The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-26 00:00:00

BOW-STREET, THIS DA.Y.

A PROFESSIONAL BEGGAR.—William Newman, who
had the appearance of an extraordinarily clean mechanic,
was placed at the bar charged with begging.
Horsford, jun., one of the Mendicity Society's officers,
said—About half-past 10 this morning I saw the prisoner
In Whitehall-place, following a gentleman, begging.
Knowing him to be a professional beggar, from the fact
that I had had him in custody twice before, I watched him
closely. He was not successful in his first effort, and he
then selected another gentleman near Northumberland
House. I beard him say " I'm in great distress, pray
assist me. I've work to go to, but the tools are in pawn,
pray assist me to get 'em cut." The gentleman walked on,
and by this time the prisoner had got as far as King Wil-
liam-street, Strand, when he fixed on a third gentleman,
and told him the same story. When I saw him get some-
thing given to him I then went up end took him into cus-
tody, and found two penny pieces in his hand. As soon as
I had told him should take him into custody for begging, h•
managed to get a small packet of combs in his band, which
he had bad concealed up his sleeve, and then he said, " I've
sold the gentleman a small comb for 2d." His system is
not to stop gentlemen, but to walk by their side for a con-
siderable distance. He has been about London for the last
three or four years as a beggar,
Mr. Henry—Well, what have you to say to the charge
of begging ?
Prisoner—l wasn't begging; I was selling combs, and
its devilish hard a poor fellow can't sell a few combs with-
out being collared for begging.
Mr. Henry—But the officer says you were begging.
Prisoner—Then believe him of course. (Laughter.) Do
you think I should be knocking about ashore if I could got
a day's work, but this is the beauty of being nearly blind,
Mr. Henry—The officer says distinctly he heard you beg.
Prisoner—He heard me trying to get a living, What's
a poor man that's nearly blind to do.
Mr. Henry—Why, to the workhouse in preference to
begging.
Prisoner—l don't want to go to the workhouse. I want
to earn a living. I've been in the service for 12 years, and
on my discharge I got 6d, a day for two years.
Mr. Henry—What object can the officer have in telling

an untruth ?
Prisoner—What object I Well, I'll tell you why, to got
a conviction to be sure. (Laughter.) To do that he'll
swear that black's white, and white's no colour at all.
(Laughter.) He'd swear a man's head off, ho would.
(Laughter.)
Horsford—l distinctly heard him begging, your worship.
Prisoner—Oh I where do you expect to go to. (Laughter.)
As a man, your worship, I tell you I wasn't begging; but,
if you like to believe him in preference to me, of course you
can. (Laughter.) You can do as you like. As for that
fellow he'd not mind swearing anybody's life away. He's
a bad 'un ,ho is. (Laughter.)
The evidence of the officer having been confirmed,
were
Mr. Henry saidr—l've no doubt at all but that you
begging, and therefore I shall send you to prison for three
weeks.
Prisoner—Very well. sir ; it's no use objecting.me
As he was leaving the dock the prisoner ca very close
to Horsford, and said—" You're a nice article, you are
You'll get it hot some day."

1.............••••••

MARLBOROUGH •STREET, THIS DAY,
THE HYDE-PARK ORATOR AGAIN. Owen,
professor of music, 13 Shaftesbury-place, Aldersg,ate-street,
and who is well-known as the Hyde-park orator, was
charged before I\lr. Tyrwhitt with begging in Hyde-park
yesterday (Sunday), and Wm. Wilkinson, of 7, Colville-
place, Fitzroy square, glass decorator, was also charged
with attempting to rescue Owen from custody. After
the examination of witnesses, Mr. Tyrwhitt dismissed Itlr.
Wilkinson on his own bail, and required Mr. Owen to find
two bail in £25 each for six months. The question of
begging to be left open.

The receipts on the old lines of the Paris and
Orleans Railway for the week ending the 13th inst. amount
to 1,288,478 f. 85c., being a decrease of 73,933 f. 48c. as com-
pared with the corresponding week of last year. The re-
ceipts from the Ist of January to the 13th of May amount
to 22,614,939 f. 4c., being a diminution of 2,027,827 f. 86c. as
compared with the corresponding period of the year 1861.
The receipts on the new lines far the week show an increase
of 80,754 f. 27c., and since the Ist January an increaso of
1,300,877 f. 25c,