The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-12 00:00:00

Liverpool Cotton Market.—This Day.

The market opens strong. American Id above
Friday last. Sales probably 15,000 bales.

HIGH POSTAGE.--An American paper contains a
statement, received from a gentleman in London, that a
magazine posted in the United States, to be delivered to
him in London, is charged 64c. postage, when he could buy
the magazine in Paternoster-row for 14c. less than the mere
pcstage.

IMPERSONATING A DECEASED BROTHER, AND AT-
TEMPTED SUICIDE.—An indictment was to have been pre-
ferred at the Dover Quarter Sessions on Monday against a
man who gave the name of George Peter Mumford, for
obtaining moneys under false pretences. The case was sur-
rounded with circumstances of an extraordinary character.
Some 28 years ago there lived in Dover a respectable family
named Mumford. One of the brothers, named George Peter,
a seaman, in 1838 went upon his last voyage from England
to St. Kitt's in Sir John Rae Reid's ship Julia. The Julia
being lost with all hands three days off St. Kitt'E, and
nothing more being heard of George Mumford, who up to
that time had been in the habit of regularly communicating
with home, his family concluded that he was drowned, and
went through all the forms of mourning for the lost brother.
After the lapse of 28 years the family on 7th August last
were startled by Peter's resurrection—or rather by the ap-
pearance of the prisoner, who claimed fraternity as the
long-lost brother Peter George Mumford. Arriving from
Calais, the prisoner proceeded to a tavern kept by Mrs. Bart-
lett (whose maiden name was Mumford), and accosted her
with the words " You're my sister Sarah, and I am your
brother George." Though Mrs. Bartlett failed to recognise
in him any of the features of her supposed lost brother, he
was greeted within the dwelling, and a brother, Mr. Ben-
jamin Mumford, was called in. On his appearance the pri-
soner at once addressed him as "brother Ben." Likenesses
were produced of other members of the family, and so rea-
dily identified by name by the prisoner that all doubt seemed
to be removed as to whether tho relationship was real or pre-
tended. Prisoner, at his request, was taken to the bedside of
"his mother," a bedridden old lady, 91 years of age; he
kissed her, told her he was her son George, and by her desire
lay alongside her on the bed. On being questioned how he
•could have escaped when the ship was lost with all hands,
the prisoner said, "Lock here at my finger—that is how
my finger was knocked out of joint when the chief mate
and I had a row ; through that I and another man left the
ship three days before she was wrecked." On being asked
why he had not written home he replied that.he had done
so repeatedly, and had sent £3O and othei'iiiins of money
for "his mother," which she had never received. Ho added
that since he had been away he had lived in California, in
Spain, and for the last fourteen years he had been keeping
au hotel in New York. On the strength-of his statement
that he was in hourly expectation of a considerable sum of
money from Calais, where he had left it in charge of the
American Consul, Mrs. Bartlett let him have whatever he
asked both in money and kind, and the family kept up
their rejoicings by excursions together to different parts
of the country which were to revive recollections of times
and events more than twenty-eight years ago. What
astonished the family more than all was the wonderful
memory of "brother George," for he recounted the most
trivial circumstances occurring just prior to his going to
sea twenty-eight years ago, such as making a mark over
the doorway of their residence at Charlton, a fight taking
place at Ewell, a walk down Ratcliff-highway to the
Docks, and his bringing a monkey home from abroad.
At length an elder brother steps in upon the scene—one
Mr. Henry Beer Mumforkl, Trinity pilot of London ; he,
less credulous and with perhaps a better recollection of
" brother George" than the others, at once gave a clue to
the scoundrel's deception. Inquiry was immediately made
at the Bank as to the truth of what the fellow had since
stated, that his money having arrived from Calais had
been deposited in the Bank ; and on this proving to be
false, the man was given into custody of the police, and a
magisterial investigation served to expose so gross a piece
of fraud and deception as to justify the man's
being
sento
for trial by a jury. While under incarceration the he
endeavoured to starve himself to death, and this failing,
o
resorted to more determined means of self-destruction.
to
Being under medical treatment, medicine was supplied
him in his cell. On a recent morning the warder,
and weltering
warder, on visit-
ing the cell, found the prisoner insensible
in a pool of blood. The gaol surgeonty va i
ra luineedbi aot
ems
called in, and on examining the cell
e dicttellye
was found broken, and one of thei pieces told ltdhebyarittesryaptpneharis-
ance that the prisoner had used t
arm. There is not the sligthtee st o
topt
of his arm he had tied
tightly his neckerchief, doubt that the prisoner
contemplated suicide,
for
thusat h
causing the blood to flow
freely from the open artery. As evidence of insanity super-
vened, the man was removed to a lunatic asylum,. where
he is not likely even to recover so as to take his trial on
the charge upon which 11.0 Stands COMlnAittea;

London, Chatham, and Dover Railway.

ADJOURNED HALF-YEARLY MEETING.
• (THIS DAY.)
• -

The adjourned half-yearly meeting of the directors and
shL.reholders of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway
Company was held to-day at St. James's Hall, Piccadilly,

.. ..
for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee
of investigation appointed to inquire into the financial
position of the company. The report of the committee of
investigation, together with the directors' reply thereto,
have appeared in The Sun.

