The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-26 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.—John Bannister, alias Mortimor,
alias ShaiT, was brought up in the custody of Harvey,
of the metropolitan force, charged with obtaining goods
and money to the several amounts of 29/., 891., 81., MIL,
and 401., under false pretences.
Charles Morris said—l am a partner is the firm of
Cooke and Morris, carpenters and packingcase makers,
at GO, Old Bailey. On the 25th of May last, the prisoner
applied to us to fit up a shop in Drury-lane for him.
He said he had 5001. coming to him in a few weeks, i❑
consequence of the death of an uncle of his, and upon
that representation we did the carpenter's work for him.
It amounted to 291. ; but on going to the shop five days
after it was opened, I found it shut up, everything re-
moved, and the place deserted. I have not seen any-
thing since of the prisoner until I saw him at Bow-lane
station this morning.
Mr. Bolton, of the firm of Bolton, Smith, and Co.,
warehousemen, of Bow Churchyard, said—On the 24th
of May last, the prisoner called upon us and said he
wanted to stock a shop he had just opened in Drury-
lane, and wished to be supplied with goods from our
warehouse to commence business with. I asked him
for a reference, and he gave me the name of Mr. Tay-
lor, a surveyor, of Southampton-street. I called on Mr.
Taylor, whom I found sitting in a room furnished in
every respect like a surveyor's office. I told him I came
at the request of Mr. Mortimor, that being the name
the prisoner went by, and asked him if I might trust the
prisoner with certain goods he had selected. Mr. '.ry-
lor said I might trust the prisoner, as he was selling
property for him, the proceeds of which the prisoner
would have in about a mouth or six weeks. He also

said we could trust the prisoner to the extent of 501. or
JO/. with perfect safety, as the value of the property he
was selling for him was between 4001. and 5001. As
this amount agreed with that the prisoner had repre-
sented he was about to receive, I was satisfied, and
agreed to let him have goods to the value of 801. or 99/.,
for which I took his acceptance at two months. At
Mr. Taylor's seggestion, the acceptance was male pay-
able at his house, and lie undertook that the money
should be forthcoming at the proper time. A few da3s
after we supplied the goods Mr. Morris came to me and
said the shop in Drury-lane was shut up. I went up
there and found that the shop was closed, and every-
thing except the fixtures removed on the evening pre-
vious. The name of John Mortimor was on the house,
and had only been painted up about a week. I pre-
sented the bill and had it noted.

John Harvey, 14 G, said—About ten o'clock this
morning I saw the prisoner in Bethnal-green, and called
out to him, •' Jack Sharp." I knew he would not look
round immediately, but in about fire minutes I saw him
turn his head, and I then said, " I want you for obtain-
ing a loan of V. of Mr. Jackson, of the Parr's Head,
Doctors' Commons ; also for obtaining cloth to the value
of 1611. of a firm in Wood-street, Cheapside ; also for
obtaining goods to the amount of 901. of Smith and Co.,
of Bow Churchyard ; and good to the ♦alue of 301. or
401. of Smith, of Wood-street, under false pretences."
He said, "Upon my word you are mistaken." I told
him that, at all events, I would take him to Bow-lane
upon my own responsibility. He then asked me to let
him go home and get his boots. I said I would not do
that, but I would take him to Bow-lane in a cab, and if
he was not identified I would pay for a cab to take him
home again. I asked him whera he lived, and he gave
me the address, 12, Edward-street, Kingsland-road,
and said be went by the name of Bannister tiler; and
followed the business of a traveller ; but he was not
particular in which line. I then told him I knew he
had two places, and that if he was identified I should
return and search both of them ; upon which he asked
me to allow him to write a letter before going into the
cab, which request I, of course, refused. I took him to
the station, where he was identified.

Alderman Rose : You called him "Jack Sharp ;" is
that his real name ?—Witness : That is the name he
always goes by among his associates.
Prisoner : My name is John Bannister Mortinaor.
Alderman Rose : Is he known to the police ?-llar-
vey : Oh, yes ; he belongs to a gang of about 30 or 40
persons, all of whom have so many aliases that they
scarcely know which is their right name. The prisoner's
sister lived with the prisoner as his wife in the shop in
Drury-lane, and passed as Mrs. Alortirnor ; and I have
no doubt but that she will be shortly in custody, as I am
looking out for her. One of the gang is in Newgate
awaiting his trial, and I have heard him say that he will
defy any one except the parson who christened him to
tell his name, for he really does not know it himself.
Mr. Bolton said : I went up to the shop in Drury-
lane before it was opened, to see how the prisoner was
getting on, and he introduced his sister to me as his
wifo.

Har►ey said there were a great many other cases in
which the prisoner had obtained large sums of money
under similar pretences, and he therefore applied for an
adjournment.

The prisoner was accordingly remanded.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. .Toltia Dean Camp-
bell and Georae Stratton, described in the police-sheet as
lieutenants of yeomanry, were brought before Mr. Bing-
ham, charged with having been drunk, creating a
disturbance in the Haymarket, and assaulting the
police.
Police-constable Bowles said, about half-past two on
the previous morning he saw the defendants in a state of
intoxication in the Haymarket. Stratton came up to
him, wanted to shake hands, and upon his advances
being repulsed, he pushed the lighted end of a cigar in
his face. The defendants had been knocking about the
Haymarket together for some time before this. Witness
took one of the defendants into custody, and Police-ser-
jeant Holloway the other.
Police-gerjeant Holloway said he took Campbell into
custody in the Haymarket on Sunday morning. While
on the road to the station-house, the defendant struggled
to get away, and threw him down. He was not much
hurt.

The defendants said they were sorry for what had
occurred.

Mr. Bingham said, if they would get drunk and make
a disturbance they must take the consequences. Fined
40s. each.

The fines were paid.

SOUTHWARK. Margaret Spenning, an elderly
female, was charged with conveying a bladder, contain-
ing four quarts of gin, into the Queen's Prison, under
the following artful circumstances :
Charles Collwell, chief turnkey said he had known
the defendant some years as being a constant attendant
at the prison chapel every Sunday. Latterly a great
quantity of spirits had found its way within the walls,
and every precaution was used to detect the parties who
brought it. On Sunday afternoon the prisoner came
as usual with her prayer-book in hand, and was shuffling
through the lobby towards the chapel, when he suspected
that she had something contraband about her. He
accordingly stopped her and asked her what she had
concealed under her clothes, when she indignantly re-
plied, " How can you be so indecent as to ask such a
question'" Witness, however, handed her over to the
female et-archer, Then a bladder containing four quarts

of gin was found suspended to a band round her waist.
He then gave her into custody.
The prisoner said she was very sorry for what had
occurred. She bad used the chapel for many years, and
had never done such a thing before. She was foolishly
advised to do so by one of the inmates on Sunday
morning.

Mr. A'Beckett told her that she had subjected herself
to a penalty of 101., which he had no power to reduce.
Her conduct was disgraceful in conveying a large quan-
tity of spirits into the prison on a Sunday, under the
cloak of religion. He must fine her 101. for the offence,
and in default of payment commit her to prison for one
month.

Mr. A'Beckett received 51, from "A. W. J.," and a
banker's cheque from " C. K." for 101., to be distributed
among the unfortunate poor in this district who may have
suffered bereavement by cholera.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.