The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-04 00:00:00

MARLBRO'-STREET-(THIS DAY

Edward Lewis, a one-legged man, walking upon crutches,
was placed before Mr. Bingham, charged with being drunk
and endeavouring to obtain charitable contributions by
fraudulent means.

Mr. Joseph Percy, builder, 20, Great Castle-street, Maryle-
bone, stated that about four o'clock on the preceding after-
noon the prisoner came to his residence, and in an importu-
nate manner requested to be relieved with alms. Complain-
ant, not knowing anything of the fellow, asked him who and
what he was. The prisoner replied, " What, don't you know
me. I am the man who fell from a scaffold opposite, and
broke my thigh." Complainant said that he knew nothing
of him, and seeing that he appeared to be in liquor, desired
him to leave the house. The prisoner then said it was all a
mistake; it was Mr. Percy, sen., that he wanted to see; and
pulling out a letter, said "Look at that, old fellow, and you
will see it is all right." Complainant did look at the letter,
and found it all wrong, as all the signatures appeared to be
forged. He then sent for a constable, and gave him into
custody. The annexed is a copy of the letter in question :
" April '2B, 1847.
" I recommend the bearer, Edward Lewis, carpenter
whom I have known several years as an honest man ; he has
had the misfortune to lose his right leg and thigh by a fall
from a scaffold in this neighbourhood; in consequence of his
affliction he has become indebted to his landlord for rent to
the amount of 41. 125., which if not paid by the ad of May,
his goods will be sold. Knowing him to be a deserving man
with a large family, I beg to recommend him to the benevo-
lence of a few friends and the public, to assist him on the
occasion.

(Signed) " WILLIAM STURT, builder,
John-strreet.
Here followed a list of the names of persons who, it was
alleged, had given contributions :—Messrs. Cubitt, ss. ; Mr.
Blackburn, ss; A Lady, 55.; Anonymous, 55., and several
others for like amounts, but so little care had been taken to
disguise the writing, that the most casual observer could im-
mediately detect that the letter and the signature were written
by one and the same party.
Police-constable E 136, proved receiving charge of the pri-
soner, and on searching him at the station, found 4s. 11d.
upon him.
Daniells, one of the Mendicity Society's constables, proved
a former conviction against the prisoner, who, he said, was
one of the most determined impostors of London. The pri-
soner denied knowing that he was doing wrong, but admitted
the letter and signatures to be a forgery.
Mr. BINGHAM said he should make a severe example of
such an impostor, by sending him to the House of Correction
for three months.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP VI.

SALISBURY AND YEOVIL, AND EXETER,

YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER.

In consequence of an intimation thrown out by the Com-
mittee yesterday, to the effect that it would be desirable that
the traffic evidence should be furnished on that day,
Mr. COCKBURN', the counsel for the South-Western Rail-
way, proceeded to call Mr Locke, the engineer to the rail-
way, reserving to himself the liberty of ealling other evi-
dence to show the necessity of the branches proposed by the
South-Western Company, between Bledford and Burton.
The Committee also decided that the Great Western
schemes should be the next upon which they would be pre-
pared to receive evidence.
Mr. Locke, C.E., then proceeded to state the course of the
proposed lines. They would start from Salisbury, at the
termination of the line sanctioned by Parliament
last year at Fisherton. The terminus would be at
Queen-street, in the city of Exeter. The total length of the
line from Salisbury to Exeter would be 87.%, the distance of
Salisbury from London would be 81% miles, making the
total distance front Exeter to London 169 miles. The pre-
sent distance by the Great Western Railway was 193 miles,
making a saving in favour of the South-Western lines of
24 miles. There were no features presenting any engineering
difficulties, with the exception of a tunnel at Honitou of
about 1,800 yards in length.