The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-06 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

( Prom the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.)
:4ANCHESTER, April 4.—The feeling, approaching to
panic, which overspread our market throughout the
greater part of last week, has now in a considerable
degree subsided. The buying is comparatively insignifi-
cant in amount ; but there are more buyers venturing to
make low offers for some kinds of yarns and goods.
Prices are, however, generally found to be very de-
cidedly reduced. This state of things, with cotton
sustained at comparatively high prices, occasions much
discussion upon the necessity of restricting the hours of
labour, but no agreement to this effect has yet been come
to in any part of the district.
HALIFAX, April I.—The condition of the worsted
trade becomes more gloomy every week. Both spinners
and manufacturers are diminishing production, and
prices are almost nominal. Wool is not easy to sell,
even at reduced quotations.
ROCHDALE, April 3.—There has been another ex-
tremely slack market to-day in pieces of every descrip-
tion. There is no disposition to purchase at any price.
The wool market has been much the same as the piece
market, and prices rather in favour of the buyer.
BIRMINGHAM, Monday, April 3.—At the preliminary
meeting held on Thursday last,
.the course was adopted
of maintaining the existing prices of iron. Although
the continued activity of every department, the sus-
tained demand, and the inability to increase produc-
tion to the extent of present consumption would,
under a more auspicious aspect of political and mo-
netary affairs, have fully justified the declaration of an
advance, a sufficient inducement was found for the exer-
cise of caution in the actual commencement of a war,
the duration, extent, and results of which are so utterly
beyond the reach of human calculation. The chief diffi-
culty with which our manufacturers here have to con-
tend seems to be the unusual rates they are compelled
to give for their pig-iron:

FIRE IN THE BLACKFRIARS-ROAD.—Last night, about
ten o'clock, a fire, attended with a considerable loss of
property, broke out in the premises belonging to Mr.
Flynn, a tailor, No. 257, Blackfriars-road, next door but
one to the Albion Tavern. The proprietor of the pre-
mises rushed out of the house with his children in his
arms ; but the upper portion was tenanted by sundry
lodgers, and they had the grettest difficulty in effecting
a safe retreat. As it was, the police were obliged to pull
the children out of the second floor, and carry them down
a ladder. Mr. Burton, one of the lodgers, in attempting
to descend the ladder, slipped and fell from the second
floor, and struck upon the penthouse in front of the
shop. So great was the weight of the man, that it broke
the timber away, and he fell with considerable force upon
the stone flags beneath. He was conveyed to St. Tho-
was's Hospital, where he at present remains. The whole
of the other residents fortunately escaped without re-
ceiving any personal injury. The mains of the Lambeth
company having been drawn, a good supply of water was
procur
• ea from which the engines were set to work. The
total loss is very considerable, and, unfortunately, the
whole of the lodgers, who have lost their furniture, wear-
ing apparel, and other effects, were not insured for a
single penny. Mr. Flynn was protected from loss by a
policy in the Norwich Union Fire.office. As to the
not the least information could be ob-
tained. of
Itth
the tire,
that the house had not been closed
more than au hour when the discovery was made.

goner at that shop for 51. 10s., in the name of James
Johnson.

The officer who apprehended the prisoner said he had
reason to believe that there were several charges of a
similar kind against the prisoner from tradesmen at the
west-end, who had shown much credulity in their trans-
actions with him.
Sir R. W. Carden—l shall remand this case until
Saturday next, when I dare say there will be a full at-
tendance of tradesmen here.

GUILDHALL.—Georya Garrett, a carman in the
employ of Messrs. Clark and Honeysett, 106, Fetter-
lane, was charged 'With the following systematic fraud
John Honeysett said he sent the prisoner to Messrs.
Neale's wharf for two tons of the best coals, and gave
him the money to pay for them, but he brought home
only seconds, for which he charged prosecutor 4/. 8s ,
when in fact he paid only 4/. ls. at the wharf. This was
about the 24th of January, on which day another order
for two tons of coals was charged for by the prisoner in
the same way, the bills and receipts in each instance
being made out to verify the charge.
Alderman Finnis asked ithe understood the prosecu-
tor to say the wharf people supplied second coals and
gave a receipt for the price of the best, when only the
seconds price was paid ?
Prosecutor said such was the fact.

