The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-24 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, SEPT. 23.

John Browne was indicted at the instance of the Mendicity
Association, for obtaining money under false pretences. It
appeared that on the 7th of July, the defendant called at the
house of Sir Charles Forbes, in Fitzroy-square with a peti.
tion, stating that his name was William Graham, and that he
had carried on the trade of a working jeweller and silver-
smith, in Sutton-street, Clerkenwell, until -his house was
robbed by persons who burgatiously entered it, whereby he
was reduced to the greatest distress. This statement professed
to bear the signature of the rector (31r. Evans) and the church-
wardens of the parish of St. James, Clerkenwell. Sir Charles
Forbes' clerk, upon looking at the petition, remarked that he
knew Mr. Evans, and the name purporting to he his signature
was not his writing. To this the defendant replied, that Mr.
Evans was out of town, and his curate had signed the paper o n
his behalf. The clerk, being satisfied with this answer, gave
the defendant a sovereign by his employer's directions. A bau r
three weeks afterwards, a man named Hamerton made a similat
application at Sir Charles Forbes's limuse ; and upon going
out, was observed by the clerk to join the defendant, who was
waiting for him ; upon which he gave them both in charge to
an officer. In the fire-place of the room in which they were
confined, the officer found the petition upon which the defend-
ant had obtained the sovereign from Sir Charles Forbes. All
the signatures attached to this paper were proved to be fic-
titious.

In his defence, the prisoner detailed the circumstances of a
case in which, he said, he had narrowly escaped being con.
victed of highway robbery, in consequence of his having been
mistaken for the real offender, who was afterwards brought to
justice. On the present occasion he protested that he was the
victim of a similar mistake, he never having been at the house
of Sir Charles Forbes in his life.

The Jury found him Guilty, and the Court sentenced him to
seven years' transportation.
He was al,o tried, together with Hamcrtou, on another in-
dictment, which charged them with conspiring together to ob-
tain money under false pretences, on the occasion mentioned
in the preceding case, when they were given into custody by
Sir Charles Forbes's clerk. The Petition which Hamerton
then presented stated that his name-was Edward •Saunders,
and that he had been a watchmaker in Dartmouth-street,
Westminster until his house was burned down by a great fire
which occured thereon the sth of July, and which reduced him
to misery, and so severely injured his wife as to require her re-
moval to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. It was sworn that po
such tire as this had ever occurred ;' but the evidence not beibg
sufficiently strong to prOve the conspiracy between thetwodg-
fentlants, the jury returned a verdict of acquittal.
At half-past four o'clock, the whole of the cases I;eing dis-
posed of, the CHAIRMAN discharged the Jury, thanking them
ter their services, and remarking that the present session had
been heavier by one-third than any within his recollection for
the last 30 years. The Court was then adjourned to Friday,
the 30th instant.