The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-02 00:00:00

SWINDLING AT OXFORD.

The Oxford Herald of Saturday gives an account of
an ingenious swindle practised by a recent visitor to
that city. On the 25d of last month an elderly gen-
tleman, who appeared to be nearly blind, together
with a young gentleman, his son of course, of about
eighteen years of age, called at the house of a Mr. Par-
ker, baker, of Botley, who had some lodgings to let. He
was a gentleman of easy and pleasant manners—he
said he had come to Oxford to consult the eminent
oculist, Mr. Cleoburey, who had declined to operate upon
his eyes for six months. He wished, therefore, to take
lodgings in the neighbourhood for that time. Mr. and
Mrs. Parker soon struck a bargain with the pleasant old
gentleman, and were highly pleased with their new
lodger. He 'seemed to have plenty of money, more-
over lived well, and so forth, and even offered to
lend his landlord a hundred pounds on moderate
interest if he wished. The landlord, however,
said he had no occasion for this accommodation,
but thanked Mr. Rowan (as the old gentleman was
called) for his kind offers. Mr. Rowan then went to the
bank and deposited a hundred pounds, and quickly
silenced all suspicion, if any arose, with his cheque-book.
Hi a next step was to go to the shop of Mr. Hobdell, silver-
smith, and there make purchase of a watch and a silver
mustard pot. The latter he left to have his name engraved
on,, and the former he took away with him. He would pay
for them both when the mustard-pot was sent home. Of
Mz. Hobdell he inquired the address of some respect-
abbe solicitor. Mr. Hobdell referred him to a gentle-
mtin, and directed him to write to Mr. James Curtis,
of Abingdon, for 191. 15s. due to him for rent,
and to threaten legal proceedings if he did not pay
immediately. Accordingly Mr. Matthews wrote for the
amount, including his charge of ss. for the application.
To this letter the promptest attention was paid, for by
the return of post Mr. Matthews received two 101.
notes, accompanied with an angry epistle from Mr.
Curtis, who remarked in it that Mr. Rowan ought
to have first pressed others who owed him larger
sums for rent, and for a longer period. When Mr.
Row an called on Mr. Matthews, he expressed him-
self satisfied with the way in which this business
had been done, and Mr. Matthews handed him his
cheque on Messrs. Wooten and Co. for 19/. 15s. Mr.
Mint thews was then instructed to apply to a Mr. Hudson,
of Wallingford, for 851., being the amount which Mr.
Ro Ivan represented he had advanced on some deeds.
T 1 Lis application was equally successful, and as promptly
att ended to, for immediately after its receipt a person re-
presenting himself to be the veritable Mr. Hudson waited
on Mr. Matthews, and, pulling his money out, said be
cai 3ie to pay the debt, and asked for the deeds to be given
up to him; but as they were not in the solicitor's posses-
sic la he could not do so, and accordingly it was agreedito
pu t the matter off till the following Monday morning.
EL ire, then, was another point gained, that of having
ta
res pectable solicitor, to whom there was an opportunity
of of referring; and that this was of some use was n
seei.t for Mr. Rowan favoured several other
..
were
trades-
men with orders. Clothes and
sent to him in abundance.
and fish and wines, and spirits and
e tjicliPpeerorlbrun
and all that he desired, poured in u
ihim,
and d
tF eaht ohnec e
lived. oh his
Feecomfortling andin di tphoes
tsieon: fworhoMrp.rSesyetnriohnedds,foarni
Mr, Rowan was so much pleaendiimcaslewaniitanof some
carreepuhtais-
h hisr'esMusPeruc.alßocwaraen.
the
ee tofrolltoowokingof
shunimda,
yt, h
and
gave
_.ist ehdmi
mehdi
is:lrons
fetdr
vi(ni
cdneneser.
on the following Monday) for his
pla2iLd tdhoawt
nof
the
h
keeeeyrres beallowed
o were
wamissed
s oh ms i
ant
jos an
th ,e following Saturday to draw out 1081. from their_
del
.eat amnodu amount
ro.f thyem do radft eoxfee
eeoduerdsebT
solicitor was col-
gdeil
hfetrieemncaenin asfocr
whSh:omWnhaastrecsopulecdta
tbnt
file:
td
deinogf rehnists
twyantlisatba
r? e
respectability
b auk, being 81. more than he had put in. The next
d 41,y, while dinner was being got ready, Mr. Rowan
t c. ok an airing in a fly. He was late coming home,
he ‘wever, for dinner was ready before he had returned.
H is guests also arrived, and were somewhat disap-
. pointed at their host's lateness, and at last, as he did
e
no t come home at all, the truth flashed out. An un-
av ailing pursuit was immediately
wi is traced mnadalaeln.ed Mr. Rowan
in
nd vainof him.
for
London,obsequious andtradesmen there was
extda to
day his
th eir money. His landlord had received no rent, and
hi id spent 141. upon his lodger, while his landlady had
en ads him a set of shirts, which he took
wi .:,tll him as a keepsake. The bill due on Monday
vita ' dishonoured as s ;nutter of course. The

account that had been overdrawn remained unsettle
and Mr. Hudson never called on Mr. Matthews for the
deeds. Some gentleman, however, who seemed to bear
a strong resemblance to Mr. Hudson, was found to have
gone to London by the same train as Mr. Rowan, and
some persons thought that this gentleman was Mr. Curtis
as well. In the mean time, as these gentlemen seem to
understand their trade so well, Mr. Rowan will doubt-
less favour many more persons, if they are not on their
guard, with his urbane manners and his numerous orders.