James Jordan, in the employ of Messrs. Neale, of Old
Jamaica wharf, said it was customary in the trade to do
so, and it was done by Dickins, at the adjoining wharf.
Alderman Finnis said it looked very like a conspiracy
to defraud the prosecutor, and the coal•merchant was
liable to be indicted with the prisoner for a conspiracy.
James Jordan said, the prisoner represented that the
prosecutor was cut down to a price, so they (Messrs.
Neale) put a few shillings on the price to enable the
prosecutor to sell at the price he was bound by.
Alderman Finnis said, the prisoner had been guilty of
a felony, and the coal merchant had been assisting him
to commit the fraud upon his master.
Prosecutor said, he had been defrauded of two sums
of 7s. each on the same day.
Alderman Farebrother inquired if it was customary to
permit carmen to receive a fee from the coal-merchants
to whom they took their orders.
Prosecutor said, he never allowed his carmen to re-
ceive a fee, if lie knew it ; but it frequently occurred
that tradespeople obtained false bills to show their cus-
tomers. Witness dealt with Dickins, but the coals were
so bad he left him to deal with Neale, whose coals were
just as bad. Dickins had also furnished false bills.

- Alderman Finnis said the prosecutor was doing a great
service to the public in bringing this case forward, as
there was no knowing the extent the system might
be carried to. It was of the greatest public importance
that the matter should be thoroughly investigated. (To
Jordan)—ls Mr. Neale aware of this system ?
James Jordan said he was.
Alderman Farebrother remarked that Mr. Neale's
signature appeared on both of the receipts produced, and
iThed to know if Mr. Neale was in the habit of leaving
receipts signed in blank to be filled up as required.
James Jordan said Mr. Neale was in the office and
received the cash, and signed the receipt at the time the
money was paid in to him.

Ahlerman- Farebrother asked Jordan if he gave only
4/. Is., and if Mr. Neale gave him a receipt for 4/. Bs.
James Jordan said that was all he paid in.
Alderman Finnis said he should adjourn the case and
direct that Mr. Neale and Mr. Dickins be summoned,
for it was highly necessary that the subject should be
inquired into.
The prisoner was then remanded, and summonses is-
sued requiring the attendance of the coal-merchants in
question, and calling upon them to produce their books.

BOW-STREET.—One of the toll-collectors at Water-
loo-bridge, named Eldridge, was summoned before Mr.
Jardine fur assaulting Mr. Weymiss Jobson.
The complainant, who described himself as an author,
of '252, Strand, said that he had occasion to pass over
the bridge on the night of the 23d ult., when he tendered
the defendant sixpence, received his change, and pro•
ceeded through the gate. He had only got a few paces,
when the toll-man called him back, and declared that
the sixpence was a bad one. Witness replied that
this trick would not do for him, he knew them
too well, adding that he could swear the one he
tendered was a good one, and that he (defendant) bad
changed it. The man then gave him a push, and called
a policeman, and this was the assault complained of.
Mr. Jobson went on to say, that to his knowledge the
same kind of trick utas being practised to a large extent
every night, and that foreigners especially were re-
peatedly defrauded by it. He had no doubt that the
toll-collector took him for a foreigner, as he wore a beard
and moustache. He had since made complaints at the
Bridge-office, and, not being able to get any redress, he
resolved on taking out a summons against the defendant
on public grounds.
The defendant said that the bad sixpence was the one
given to him by complainant, for he had never put it
away. He called two witnesses, who swore that they
saw Mr. Jobson lay the sixpence down, and that El-
dridge, after giving the change, tried it, and found it
was a bad one.

