The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-15 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

Richard Douglas, a man of gentlemanlike appear-
ance, residing at Chelsea, was charged on the police-
sheet with stealing a quantity of plate, linen, a horse,
and dog-cart, the property of Mr. Aaron Smith, of
Camden •cotteges, Camden-town.
'I he complainant stated, that about 18 months ago
the prisoner introduced himself to him at the Jeru-
salem Coffee-house, and described himself as a man
possessing property at Ash, in Kent. He went on to
say that he was rather embarrassed in his circum-
stances just at that particular time respecting a bill of
exchange cf 1501., adding that he wanted an advance
to that amount of complainant, and offering to give
him a bill of sale of the property in his house at Ash
as security for the repayment of the money. On that
occasion the prisoner mentioned various circumstances
relating to his being a man in the receipt of consider-
able property, that he had a shooting box in the coun-
try, and, in fact, his description of his finances was of
such a nature as to impress complainant with the
belief that he was what he represented himself to
be, and h© accorlingly undertook to stay the pro-
ceedings on the bill of exchange by endorsing
another bill himself to the same amount, and handing
it over to the parties who held the bill of exchange.
This was accordingly carried into effect, but when the
latterbillbecame due it was dishenoured, and
complainant had to pay the 1501., the prisoner giving
him a bill of sale on his property at Ash, in which
were enumerated the plate, linen, horse, and dog-cart,
which he now charged him with stealing. Subse-
quently to the bill of sale coming into his hands,
complainant went down to Ash, and, on inspecting
.
the property at the *prisoner's residence, discovered
that the horse and other articles were gone, and also
that he was not to be found ; and although he had
beendin
g lookinghi
mUntil the preceding evening,
after him, he had not suc-
ceededand he immediately gave him into custody.
The complainant here handed in the bill of sale
given to him by the prisoner, and amongst the items
were these which he new charged him with stealing.
everin since
finding
Mr. COTTINGHAM—Then you now charge him with
stealing the property which he assigned over to you
by the bill of sale?
Complainant—Precisely so ; the articles I consi-
dered as my own, although he took them off his own
premises.
A barrister, who attended for the prisoner, said
that he would be enabled to show that this proceed-
ing against his client was done for the purpose of
placing him in the hands of the civil power, and
getting him arrested before he left the precincts of
the court.
The MAGISTRATE said that if he was aware of
such being the fact, he would discountenance any
act of the kind, for it would be monstrous indeed to
allow practices of the kind—to give a man into cus•
tody on a charge of felony merely for the purpose of
getting him arrested for adebt.
The complainant disclaimed anything of the kind,
and declared that he was not aware the bailiffs were
waiting for the prisoner—at all events, if they were,
it was not by his instructions.
The barrister then proceeded to cross-examine the
complainant, who, in answer to the questions, said
that he was living on his property ; that he had been
formerly captain of a merchantman, but since ho
had retired from a seafaring life he was in the habit
of discounting bills; that the prisoner called on him
after the bill was dishonoured, at which period a Mr.
Wells was complainant's attorney. He (complainant)
did proceed to prisonor's house at Ash, and compared
the bill of sale he had previously taken from him
with the property on the premises, and then found
the articles were stolen. Ile added, that he believed
that there was a writ of execution out against the
accused ; that having heard the prisoner had come
into the possession of property at Chester, and was
absent from Ash, he (complainant) certainly did look
after him at the former place on finding he had de-
prived him of the principal portion of the property
enumerated in the bill of sale.
The complainant admitted that he sent down a
bailiff to arrest the prisoner at Chester.
Mr. COTTINGHAM said, that after that admission,
it was evident the complainant had pursued a civil
remedy in the first instance, and therefore he (the
magistrate) should comply with the application made
on behalf of the accused, and at once admit him to
hail to answer the charge. "" into his own
recogilizauce in the suns of 500/. to appear there on
Monday next.
The accused, having entered into the required re-