The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-04 00:00:00

THAMES.

CURIOUS CHARGE.—ENTERING THE NAVY BY FALSE
PRETENCES.—Henry Morris, alias Connor, a man about 30
years of age, having all the appearance of a mariner, was
brought before Mr. Yardley, charged by Mr. Swainson,
chief clerk to the Admiralty solicitor, with entering the
Royal navy under false and fraudulent pretences.
Mr. Swainson said the Lords of the Admiralty had
directed this prosecution, and that several frauds had been
committed by persons who, for the sake of obtaining the
liberal bounty offered by her Majesty's Government, had
imposed upon officers and recruiting agents, and repre-
sented themselves as seamen, when they were not so.
Captain William Greet, commander in the Royal navy,
said he had charge of the rendezvous on Tower-hill, and
was raising men for the navy. On the 18th of last month
prisoner was introduced to him by William Cutler,
quartermaster of the Crocodile receiving ship off the Tower.
The prisoner said he was a seaman, and produced a certi-
ficate of service and discharge as an able seaman in the
merchant service, and purported to be signed by Peter
Cay, master in the Elwin, in favour of John Connor, whose
character for ability and conduct was described to be very
good. The prisoner said his name was John Connor, and
that the certificate belonged to him. He sent the prisoner
to the medical superintendent, who passed him as a healthy
and sound man, and he was sent to her Majesty's ship St.
Vincent, at Portsmouth. The prisoner was returned to
him a few days afterwards, and it was represented that on
reaching Portsmouth, the prisoner said his name was Wil-
liam Morris, and that he had never been to sea. It was
also represented to him that the prisoner knew nothing of
the duties of a seaman. He asked the prisoner if the re-
presentations I:Wide to him from Poi Loiuctat wore correct,
and he said they were.
In answer to Mr. Yardley,

Commander Greet said that £2, a portion of the bounty,
had been paid to Charles Hawkins, of Stepney, by the pri-
soner's desire, and the Queen had been cheated of that sum,
besides the cost of sending the prisoner to Portsmouth and
sanding him back.
The prisoner, in defence, said he knew the certificate of
service and discharge to be false. His object was to get
into the service.

Mr. Yardley—A very laudable object, indeed ; but why
be guilty of fraud, and produce a certificate which don't
belong to you?
The prisoner : I was too stout, and unless I had produced
such a certificate I could not have entered.

Captain Greet said the prisoner answered all the questions
put to him satisfactorily, described all the marks on the
lead-line, and did such duties as were required of on
board the Crocodile for two days in a seaman-like manner.
Mr. Yardley—Then he is a seaman ?
Captain Greet—Yes ; and I think he is John Connor.

Mi. Yardley—Then he cannot have committed a fraud.
Captain Greet—At Portsmouth he said his name was
Morris, and he was not a seaman.
The prisoner—My name is Morris. I am not John
Connor. The certificate was given to me.
Mr. Yardley—lt is evident that either way you have
committed a fraud, and I sentence you to be imprisoned
for two months, and kept to hardlabour.