The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-25 00:00:00

A Strange Charge.

A special petty sessions was held at Enville, Staf-
fordshire, on Saturday, before Mr. Fereday, at which
Thomas Bowker, a rate collector at Trysull, near
Wolverhampton, was charged with having feloni-
ously sent to the Eight Hon. George Harry Grey,
Earl of Stamford and Warrington, a certain letter
demanding £5O, with menaces, and without any
reasonable or probable cause. The prisoner was in
the first instance brought up at Enville-hall on
Saturday week, and remanded, since which time he
had been lying in Stafford Gaol. The second hear-
ing took place at the Stamford Arms Hotel, Enville,
instead of Enville-hall, as had been intended, the
magistrate stating that, although the prisoner
elected to have the case heard at Lord Stamford's-
house, it was thought the ends of justice would be
better met and " observations of any ill-natured
character entirely prevented" by hearing the case in
that public hotel. There was no legal adviser pre-
sent on either side, and the examination of the wit-

nesses was conducted by the magistrate's clerk from
Stourbridge. The Earl of Stamford was sworn, and
said that he received the following letter by post on
the 28th of February :—" Wolverhampton, Feb.
27, 1867.—Most noble Earl,—Being in London last
week, and hearing your name mentioned in a noted
betting-house between two great book-makers, I
paid great attention (unknown to them) to their
conversation, which I very clearly understood (which
was), that a strictly private correspondence was
being carried on with one of your men from Di-
vine, who was touting for this party, and he got a
deal of money from the same men last racing sea-
son, which I am sure made a great difference to
you and will again the coming season, if you do
not know their plot to checkmate them. It would
also through (sic.) them into your power. For
my information and the name of the tout I want
£5O, which, when you know, you will say is very
reasonable, and I am not afraid you will give
me another £5O without asking for. Circum-
stances, which have nothing to do with your case,
prevents me getting a personall (sic.) interview, or
giving you more than my initials at present. lam
well known to you, and I assure you this is a bona
fide appeal. If you will send a check made payable
to John Jefferies, per return of post, to R. A. D.,
post-office, Wolverhampton, to be left until called
for, I should be sure to get it, and would without
fail send you a reply by return. From your lord-
ship's faithful servant, R. A. D. P.S. When you
know this information of mine you will see the de-
ceit carried on by men in your own station of life,
and by them as you have thought friends." He
(Lord Stamford) had had no previous communica-
tion with the prisoner, neither upon the subject of
that letter nor any other matter. He sent a reply
to the effect that he could not send £5O to a person
who wrote anonymously, but if evidence was pro-
duced that there was some conspiracy in the stable
he should be happy to make him a handsome pre-
sent. He addressed the letter "R. A. D., Post-
office, Wolverhampton." Thomas Lawley, school-
master at Trysull, said he knew the prisoner, and
had seen some of his handwriting. The letter be-
ing banded to him he said he thought some of it
was very like the prisoner's handwriting, and many
of the characters in the letter were like the pri-
soner's. He was certain the letter "R" of the in-
itials was in the prisoner's handwriting. Charlotte
Salloway, of Trysull, said the prisoner asked her on
Wednesday week to call at the Queen-street post-
office, Wolverhampton. for a letter addressed " R.
A. D." She called at the post-office, and received a
letter so addressed. The prisoner called on her for
it. Inspector Goddard and Sergeant Baldwin de-
posed to the apprehension of the prisoner. To
both of them he admitted that he sent the letter in
question. He told Baldwin he had never been
himself since, and he said it was the devil that
caused him to do it. He said his parish books were
behind about £5O. Prisoner being cautioned, said
he had nothing to say. Mr. Fereday committed
him for trial at the next Stafford Assizes. From
the " atrocious nature of the crime" he should re-
quire heavy sureties for bail. These he first fixed
at two of £3OO each, arid the prisoner himself in
£6OO, but subsequently reduced the amount to
£2OO and £4OO respectively.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

NORWICH-SATURDAY.

At this day's market there was a tolerably good supply
of wheat, and prices may be quoted about the same as last
week. The barley trade is becoming a nominal one, for
buyers being now in the market.
White wheat (weighing 631 b), 68s to 70s ; old red aitto,
(weighing 631 b), 60s to 62s ; now red ditto weighing
601 b to 631 b), 60s to 62s ; best malting barley weighing
521 b to 531 b), 44s to 46e ; runs ditto (weighing 511 to 521 b),
40s to 44s ; distilling ditto (weighing 501 b to 521 b), 34s to
36s ; oats, 24s to 26s ; beans, Sis to 398 ; peas (maple), 368
to 38s per qr. Flour, 45s Od per sack.

NO T T INGHAM—SATURDAY.
At this market to-day the supply of wheat was moderate,
and finest dry samples were rather dearer. A tolerable
show of barley, most of the samples being of a secondary
character. For choice lots prices not much altered ; other
kinds were is per qr. cheaper. The show of oats tires
middling, at late prices. Beans the turn higher. Pi)"
unaltered.

Old white wheat, 68s to 72s ; old red, 64s to 68s ; new
white, 60s to 70s ; new red, 56s to 65s per 36 stone. Oats,
old, 33s to 36s ; now, 26s to 32s per 24 stone. Beans, old,
Ms to 58s ; new, 42s to 48s per 38 stone. Fino flour, 48s
to 52s per sack.

LEICESTER—SATURDAY.
The supply of wheat to-day was tolerable, with a steady
demand, at extreme rates. Barley inactive, at a declino of
is per qr. Oats changed hands at last week's prices. Beans
sold at an advance of is per qr.
New white wheat, 65s to 69s ; new red, 54s to 63s ; old,
white, 67s to 71s ; old red, 60s to 65s per 36 stone. Bar-
ley, for malting, 45s to 52s per qr.; grinding, 30s to 34s
per 30 stone. Oats, old, 33s to 36s ' • new, 28s to 30s per 24
stone. Beans, old, 56s to 60s ; new, 44s to 495 per 38 stone.
Fine flour, 50s ; seconds, fos to 46s per 20 stone.