confidence that he
was the man.

The prisoner, in reply to the charge, declared he was
innocent of it, and knew no more about the transaction,
described than any gentleman present. tie also mentioned,
the names of several gentlemen to whom he was known,
and said that if time were given him ho would prove hig,
entire innocence of the offence imputed.
Mr. Elliott accepted his own recognisances to appear on.j
the following morning, when he attended with a whole)
host of respectable friends, who gave evidence in hie,
favour. One of the witnesses called was his brother,.wheJ
swore that from 11 o'clock on Saturday until a late hour
in the evening he had not been out of his sight ; and the;
magistrate, in discharging the accused, said he left thi
court without the slightest stain on his character.