The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-03 00:00:00

A CLERICAL IMPOSTER.

A few weeks ago the Rev. W. B. Bradford,
curate of Rushall, Wilts, finding himself obliged to
leave home in consequence of ill health, advertised
for a clergyman to perform his duties, and shortly
afterwards entered into arrangements with a person
calling himself the Rev. William Simpson, whose
testimonials is''ere highly satisfactory. This worthy
accordingly made his appearance, bringing with
him nothing but an empty carpet bag, but with a
doleful story of having lost his luggage on the
railway ; and Mr. Bradford not only procured him
excellent lodgings, but left a quantity of plate for
his use in his absence. His first attack was on a
neighbouring clergyman for a shirt, after which
he patronised several tradesmen in Devizes for
clothing, boots, confectionery, groceries, &c., to
a large extent, living, in short, on the fat of the
land. His sermons were decidedly puseyite in
doctrine, and gave little satisfaction, but a collec-
tion which was made for the Diocesan Association
he put in his pocket. After two or three Sundays,
however, the Bishop of Salisbury's request to have
an inspection of his letters of orders became too
pressing to be pleasant, and finding the place get-
ting too warm for him, he suddenly decamped with
his carpet bag full to bursting of Mr. Bradford's
plate, and no end of packages, the fruit of his raids
at Devizes. Two or three very impertinent letters
to the people whom he had cajoled were left on his
table. It is now know that the fellow, who has
been living in this way some years, is not a clergy-
man at all, but the son of a bailiff named Burch,
living in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, where the
swindler was for some time a linendraper's
apprentice. His testimonials were of course forged.
—Bristol Mercury.

BRIGHTON AND SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAYS.—
We are sorry to learn that an unpleasant feeling has arisen
between these two companies in consequence, we believe, of
the Chatham and Dover line having access to the London.-
bridge and Victoria stations of the Brighton Company.
The 21 miles of railway between London and Red-hill, or
Reigate Junction, were wont to be considered a sort of
common highway to the two companies, and passengers
between the two stations might travel with tickets of
either by either line without challenge. About a month or
so trick the South Eastern Company stopped their neigh-
bow's.- passengers from using their line and charged them
the fares for it. This unpleasant step the Brighton direc-
tion, as a matter of course, is about to follow. The public
will be the sufferers.—lferapath.

GREAT FIRE NEAR EUSTON-ROAD.—Yesterday
(Sunday) afternoon a fire happened on the premises be-
longing to Mr. It. Richardson, marquee, tent, horticul-
tural, and portable house manufacturer, carrying on busi-
ness at the White Horse factory, Bidborough-, treet, Judd-
street, Euston-road. The premises were of vast extent,
being over 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, and contained
property of great value, oiao compartment being filled with
marquees, tents, &a. There was also :on the premises a
great ;number of portable houses built of wood and iron,
summer house, poultry house, and garden nets, as well as
a great assortmant of railway tsrpaulings, waterproof
capes, patent felt, and transparent sheeting. The work of
devastation continued, and the upper floor was burned, the
loifkethwe is
fie r
valuable stock therein consumed, and the roof burned off.
The whole of the workshops under and the contents are
seeirsiouunkslynodwargemdr. byßifierheaaransdenwawtears.
paTrthiealoly inrigin.
aired in the Sun Fire-office.