The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-25 00:00:00

SHAMEFUL AND UNFEELING

FRAUD.

A day or two prior to Saturday the 6th inst., an adver-
tiiement was sant by post from London, for insertion in
the Guardian, and, being paid for by means of a post-
office order, was of course inserted on that day. It was to
the fallowing effect

" To Engineers, Engravers on Copperplate, Joiners.
and Cabinet Makers.—Wanted, good bands, to proceed
to New York and Philadelphi I. A free passage and mess,
with capital wages. Parties must forward age, particulars
of family, if any, present sac of wages, &c.—Post free,
with a stamp, to Washington Percival, 11, Southampton-
street, Euston-square, London, who will communicate all
particulars."
In consequence of this advertisement, so tempting at a
time when employment is generally scarce, many persons
made application by letter, as directed in the advertise-
ment ; and, in the course of a post or two, each applicant
received a reply, informing him that his services would be
accepted, at a very handsome rate of wages ; but requiring
from each a remittance of 11. " to ensure registration, and
prevent disappointment." The general character of these
answers may be gathered from the following copy of one
addressed to a mechanic who had made application :-
2, Oxford-street, London, March 16, 1841.
SIR,—In reply to yours, I beg to say, that you will be
required to enter into an agreement to serve Messrs.
Graffe and Tompkins, of New York, for three years, at the
weekly sum of 60s. English money ; week sixty-six hours,
including two hours per day for meals. Your two sons
shall also be engaged, and r,c, ive proportionate wages.
Your and their passage, with beddinz and provisions of
the best kind, will be free. Your wife will he charged
101., and your youngest son 51., the child under two years
of age will not be charged. You must remit 1/. by return
of post, to insure registration on board, and prevent disap-
pointment, which will be returned to you on your arrival
up here, together with 1/. 15; for your expenses. The
passage money for your wife, &c., 151., you will have to
repay by initAments of 10s. per week, on your arrival in
America You must ba in town on the sth of April. As
your application has been so late, you hat better remit the
registration money to the above address (No. 2, Oxford-
street) by return of post, provided you make up your mind
to go, as our list is nearly complete.-1 am, &c.,
WASHINGTON PERCIVAL.

Thomas --

On receipt of the 11. you will Le c ',nsidered engaged.
Several of the parties who receieei these letters had the
prudence to make a little inquiry before sending their
money, and were advised to have nothing to do with Mr.
Washington Percival. Others, however, were not so
careful ; and we have reason to believe, that a number of
sums were forwarded as direc'ed, and some of them, no
doubt, fell into the hands of the scoundrels who bad devised
this nefarious scheme of plunder. Amongst others, the
party to whom the preceding letter was addressed, who
had been some time out of employment, and was in very
puor circumstances, pledged his watch to raise the neces-
sary sum, and sent it by post as directel He would also
have incurred the further expense of conveying himself and
his family to London, if he had not, fortunately, had
his suspicions awakened by what he heard from an.
other applicant, whe, instead of sending the money
required, took the precaution of writing to a friend in
London, and requested him to make some inquiries about
Mr. Washington Percival, at the place indicated in
that
letter. The party entrusted with this inquiry found t_
..
No. 2, Oxford-street, was a public-house, the landlord of
which knew nothing of Mr. Percival, except that heteawa.
there occasionally for letters. On further inquiryi.,ouie
found that there were then two mcchanics in f the I
enga;ements. A third person in waiting I
who had come from Manchester with the view of phroecusarimnge
plain iwith the place, turned out to be a policeman in
was waiting for Mr. Washitigton Percival,
his conduct
inten-
tion of giving him an opportunity of expl;ever,
had most
before a Magistrate. Mr. Percival, h
that “ hawks were
probably received some intimation. :lothes, who
his appearance, though a
abroad;" and he did not make..
cm , ,
h el, 1 Jenny containing
number of letters, some
were waiting '
"of the police had been called to
un-
derstand that the attention
landlord of the public-house, who suQ-
money and money-order!, of
ere viaiting for him. Wo un.
the matter by
ouarebtsoowdllolnopweirmattne
pected, from theth econduct
properlyrf his visitor,comm u
nt hi .caatt
communicated
l was not
t
_ his sus
officer,
inthisofn.
neighbourhood
f •
picions to an
quiteass
v warninge
}i right,
o p
saud may be made berelfLer. No
e that
any sun
honest man wanting servants or workmen will ever require
ttaconmadlpl t spy :arty" fraud
them to advance money ; and, whenever any demand of
the • ilar at
kind is made, the applicant • . may e ~,e quite sure that
there is a design on foot to defraud him.—Manchester
Guardian.