The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-11 00:00:00

THAMES,

A MARINE SWINDLER.—THE WILDGOOSE CHASE.— '
James Shaw, aged 30, a seaman, with a large beard and
moustache, was brought up on remand, before Mr. Wool- '
r3ch, and for final examination and committal, charged
with obtaining money, goods, and board and lodging, under
false pretences.
On the afternoon of Saturday, the 31st of May, the pri-
soner entered the shop of Messrs. Moate and M'Kinnon,
tailors and outfitters, No. 144, Ratcliff-highway, in com-
pany with a man named Johnson, and represented that he
had just come home in the ship Wilmington, from Mel-
bourne, and had wages to the amount of £45 to receive. He
then selected some clothes, and borrowed 10s. in cash, to br
repaid when he received his wages at the Shipping-
office. He also produced a note from a ship
broker relating to the Wilmington, and said he had been
eight months on board, that ho was mate, and that his
wages were £8 per month. As the man Johnson who in-
troduced the prisoner was known to the firm, and the pri-
soner had all the appearance of a mate, his story was cre-
dited, and on the following Monday and Tuesday he had
more cash of Mr. Moate. On the last-named day he said
he was going to the City to receive his wages, and on
being asked why the crew of the Wilmington were not to
be paid off in a shipping office before a shipping master, he
said the Wilmington was an American ship. Mr. Isaac
Friday, shopman to Messrs. Moate and M'Kinnon, was
directed to accompany the prisoner to the city, and did s 3.
The prisoner called at the office of Mr. Chapman, the
shipowner, and saw Mr. Chapman, jun., to whom he
stated that an order for £45 had been sent home from
Melbourne to Mr. Chapman, and he had called to recover
the money. Mr. Chapman, jun., said he knew nothing at
all about it. The prisoner waited some time in the office
until Mr. Chapman, sen., arrived, to whom he told the
same tale, and was informed that no such order had arrived,
and that his name was quite unknown. The prisoner then
left the dice with Moate and M‘Kinnon's shopman, and
led him from place to place in the city, under pretence of
obtaining £45 on the authority of an order sent from
Melbourne. Ho frequently endeavoured to give Mr. Fri-
day the slip but in vain, and after what was described as a
wild goose chase, ha was given into custody. There was
no such ship as the Wilmington in the port of London.

The prisoner—l said the Wilton.
Mr. Moate—The prisoner said the Wilmington, lying in
the 'West India dc ck. Inquiries have been made in every
dock on both sides of the river, and there was no such ship
to be found. He obtained l9s. 6d, in money, and clothes
to the amount of 14s. 6d. of me.

George Cole, a poor man, here said—The prisoner en-
gaged me to go down to the ship Wilmington in the West
India dock to bring his things up. He took me to Mr.
Chapman's office, and kept me dodging about all day, and
there was no such ship as the Wiliaington to be seen.
Further evidence was given, from which it appeared that
he had obtained board, lodging, and money of a boarding-
house keeper, and £5 worth of clothes from a slop seller
on the faith of his representations that he belonged to the
Wilmington and had £45 to receive. The clothes were
recovered. _ _ _ _

The prisoner (impudently)—l will get another berth and
leave my half•pay note behind to pay thorn all.
Mr. Woolrych—No, no, that won't do, you aro cora-
mittcd for trial,

FIRE AT MESSRS. PICKFORD'S, WOOD-STREET,
CHElPSlDE.—Yesterday morning a fire broke out in the
immense range of premises belonging to Messrs. Pick-
ford, the well-known carriers, situate in Wood-street,
Cheapside. The flames when discovered were raging in the
store-rooms connected with the stables, and the fire quickly
extended to two lofts over, threatening at one time very
serious consequences. The alarm having been promptly
given, in a very few minutes Capt. Shaw attended with the
land steam engine by Shand and Mason, and several ma-
nual power engines. A good supply of water having been
procured, the engines were set to work, but the fire could
not be extinguished until the store-room was burned out,
the two lofts over and their contents consumed. The roof
was also destroyed. The goods stores sustained not the
least injury.

CHURCH STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.—Soon after
noon on Monday last, a thunderstorm passed ever the
parish of Badingbarn, Suffolk. The electric fluid struck
off a small part of the south-east corner of the steeple of
the church, and pierced a small hole above the east belfry
window, doing some slight damage to the roof. The gable
end was likewise struck, scattering the slates into and
around the vestry window. The rain had almost ceased,
and the sun was shining at the time.
THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The boats which
sailed from Great Yarmouth for the purpose of prosecuting
the mackeral fishery have at present obtained only unsatis-
factory returns. One boat a day or two since delivered
1,400 fish, and hopes were entertained that the prospects of
the fishery had taken a turn for the better, but these anti-
cipations were not realized. Prices havo ranged at Yar-
mouth between 40s. and 55e. per 100, Much the same re-
pert is made with regard to the operations of the Lowestoft
boats.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY, Tues-
day, June 10.—Admissions on payment, 17,314 ; ditto by
season tickets, 1,326; total visitors, 18,640.