The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-21 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

THE GANG OF SwlNDLEßs.—Yesterday Alfred Moor,
alias Johnson, alias Matthews, Charles Downing, alias
Captain Collett, Henry Hodgson alias Captain hodyson,
East India Company's service; Thomas Birch, and Abra-
ham Jacobs, were brought before Mr. Cottingham for
final examination, charged with swindling.
EgThe court, as on the previous investigation, was
crowded, principally with tradesmen who had been vie-
tiwised by the gang, which was stated to consist of at
least twenty persons, of whom only the prisoners have as
yet been taken into custody.
The following additional evidence was adduced against
the accused punka:—
George Self stated that he is a confectioner, at Cam•
berwell, and that Hodgson called upon him and pre-
aented a letter of introduction from Bristol, and repro-
sented that he had extensive tobacco plantations at New
Orleans, but that he was disappointed in the arrival of
a cargo of tobacco, and exhibited a letter to prove
the truth of his assertion. He (Mr. Hodgson) then
mentioned that he was in want of some money,
and requested the loan of 151., saving that he would
give witness a cheque on Messrs. Coutta, the bankers, at
thirty days' sight, and at the same time he invited him
to take tea and spend the evening at the residence of
General Callender, in Bryanston-square. Previously to
advancing the money, witness did accompany Hodgson
to the General's house, and from the familiar terms upon
which the prisoner appeared to be with that officer, the
witness, under the supposition that he was really what
he described himself to be—namely, the owner of exten-
sive tobacco plantations—advanced him the money, and
he accordingly gave him the cheque on the above bank
ing-house. Witness subsequently presented the cheque
for payment, and was then informed that Hodgson had
no account there ; and he then discovered that Hodgson
had absconded, and witness called upon General Callan-
der, to whom he mentioned the circumstance ; and the
latter then informed him that he also had reason to sus•
pect Hodgson, was a swindler, and added at the same
time that he had missed some articles of plate from his
house, and that he had strong grounds for believing that
the party named possessed himself of the articles.
In reply to Mr. COTTINGHAM, the witness said that
General Callender was since dead.
Mr. Allen Green stated that he had been clerk in
Coutts' bank for the last thirty years, and that no such
person as Hodgson kept an account there. Witness.
recollected the occasion upon which the cheque (pro-
duced) was presented there.
Mr. COTTINGHAM asked Hodgson what ho had to my
to this charge ? Hodgson—This charge is made against.
me out of spite, because I refused to marry Mr. Self's
mother-in-law.—(Laughter).
Mr. CorrlNGliam—That has nothing to do with it.
Why did you give a cheque on a banking-house in which
you never kept an account ? Elodg!on—Oh, I gave
the cheque merely as a collateral security.
Mr. CoTTINGRAM—What, upon a bank in which you
had no money ? Hodgson—l was about to open an ac-
count at Coutts's, but circumstances prevented me; but
(added he) I mean to repay the debt.—(Laughter.)
Mr. COTTINGHAM—This case is similar to that of a
poor man named Woodhouse, at Birmingham, whom
you almost ruined by obtaining.a.quantity of ivory and
tortoiseshell from him. and giving him a cheque on
Messrs. Masterman, Peters, and Co., the bankers,
where you knew at the time you had no effects. The
magistrate added that a detainer should be lodged
against the prisoner at Newgate, in order that he migh
be conveyed from thence, it necessary, and tried a
Warwick, in which county the latter offence was com.
witted.

Hodgson (in an impudent tone)—That fellow swin-
dled me as well as others. I like equity as well as jus-
tice, and have no doubt a very different construction
will be placed upon my acts when I go before another
tribunal.

Mr. CUTTINGHAM—.-YOU represented yourself as the
owner of tobacco plantations, and also a captain in the
East India Company's service. You also produced
letters from high personages to those whom you have
duped in order to carry out your system of swindling
the public, and now you talk of equity and justice—
s man that has been connected with swindlers, and
living on the tproceeds of it for the last thirty
years. The letters and other documents respecting your
infamous conduct to a number of women whom you have
plundered of property under the pretence of marrying
them, ulso show you to be a most unprincipled and de-
signing man. I have remanded all the prisoners from
time to time, in order to give every opportunity of per-
sons coming forward who have been defrauded of their
property to prosecute, so that such a formidable gang
of swindlers might be completely broken up, and the
public be preserved from further depredations, and the
offenders punished according to their deserti.
One of the parteers in the house of Kidd and Co.,
lace manufacturers, of Wood-street, Cheapside, stated
that a man named Webb obtained credit of the firm for
130/. worth of lace, upon Hodgson's representation that
lie was a respectable man; that the firm was about to
trust Webb with 1,5001. worth more goods, when they
discovered that Hodgson belonged to a gang of swin-
dlers, for whom he generally acted as referee, and by
this discovery they (the firm) were saved from a further
loss. The witness added that they had not beard of
Hodgson since, until notice of his apprehension appeared
in the newspapers.
Mr. COTTINGHAM told the witness that if he could
trace any of the goods to Hodgson's possession, after
the delivery to Webb, then the firm could indict them
for conspiracy. -

3on—l never got a yard (,f the lace, and thought
wht.o I t;•ttve Webb a character that he was an honest
zna». I did not guarantee to pay any portion of the
autt:unt of the lace, but rat-rely told the firm what I knew
of tht: p?rtam they trusted with their goods. Ido not
want to be a rogue to any of the persons to whom I am
indcb'ed; and as soon as I get my money I shall pay all.
I owe.—(Laughter.)
Mr. CoTTINGHAM said, there was an abundance of
cases against Johnson, and he should commit all the
prisoners for trial. However, as the depositions would
necessarily occupy some time in transcribing, he should
order the prisoners to be brought up again on Monday
next to have them read to them.