The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-24 00:00:00

PRICE sd.

THE BILL-SYSTEM.-CAPTURE OF

TWO NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS.

Two fashionably-attired fellows, named Charles Rickaby
and William Prescott, were brought up on Thursday be-
fore Mr. MrrisnuLt., at Bow-street, charged on suspicion
with having stolen a blank acceptance, on which was a
stamp valued 65., the property of a gentleman, whose
name (lid not transpire. The prisoners were sent from
Marlborough-street, as the Magistrate there was given to
understand that a warrant had already been granted at this
office against the prisoner Prescot for a similar offence.
Mr. MiNsHum. inquired if any person was in attend-
ance who could prefer any charge ?
Mr. Webb, chemist and druggist, No. 72, Quadrant,
Regent-street, being sworn, said, that on Monday last a
gentleman drove up to his door in a cabriolet, and there
being a coronet upon the panel, be considered he was a
nobleman, who informed him that a warrant had been
granted for the apprehension of Prescot on a charge of
having stolen a blank acceptance from him, and that he
was advertised, at the same time requesting that he Would
use his exertions to have him taken into custody. Having
met with him in May-fair, he called a policeman, and, after
he was given into custody upon the charge, he handed a
parcel of papers, produced, to the prisoner Rickaby, in
whose company he was, who instantly rolled them up, and
put them into his hat.

Mr. MiNsmaL directed both the prisoners to be
searched, which, it appeared, the constable omitted to do,
after he had them conveyed to the station-house.
Mr Burnaby informed the Magistrate that a gentleman
was present who had applied for advice and assistance
against a person who had robbed him of a blank accept-
ance,.-and there was every probability he could identify
either of the prisoners as as being the party.
An elderly gentleman named Craig immediately came
forward, and said, that having occasion to raise a sum of
money he was directed to the prisoner Rickaby, but who
represented himself to be Thomas Austin, and, after giving
him a blank acceptance, he absconded with it.
The policeman, on his return from the lock-up-room,
where he retired with the prisoners to search them, pro-
, duced a gold watch and several blank acceptances, by which
it appeared they were engaged in the same speculation.
The prisoner Prescot defended himself by saying that
the complainant had been promised .50/. for apprehending
him, and that he bought the stamps with his own property.
Mr. Webb assured his worship that he came forward, as
he considered it a public duty, and he entertained no vin-
dictive feeling towards either of the prisoners.
Mr. MiNsituLL said he had made inquiry since the case
was brought before him respecting the warrant which had
been granted agzinst Prescot, and he was informed that
such had been the case about twelve months backs ; and
as it then had been disposed of, it could no longer be in
force. The prisoners should therefore be conveyed back to
Marlborough-street, and after the Magistrates of that office
had determined upon the case, they should again be brought
before him, as they appeared to have acted in concert in
obtaining the blank acceptance from Mr. Craig, in order to
have that charge preferred against them.

MORE OF THE BILL SWINDLING

SYSTEM.

Yesterday James Jigging was brought from the Queen's
Bench prison to Bow-street, on a writ of habeas corpus,
in order to answer a charge of uttering two forged accept-
ances for 30/. each, knowing the same to be forged, for the
purpose of defrauding Mr. S. Solomon, fruiterer, Covent-
garden Market.

