The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-05 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

CHARGE OF BILL STEALING.— William Chandler
and William James Loughten, alias Rippleside, who
have been in custody since Saturday last on a charge
of obtaining two bills for 2501. each from Captain
Shrapnel by false representations, were placed at the
bar for further examination.

Mr. Hope, a solicitor, attended on the part of Cap-
tain Shrapnel for the prosecution, and Mr. Games ap-
peared for the prisoners.
The evidence taken on Saturday having been read,
Captain Henry Needham Scrope Shrapnel entered
the witness-box, and bn being sworn deposed that
on the 23d of November last he saw an advertisement
in the United Serrice Gazette, which ran thus :
" Money ready to be advanced on real or personal
security, in amounts not less than 1001. nor exceed-
ing .5,000/. Letters from principals or their solici-
tors only, to be addressed (paid) to Mr. Rippleside,
Ashly's post-office, North Brixton ;" and being in
want of some cash, he had replied to it by letter. To
this he received an answer by return of post, from
the prisoner Chandler. A correspondence followed
on the subject of his having some money advanced on
his acceptances, and Chandler wrote to him to be in
town on Tuesday, the 21st of December, when he
promised to get his bills discounted to the amount of
3001. or 5001. He (Captain Shrapnel) accordingly
came to town from Gosport, on the 21st, and the
prisoner Chandler, on the same evening, called on
him at the Tavistock Hotel, Covent-garden, when he
introduced himself, and said he was the person who
had obtained for him an advance of 2,0001. some
years ago, on his property, and added, he should-be
happy to get him any money he then wanted from
the same person.
Mr. NORTON—Was that the fact, that the prisoner
Chandler had got you 2,000/. advanced upon your
property ? Captain Shrapnel—Not at all, sir ; that
loan was negotiated through a Mr. Douglas ; but
Chandler, I believe, was connected in some way or
other with the office where the deeds were made out,
and by this means became acquainted with the fact.
The other prisoner (Loughten) was a stranger to
him. He (Captain Shrapnel) told Chandler that he
wanted 5001., and his reply was, that he could get it
at once for him upon his bills. He then suggested
that he should draw two bills for 2501. each ; and he
did so upon stamps which he (witness) purchased.
These Chandler took away with him, but-on the fol-
lowing day returned, and said that Mr. Morton, a
gentleman residing in Manchester-square, and who
was going to advance the money on the bills, objected
to one of them, and said he proposed that one should
be a bill drawn in the ordinary way, and not a pro-
missory note. He (Chandler) at the same time pro.
duced a stamp, and drew on witness at six months
for 250/., and requested him to accept it, which he
did. Chandler then took away this bill and the
promissory note, and not only promised, but gave
an undertaking in writing to that effect, that he
should return them or 4251. on the following even-
ing, but he had not seen him from that time to the
present.
Mr. Games—Now, Captain Shrapnel, are you pre-
pared to swear that you should be provided with the
means to take these two bill 3 of 5001. up in six
months ? Captain Shrapnel—l swear I should.
Mr. Games—Perhaps you would explain to the
Magistrate how you would be prepared to meet the
bills ? Captain Shrapnel—l don't think lam bound
to do so. I can only say that they should be pro-
vided for.

Mr. Games—Pray what does your property consist
of ? Captain Shrapnel—Of houses and land.
Mr. Games—Have you made a return to the Insol-
vent Debtors' Court of this property ? Captain
Shrapnel—l have.

In reply to the questions of Mr. Norton, Captain
Shrapnel said that he had consented to give a security
that would be available, in the event of his not taking
up his bills when they arrived at maturity, and that
the prisoner Chandler had led him to believe that Mr.
Morton, of Manchester-square, was the person who
was to advance the money on the bills.

Mr. William Mabberly, the gentleman who had
given the prisoner into custody, and who was ex-
amined on Saturday, was next put into the witness
box, and stated that on Sunday last Mr. Morton
called on him, and said he had seen in the newspapers
an account of the examination of the prisoners, and
in which it was also stated that he (Mr. Morton) had
received one of the hills to discount. He admitted
having received one of the bills from Chandler, and
intended discounting it, but could not do so quite so
soon as he (Chandler) requested. Chandler, he also
represented, had requested an advance on the bill,
saying that Capt. Shrapnel required some money to
pay his hotel expenses before-he left town, and he in
consequence gave him 201. In his cross-examination
the witness admitted seeing the prisoner Chandler
at Horsmonger-lane gaol on the day before, but
denied having told him that if he paid 10/. or 121.
the expenses which the captain had been put
to, the charge should not be proceeded with. His
reason for going to the prisoner, he said, was to as-
certain whether he had really received 201. on the
bill. Chandler at first said he had only 101., but
ultimately admitted he had 201. The witness added
that Mr. Morton was very
willing to give up the hill,
provided the 201. he had advanced was paid to him.
Mr. NORTON was of opinion that, taking the whole
of the circumstances into consideration, and the par-
ticular fact of the complainant not having mentioned
a word to the prisoners about his recent insolvency,
be did not think that a criminal charge could be sup-
ported against the prisoners. He had no objection,
however, to hold them to bail to attend on a future
day, if the prosecutor should desire it.