The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-30 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

CAUTION TO THE PUBLlC.—Yesterday Sir Peter
Laurie inquired if any gentleman of the medical pro-
fession, residing in the neighbourhood of Gray's Inn-
road, or a young lady who resided in his house, was
present to give an explanation respecting an imputa-
tion of swindling against the latter.
Mr. Roe, the officer of the court, said that no such
parties were present.
Sir PETER LAURIE then remarked that he had
received a letter from a Mr. Stansfield, of Leeds,
enclosing an advertisement which appeared in a Leeds
newspaper, in which a young lady undertook to
produce without fail, in three or four weeks, a pair
of whiskers and also mustachios for the accommo-
dation of any gentleman who wished to possess such
attractive ornaments. The course was to write to
the lady, enclosing 24 postage stamps, and in return
she would send free a very curious medicament. His
correspondent stated that he had already sent the
required number of stamps, and not having received
any parcel within a reasonable period he wrote again,
but received no reply. The writer, therefore, placed
the matter in his hands, under the apprehension that
other persons were being duped by the same means.
Sir Peter had upon this sent Roe, the officer, to make
some inquiries, and it appeared he had called twice
without being so fortunate as to meet with the young
lady. He now wished to know what passed when the
officer called the preceding day.
Mr. Roe stated that there was the name of a sur-
geon on the door, which upon knocking it was, upon
both occasions, opened, not by a servant, but by the
surgeon himself. On mentioning his business the
surgeon said he believed he could answer as well as
the young lady. He had received the letter from the
gentleman at Leeds, and sent the package. He was
sure of that, for he always made up and took such
packages to the booking offices himself for the young
lady. He (Roe) remarked that the gentleman had
written respecting the non-arrival of the package,
and wished to know why an answer had not been
sent. Upon which the surgeon said his reason for
not answering the letter was that it did not contain a
postage stamp to frank the reply, and, therefore, he
threw it in the paper basket. Roe said it was very
unbusiness like—the least a gentleman would do was
to write and say if it had been sent, and make some
inquiries. The matter would be mentioned publicly
by the magistrate next morning, when the lady or
himself had better attend and offer some explanation,
lest her reputation should suffer in some degree. The
surgeon replied that her character would suffer no
damage, but if the newspapers did do her any damage
she would place the matter in the hands of ber soli-
citor.
Sir P. LAURIE said the people of London where
inquiry could be promptly made, were not likely to
be taken in by such an advertisement in a London
newspaper, and therefore a country newspaper was a
preferable channel. It was extraordinary that coun-
try people could be so easily deceived by promises of
such an extraordinary character. If other persons
had made similar applications for whiskers to this
young lady, and their hopes had been deferred in the
same manner, they might now surmise the cause.
He was sorry the gentleman had not attended, and
assured him there was no trickery in the case.