Mr. Phillips, the barrister, appeared for Mr. Solomon,
and Mr. Lloyd, solicitor, attended on behalf of the prisoner.
Mr. Phillips stated that his client, Mr. Solomon, had
been for a considerable number of years a fruiterer in
Covent-garden Market, and had become acquainted with
the prisoner when he was chief waiter and steward at the
Garrick Club. He presented to Mr. Solomon two bills of
exchange, drawn by himself upon a company carrying on
business in 59, Great Queen-street. The bills purported
to be accepted by Messrs. Farebrotber and Company, whom
the prisoner described as highly respectable, and men-
tioned that he had obtained the acceptances on the
security of some property left to him and his brothers,
which was mortgaged. By these representations the pro-
secutor had been induced to advance to the prisoner up-
wards of 59/, for the bills, which were stated to be forged
when they were presented for payment. In the course
of this investigation he would probably have to expose one
of the many schemes resorted to in this metropolis by
which a person under the name of a firm can take in the
unwary. Every inquiry had been made, but it could not
be ascertained that a person of the name of Farebrother
had anything to do with the business carried on at No. 59,
Great Queen-street. The only partner he believed was
a Mr. Fellingham, whom he would call as a witness for the
Crown ; but what he would state it was impossible to say.
as he bad refused to have any communication with the so-
licitor for the prosecution, and had even said that he would
not be sworn to-day. The bills were dated October 27,
1837, and one was payable two months, and the other
three months after to Mr. Jiggins or order. Neither of
them were indorsed by the prisoner, but he submitted that
that made no difference, and he referred to the case of Ber-
kitt, in Russell and Ryan, which was similar to the present,
although perhaps not so strong against the prisoner. In
that case a bill of exchange without indorsement was given
by the prisoner, and it purported to be accepted by a party
not in existence. The prosecutrix was convinced that she
was only keeping it as a security, and could do nothing
with it without being indorsed ; yet it was held that the
intention was equally fraudulent. The Learned Counsel
then called after Mr. Solomon's statement, a person named
Fellingham, who was subjected to a searching examination by
Mr. Phillips, who afterwards submitted that from the course
which had been taken in this case it would be frivolous to
remand the prisoner ; but he considered that the Magistrate
was now authorised in detaining and committing him on
another charge—namely, of obtaining the money on false
pretences. He had told Mr. Solomon that Messrs. Fare-
brother were highly respectable, and he had obtained the
acceptances on security of some mortgaged property left to
him and his brother, which statements alone had induced
the prosecutor to advance the money. The Learned
Counsel, after reading Mr. Solomon's evidence, said that it
appeared that there was no such person as Farebrother, and
Fellingham was the only partner, and he had sworn that he
knew nothing of the prisoner's property, and had never any
money in his hands belonging to Jiggins. The whole story
was untrue, it appeared from Fellingham's evidence, and
was a false pretence to get the money.
Mr. MINSHULL said that he was quite ready to commit
the prisoner on the charge of obtaining money on false
pretences.
The prisoner, in answer to the charge, said, after enter-
ing into a long detail of other bill transactions which be al-
leged took place between him, Mr. Solomon, and Messrs.
Farebrother, that he did not tell the prosecutor that he
had obtained the acceptances produced on the security of
any mortgaged property. He had met Mr. Fellingham at
a house he was in the habit of frequenting, and had never
known him until about three months ago by any other
name than that of Farebrother. If he had not been kept
in prison he would have paid the bills long ago.
Mr. Phillips said that Mr. Solomons had not kept him in
prison, and would certainly have been very glad to have re-
ceived his money.

The prisoner said if he were out of prison he might pay
the money ; and being kept there he was deprived of the
opportunity of doing so.
Mr. Phillips (to the Magistrate)--you have seen the
unwillingness Mr. Fellingham showed to give evidence, and
the difficulty he had to be sworn ; I think, therefore, if be
be now permitted to leave the office without any surety for
his future appearance, the ends of justice may be defeated,
and I would ask you to call upon him to find bail that
he would appear on the trial of the prisoner as a witness
for the Crown.
Mr. Fellingham said he was acting under the advice of
Counsel in refusing to be sworn, but he was quite willing
to enter into his own recognizance to appear at the trial.
Mr. M1N5111.71.1. said he was a very material witness, and
it was evident that ho was a very unwilling one ; he would
therefore call upon him to enter into his own recognizance
for 50/., and find two sureties in :25/. each, that he would
appear as a witness for the Crown when required.
The prisoner's bail was then fixed at 1001. his own recog-
nizance, and two sureties in 50/. each and to give twenty-
four hours' notice of bail.
The office was crowded during the investigation of the
case, which occupied several hours.
T

::...,....,_ 11,
_AN ON STEAN-AQATa.--The heads of a Bill
to be brought before Parliament have been settled, by
which it is to bo proposed that " All vessels engaged in
the eonveyaance of passengers for hire by
water, when
impelled by any other means than sails or manual la-
bour," shall not be impelled without a license, appor-
tioned in its price to every hundred tons, nor without
-eying a duty " for and in respect of every Pasener' at
and after the rate of a halfpenny for el{ery four miles, or
fraction of four miles."