The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-23 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

'Ts

uge,lt hying at the Bol:on Coffee-house, I'ooley-
Borc,esy,ll. wa:; chm.ged obtaining money
under
Mr. John Retie, of No. 10, Osborne-street, White-
chapel, said that he had been in the habit of advertising
in the Patriot and Briti,h Banner newspapers. Qn
Monday last the prisoner called for the account, when
witness told him that he was not prepared to pay it, as
he should like to call at the office and see if evplything
was correct, end that he might look in in the course ot
the week. On the Wednesday the prisoner again called,
but, as he (Mr. Relfe) had not had time to go to the
office, the affair was put off until that day (Saturday).
Before leaving the premises Crossley said that, if the
money was paid to him instead of at the office, he could
I allow him 10 per cent., upon which witness replied, that
if that were the case he wonld prefer paying him. How-
ever, on Friday he went to the office, and discovered that
not only was no percentage allowed, but that the pri-
soner was not even known there. Accordingly, that
morning he had an officer in readiness, and the prisoner
having called and been paid 71. 17,. 6d. for the British
Banner, he was directly taken into custody. The pri-
soner, before he was apprehended, asked when he should
call for the account due to the Patriot.

Mr. John Charles Davis, of 69, Leadenhall-street,
cutler, said that the prisoner called upon him for two
bills, one for 31. 55., due to the Patriot, and the other of
31 for the British Banner, making in all 61. ss.
Alderman CHALLIS asked when he paid the money?
Mr. Davis replied, on the Bth of February. The pri-
soner had made application before.
Mr. D. Pratt, of 5, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, publisher
of the above newspapers, said, that no one was autho-
rized to receive moneys except the clerks in his office.
He had never seen the prisoner.
The prisoner declined making any remark, and
Alderusao CHALLIS remanded him until Friday next,
as there was no doubt fresh charges would be brought
against him.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

James Locke, a well-dressed youth, was brought bo-
fore Mr. Hardwick, charged with having obtained sub-
scriptions from the nobility and gentry under the frau-
dulent pretence of the said subscriptions being for the
purpose of defraying the expenses of a lying-in institu-
tion. The prisoner is the son of a person name Locke
who describes himself as the surgeon and manager of
the Royal Belgrave Lying-in Institution, of No. 5,
Chapel-street, May-fair, formerly of Trevor-square. On
the prisoner a pocket ledger was found, which showed
that about 401. had already been collected this year,
400/. last year, from various persons of wealth and dis-
tinction. Among the names of the subscribers were
those of Mehemet Pasha, the Turkish Ambassador ; the
Countess de Neuilly, the Countess Colleredo, the Peru-
vian Minister, Lady Walker, Admiral Cecille, the
Princess of Parma, Lady Milbanke, the Marquis of Kil-
dare, &c. There were a number of papers produced by
the police, one of which was a prospectus headed,
`Royal Belgrave Lying in Institution, Trevor-square,"
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent patroness, with
about 40 duchesses, marchionesses and countesses as the
committee of the management. _ . _

The charge against—the prisoner was for obtaining
money from Sir John Lowther under fraudulent pre-
tences.

Sir J. Lowther, of No. 127, Park-street, Grosvenor-
square, said that on Friday afternoon he was in his
library, when a servant informed him that a person had
called for a subscription due to the Royal Belgrave
Lying-in Hospital, and asked for one guinea, being the
amount of the alleged subscription. Witness told his
servant to deny him, and the person, who turned out to
be the prisoner, said he would call again. lu the mean-

tima witness, having had his suspicions excited, made
certain inquiries, which induced him to give information
to the police, and accordingly Inspector Lester, of the
A division, was in attendance at his house that morning.
The rrisoner called about eleven o'clock, and on being
shown into the room where he (witness) was sitting, said
he called for the subscription to the Be!grave Lying-in
Hospital, and produced some papers relating to the in.
stitution. Witness placed a sovereign and a shilling on
the table, and required uf the prisoner the name of the

person who authorised him to collect the money. The
prisoner said he was the son of Dr. Locke, who was a
member of the committee, and pointed out to witness his

