The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-24 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE SWINDLING.

Notwithstanding the very formidable array of cases of
swindling of the subjoined description which have re-
cently been perpetrat:4l in this neighbourhood, and
which one would have thought would have operated as
warnings to others---another case occurred on Tuesday
last, even more barefaced and impudent than any of its
predecessors, and through which no less a sum than
187/. has been filched ! It apper.rs that there is an
elderly farmer, named Day, residing at Doulting, near
Shepton Mallet. On the day in question, a man of re-
spectable appearance, and possessing that peculiar kind
of impudence which attaches itself to such characters,
called upon him and introduced himself as a brother of a
clergyman at Wells, whose name he mentioned. The
name being familiar to the farmer, he freely entered into
conversation with his new friend, who told him that he
had just come into a little estate, and that he wanted to
purchase two good milch cows. The farmer said he
should be glad to sell him two if there were any on the
farm that suited him ; so that he bad better look round.
They accordingly took a survey of the stock on the farm
bat of course there were none that " exactly suited"
the man of money. . He therefore requested that the
farmer would buy him two at Shepton Mallet market,
and he would give him a sovereign for his trouble. The
farmer said he would willingly do so ; but on the "gen-
tleman" saying he should wish to hear from " his lady,"
who was at Shepton Mallet, what sort of cattle would
suit her, he agreed to walk over with him to see her. As
they jogged along the road, they met another " gentle-
man," who accosted the first gentleman in the usual
way. There was a great deal of bowing and scraping
and many " How-d'ye-do's" and so on, passed betwixt
them, and the poor old farmer began to be quite pleased
with his company. At length the new-corner said to his
friend—" You've heard of my uncle's death, I suppose?"
"Pon my word I've not—when did the old gentleman die?"
rejoined the other gentleman. "Oh ! the other day ;
and I'm glad to say he has left me a nice little estate,which
I want to let to any one who can stock it well ; I don't
care to whom." " Allow me to introduce you to my
friend Day," said " gentleman No. 1," " he can stock
it I've no doubt ; I've just been over his farm, and a
capital lot o' catte he has there, I can assure you." The
farmer hinted that he had a son for whom he should
like to take the farm, and that he could stock it.
" Gentleman No. 2" appearing somewhat dubious upon
this point, farmer Day thought himself somewhat un-
fairly reflected upon, and immediately produced his
purse, to show them that he had money as well as stock.
The said purse contained a deposit note, dated Shepton
Mallet, May 28, 1841, No. 204, payable to W. Day, for
1001. ; a receipt for 401., No. 15, dated Shepton Mallet,
March 5, 1341 ; both of Stockey's bank ; 47/. in cash
notes, and two sovereigns. The whole trio smiled hap-
pily on the treasure—farmer Day being its possessor
de facto, and the " gentlemen" on being its possessor
in perspective.
Shortly afterwards, the man who had the estate said
he was going further then, on business, but that he would
give the farmer a call another day ; and therefore bade
them good afternoon. The other " gentleman" then
said he did'nt think it was worth while troubling " his
lady" about the cows ; he would leave it to the farmer's
judgment to the market. He might as well, however,
give him the sovereign, and then it would be done with.
To this farmer Day had not given the slightest objec-
tion ; and the " gentleman" very kindly offered to put
it in his purse for him. The farmer unwittingly handed
over his purse, into which he had no doubt his generous
friend would place the sovereign safe. The " gentleman"
then returned the purse, and saw it safely put into his
unfortunate dupe's pocket. After a little more talk, they
parted, and on the farmer examining the contents of his
purse, he found that the notes had been replaced by
a piece of an old newspaper ! The chagrined old gen-
tleman then gave information to the police authorities
in Bath, who, from the description, knew something
of the sharper. A policeman accordingly accompanied
the farmer's son, on the same night, to Mr. Knott's, the
Freemason's Tavern, in Abbey-street, where inquiries
were made if there were any lodgers in the house ; and
on answer that a man of the description given was at
that time in bed, the young farmer and the policeman
went up stairs into his room, where Mr. Day identified
the sleeping swindler as the man whom he had seen
talking to his father. The policeman then transferred
the astonished "gentleman" from a bed of down in the
tavern to a bed of boards in the station-house. On his
clothes being searched, two 5/. notes were found therein,
one of which was identified by Mr. Day. He was next
morning escorted to Mr. Pike's academy, in Grove-
street, where, from a hint thrown out by Mr. Hall, who
had had a previous acquaintance with the " gentleman,"
his clothes were dissected, when in the collar of his coat
were found a quantity of flash notes. He gave his name
Henry Edwards. The " gentleman," whose uncle died
and left him the estate, has not yet been apprehended ' •
nor has the lady at Shepton Mallet been heard of.
When will people be more wise than to entrust their
purses in other persons' hands 7—Bath Chronicle.

THE MARK E TS-YESTERDAY.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The arrivals of Grain this week have been moderate. The
unpropitious weather has had the effect of advancing English
Wheat 2.., and Bonded Wheat 4s. per quarter since Monday
last. More money was also demanded for most other Grain,
but the buyers were unwilling to comply. Flourmet a good sale.