A gentleman from the Bridge-office deposed that the
defendant Eldridge had been 11 years in the service of
the company, and was a strictly honest, sober, and well-
conducted man. With regard to the statement of Mr.
Jobson that a great Humber of foreigners had been de-
frauded in the way suggested, and that complaints upon
the subject were numerous, he begged to say that the
assertion was untrue, and that no complaint of the kind
had ever been made. Mr. Jobson called at the office
and left his address, "252, Strand," but it had been as-
certained that the gentleman did not reside there, al-
though letters were left there for him, it being a public
billiard-room. In a letter sent to the office Mr. Jobson
demanded that a sum of Si. should be paid to some
charitable institution, or else he should proceed against
the toll-collector. This proposal, however, was de-
clined, as the employees of Eldridge had every confidence
in his integrity.
Mr. Jarine could not believe that the complaints
alluded to by Mr. Jobson were so numerous as had
been represented, for, if anything like a system of fraud
was being nightly carried on at the bridge, it was cer-
tain that the magistrates would have beard something
about it. On the contrary, be believed the servants
employed at the toll-gates were very well-behaved men.
Although Mr. Jobson and Eldridge were equally cer-
tain, apparently, in their views of the matter, he (Mr.
Jardine) was of opinion that the sixpence had not been
changed, and as no vielence had been used he would
dismiss the summons._

The complainant subsequently returned with a book,
to show the magistrate who he really was, and exhibited
the titlepage, but his worship declined to look at it.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—Icones Robert Ye-
men was charged with having stolen upwards of 2,000
ounces of silver from his employer, Mr. Hancock,
jeweller and silversmith, New Bond-street.

George Sharp, clerk to Mr. Hancock, said his em-
ployer had a manufactory for silver goods in Little
Bruton street ; the prisoner had held the situation of
foreman ever since 1850. The prisoner, when he wanted
silver for the manufactory, applied to witness for a check
on the refiner, and on receiving the silver it would be
his duty to take it to some melter employed by the house,
but he would not he authorised to take the silver to any
other melter. On the 18th of March last witness pro-
ceeded to take stock of the silver, assisted by the pri-
soner, when it turned out that there was a deficiency of
2,000 ounces. The prisoner volunteered to make out
an account of the silver he had received, and the man-
ner in which he had made use of it. The prisoner made
out the account, dating it the year 1853. The se-
cond item consisted of 200 ounces, delivered to him in
January, of which he could give no account. The pri-
soner could only account for 150 ounces out of 200
ounces delivered to him in March. There were other
items in this account in the same situation, and the total
of the silver unaccounted for was 860 ounces. There
was only a small quantity of silver at the refiner's and
in the hands of the prisoner. No account had been ren-
dered of cuttings and polishings. The prisoner had no
authority to dispose of silver or goods, and he had never
informed witness he had done anything of the kind.
On cross-examination witness said that he knew that
a workman under the prisoner had been brought to that
court, and convicted of stealing 10 ounces of silver on
the evidence of the prisoner. Witness was not aware
that other workmen could abstract silver given out to
the prisoner. Messrs. Collins and Co. were not em-
ployed by the house as regular refiners.
William Wood said, he was apprentice to the prisoner.
He had frequently fetched silver for him from Messrs.
Collins and Co, Had frequently received silver and
work from the prisoner to carry out of the manufactory.
On these occasions the prisoner followed him out and got
into a cab, taking away the property he had given to
him. Had taken as much silver and work as 200
ounces at one time out of the manufactory by direction
of the prisoner.
On cross-examination witness said there were about a
dozen workmen under the prisoner, who might have
taken silver in the prisoner's absence.
John Corlett. refiner, said, on one occasion the pri-
soner asked him to give him a memorandum for 200
ounces of silver, and promised to send the silver the next
day. He did not send it until the following year, which
was a period of about three weeks. The prisoner men-
tioned to him he had been guilty of some neglect in not
letting him have the work sooner.
John Hearn, refiner, No. 11, Jerusalem-passage,
Clerkenwell, had known the prisoner for some years.
Had purchased since 1851, at various times, considera-
ble quantities of cuttings and polishings from the pri-
soner. Had paid the prisoner nearly 401. for this stuff.
The prisoner had frequently brought large lumps of ster-
ling silver to him to be broken into smaller pieces.
Police-serjeant Godfrey, C 5, said when he apprehended
the prisoner he said he knew nothing about the charge.
When shown the memorandum in Mr. Corbett's book,
he said he was afraid it was true. The prisoner also ad-
mitted selling cuttings to Mr. Hearn.
The prisoner reserved his defence, and was fully com-
mitted.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 6, 1854.