At twelve o'clock the Chair was taken by Lord Sondes,
and on either. side of the director's table on the platform
"the investigation committee " and the debenture holders'
committee" were conspicuously represented. At the com-
mencement of the meeting the hall was but half filled.
The CILLIRISIAN said the meeting, as they were allaware,
was for the pUrpose of receiving the report of the commit-
tee of investigation, and therefore, as he thought, they
ought to take the lead in the discussion that day. He called
upon the chairman of the committee to make such state-
ments as he thought proper. (hear, hear.)
Mr. HonniuNsox said he had, in the first instance, to
pologise for the delay that had taken place in the prepa-
ration and presentation of the report, but the amount of
facts and figures submitted to the committee rendered
their labours excessively difficult. At the outset he
would take the liberty of stating that, in answer to what
had been stated elsewhere, he did not think it was part
of the duty of the committee of investigation to put for-
ward a plan for the future or a panacea for the difficulty
under which the company laboured. The labours of the
committee had been limited. and he thought rightly
limited, to examine and fully realise the present position
of the company. The committee, with respect to the re-
port which they had felt it their duty to submit to the
shareholders, were compelled to make ono which reflected
somewhat seriously on the personal management
of the company. The document, he regretted to say,
also disclosed facts which the committee felt were in the
highest degree reprehensible. (Hoar, hear.) He had been
told since the report had been issued that the statement
contained therein did not contain anything so very extra-
ordinary brmonstrojis—(oh, oh) —and that if the position
of other companies could be investigated, the London,
Chatham, and;Dover would not be considered so very bad ;
but ho did hot deem two wrongs made a right. (Elea;
hear.) With respect to the issuing of preference shares,
when the company did that, the public naturally thought
there was some capital behind to meet what was the posi-
tion of affairs, when the amount of the debenture debt and
the amount raised by preference shares actually exceeded the
amount that had been expended on the whole line of railway.
(Shame.) The manner in which the debenture debt had
been incurred was highly reprehensible, as in some in-
stances only £75 was received for £lOO of debentures.
(Shame.) The directors had issued a reply to the report
of the investigation committee, but in that they had set
down their receipts on various lines to show a profit and
extent of loss. The committee thought that the over-issue
of debentures was altogether unjustifiable, but the com-
mittee did not think so, Another statement in the report
of investigation which was objected to was, that, with re-
spect to the contract price for their metropolitan' extension
the committee state that, after the examination of Mr.
Joseph Cubitt, they were perfectly justified in making the
statement they did, that he did not know anything
of the prices until the directors had decided the
matter. The letter of Mr. Cubitt did not contradict one
statement made by the committee, and therefore the com-
mittee were perfectly justified in saying that no competi-
tion had been invited for the Metropolitan extension, and
all that Mr. Cubitt said was, that, taking into considera-
tion the circumstances of the company, lower prices could
not be obtained. (Oh, oh.)

A Shareholder said that he should like to know whether
the contractor got the difference between the £75 and the
£lOO debentures.

Mr. Hodking said he could not eay that, he took them
at that price, and ho either could have sold them at a dis-
count or par. The committee, in the statement they had
made, had revealed the true position of the concern; they
had concealed nothing, leaving the shareholders to draw
their own conclusions. The shareholders now knew the
full extent of the evil which beset them, and, knowing
the want, they could set about something to improve that
state of affairs, and, although the prospect was rather
gloomy, whether they were to have sunshine would de-
pend upon the future policy of the Company. They had
a splendid property which was as yet undeveloped, and if
their affairs were now conducted with patience and for
bearance, and the past was not repeated, the shareholders
might look for a bright, if not a brilliant future. He con-
cluded by moving the report. •
Mr. FTT.T.TEn seconded the motion, and said that if all
parties did not endeavour to pull the company to pieces,
but exercised patience and carried on their operations with
energy and honesty, all might yet be welliv-
Mr. SURGEY said all that was required to enable the
company to carry out all their obligations was confidence
and patience.
Mr. Alderman WILSON asked Mr. Johnson, the secre-
tary, whether he would explain the matter connected with
the over-issue of the £128,000 of debentures. (Confusion).
The CHAIRMAN thought the question had better be
proposed. (Great confusion.) _ . •

Mr. JoitNsoN, the secretary, said after the suspension of
Sir M. Peto he fully believed that the debentures would
be returned to the company. In all he had done he had
only been actuated for the good of the company. He ad-
mitted that it was an act of indiscretion in not bringing
the matter forward, but he thought in doing so he was
acting for the best interests of the company. (Cries of
" Oh, oh," " Kickhim out," " Turn him out, and "Shame.")
A SITARRHOLDER wished to ask Sir M. Peto when he
guaranteed the 6 per cent. on the stock, if any legal docu-
ment was signed, because if not, he believed the estate
would not be responsible for one iota of it. He also begged
to ask whether, when he received the money for the re-
turning of those debentures, whether he did so, because
if he did so he considered his conduct infamous and dis-
graceful, and that he had committed a breach of trust—a
fraud, in appropriating to his use £128,000 of debentures,
for which he ought to stand at the bar of the Old Bailey.
Sir M. PETO said he first became connected with the
company in 1863, when he was called in by the board for
his advice, under the peculiar state of affairs which then
existed. He found there was owing a million and a quarter
of Lloyd's bonds. These bonds took precedence of every
other security. It was of the greatest importance that
those bonds should be cleared off. A loan was negotiated
for that purpose, which he got taken up, and then in 1864
it decided to continue the loan rather than sell the stock.
(The meeting was proceeding when we went to press.)