father's name in a list dated as far back as 1832. Pri-
soner then produced a paper, which he requested witness
to sign. 'the paper was an order for a person who, as
he said, was desirous of being confined in the institution.
From the appearance of the paper witness declined to
sign it. The police-inspector was then called into the
room, and the prisoner given into custody.
Inspector Lester, on taking the prisoner into custody,
asked him who authorised him to receive money on be-
half of the alleged society. The prisoner said he was
authorised by his brother, who was secretary, and his
father, who was surgeon to the institution. Witness
asked if the institution was still in existence, and the
prisoner said it was; that a number of poor women had
been relieved by it within the last few months. Witness
told the prisoner that he was an officer, that the institu-
tion was a cheat, and that he had been obtaining money
improperly. Prisoner begged to be allowed to go home
to his father, but witness said he could not comply with
his request. Witness searched the prisoner, and found
31. 135., in addition to the 11. given to him by Sir
John Lowther, which had been marked. Witness also
found on the prisoner a gold watch, chain, and key,
and several clrculars addressed to
Mk mbera of the
aristocracy, and a collecting book, containing the
names of a number of persons from whom subscrip-
tions had been obtained. The prisoner said there were
two collectors, himself and his brother, and that
the institution was in Chapel-street, Belgrave-square.
Witness had seen a house in Spring-street, and found it
was a milk-shop. Witness was afterwards told thatlhe
institution was in Chapel-street. Ho had seen the house
5, Chapel-street, Mayfair. There was the name
" Locke, surgeon," on the door. The house was a dirty
mean looking house, with no accommodation as a lying-
in institution in any of the rooms. Had reason to believe
that the institution had been give up about five years
ago. Found a paper with Sir John Lowther's name as
a subscriber to it.
Mr. HARDWICK asked Horsford if he had anything to
communicate respecting this institution?— Horsford
said, about ten years ago, in consequence of informa-
tion sent to the Mendicity-office, relative to the Bel-
grave Lying-in Institution, in Chapel-street, he pro-
ceeded to make inquiries. He found enough to convince
him that the whole affair was au imposition. Last
summer a lady in Eaton-square, ono of the duped
subscribers, gave a letter to a poor woman to the
pretended institution, havicg previously paid before-
hand the expenses of her approaching confinement. The
poor woman of course had received no medical attend
-
once from this Royal institution, and, as there was
a clear case of obtaining money under fraudulent
pretences, he was instructed to take the impostors into
custody. He went to Trevor-square, where the sham
institution was situated, and watched the place for a
week, but without success. He saw a few things go
into the house, which the servant immediately after-
wars fetched away. The house was yellow-washed
outside, but had nothing else to indicate that it was au
institution. Several letters came to the house, which
were taken in by a coachman's wife, who was employed
and paid for this piece of service, and who would be
able to give some important evidence about the doings
of these parties.
Mr. Ilaausucx inquired if there were not some pro-
ceedings with reterence to the same institution some
time ago? Horsford said that the mother of the pri-
soner was taken up for obaining goods under false pre-
tences, and then some particulars relative to the cha-
racter of this institution came before the public.
Mr. HARDWICK, addressing the prisoner—Now is
the time to speak if you wish to say anything in ex-
planation.
Prisoner—l wish my father to speak for me, and he
will explain that the institution is still going on. The
things which were taken from Trevor-square were to go
to Chapel- street. We were moving at the time, and the
house in Trevor-square was not then given up.
Mr. HARDWICK—Where is this institution ? Pri-
soner—The institution is at No. 5, Chapol-street. The
institution only professes to attend out of doors. Women
are only seen at their own houses, and there is no ac-
commodation required or given at the institution. The
institution is merely an office for the women to come
with their letters from the subscribers. One room is
quite enough for that purpose. Let my father be sent
tor, and he will explain all to you, and then you will see
that the institution is still going on.
Mr. HanDwicK—These papers produced by the offi•
cers all bear date 1832.
Prisoner—Yes, the institution was established in that
year.
Mr. HARDWICK—Has it since ceased to exist? Pri-
soner—No; it is at No. 5, Chapel-street, a private house.
Mr. HAnuwtox said he should remand the charge for
further inquiry on Wednesday next.
RICHMOND.
Miss Lydia Dixon, a teacher of music, who had been
twice remanded upon charges of shoplifting, was brought
before Mr. Penrhyn, and a full bench of magistrates, for
final examination.
Mr. Robert Smith, of Richmond, solicitor, was in-
structed by the friends of the prisoner to watch the case
in her behalf.
The evidence previously taken in four cases having
been read over, and the depositions signed,
Mr. PENRHYN said, that if one more case was taken
it would fully establish the prisoner's connexion with the
two abodes, and would be sufficient for the ends of jus-
tice. If they took: all the cases they would have to
commit on 20 or 30 charges.
Mr. Henry Steel, linendraper, iii George-street,
Richmond, then identified some of the property found at
each of the lodgings, by which the required link was ob-
tained.
One othhr witness was Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, the
widow of a CoMmon Councilman, living in Grove-road,
Hammerscnith,who said she had known the prisoner, who
was her god-daughter, from her infancy, and she resided
with her up to the time of her apprehension, except
when she was fulfilling situations as governess. The
prisoner wanted for nothing, and could have had no ob-
ject in stealing these things. She was not aware that
any stolen property had been brought to her house be-
fore it was shown to her by the officers. The prisoner
I had had the brain fever, and had used a shower-bath for
five years to relieve her head.
The prisoner, after making some rambling statements,
was fully committed for trial at the Central Criminal
Court, bail in 400/. being taken, with proper notice.

THE Rev. MR. SHORE.—Mr. Shore's eldest
daughter is the unwearied amanuensis of her father in
prison, and is incessantly engaged in writing. Mr.
Shore has already received upwards of three hundred
addresses from public meetings and congregations in
various parts of the kingdom. besides other communica-
tions on various subjects.