The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-02 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
On Saturday John Cowie and Joseph Proctor, the
latter a merchant residing at No. 3, Golden-square,
Crutched-friars, were charged with having de-
frauded Nathan Davis, of 24., St. Mary-axe, wine-
merchant, under the following circumstances :
The prosecutor, according to his statement, had
some meetings with the prisoners relative to a quan-
tity of wine which he wished to purchase of them,
believing then: to be connected in business. They
called upon him one evening for the purpose of con-
cluding the bargain, and Proctor shammed drunken-
ness, and asked him whether he was ready with the
money. He replied in the affirmative, and put into
their hands 27 sovereigns, an acceptance for 321.,
and another security for 31., upon their promise to
give to him the wine-warrants. They, however,
handed him no more than a transfer-ticket, but as-
sured him that he would find the whole matter cor-
rect at the London-docks. He found it all wrong
when he went to take out the wines, for he was
told that Proctor had taken away the warrants some
days previously. In his subsequent interviews with
the prisoners, they carried on the humbug with pro-
mises which were all broken. At last, Cowie told
him that he should neither get money nor wine-
warrants, but offered him four warrants and the bill
of exchange, when he called an officer to introduce
the business to the Lord Mayor. The compromise
was refused, the prosecutor considering that the pri-
soners were bound to perform the whole of the con-
tract, or to return the money and securities alto-
gether.

David Williams, clerk to Proctor, begged to be
allowed to say a few words.. Mr. Proctor had had
dealings with the prosecutor twelve months ago, and
the latter had passed bills upon the occasion, which
►were timed in such a manner as to meet his bank-
rupicy effectually, and of course were of not a
farthing value. Under such circumstances Mr.
Proctor was willing to give value for the cash he
had received in wine-warrants, but begged to be
excused for declining to give wine-warrants for the
bills of exchange. He (Williams) now held four
wine-warrants, which he was willing to give
to the prosecutor; but he would insist, as a preli-
minary, upon receiving 41., the deficiency to be sup-
plied in the value of the warrants.

The LORD MAYOR—I shall remand the case till
Monday, it the prisoners do not give up either the
whole of the warrants or the money and securities
of the prosecutor. The trick is quite palpable, from
the shifting of the responsibility from one prisoner
to the other, and the pretended intoxication of the
party, who it is now said is the only person who
had any thing to do with the transaction.
Proctor's clerk—Mr. Proctor shan't do any such
thing. I hold the warrants, and I advise him to re-
sist. lam willing to give up four warrants, and
the bill, which I consider useless, but I must have
1/. first.

:qr. Harmer's clerk—l really think, my Lord,
that this person who hold the warrants has said quite
enough to implicate him in this conspiracy to de-
fraud. He acts much more like a master than a
man, and is better fitted for a situation alongside the
prisoner than for any other.
TheLoRD MAYOR thought the conduct of Proctor's
clerk extremely odd, and advised him to look to his
master's interest a little more closely, and to take care
not to get included in an indictment.
Williams—lf that's the case, my Lord, I think it
is really better for me to have nothing to do with the
business, and I shall accordingly clear my hands of
all the papers. He then handed a bundle of papers
to Proctor.

Proctor—What would your Lordship advise me
to do ? I'll do just as your Lordship directs.
The LORD MAYOR— W hy, if you wish to avoid
a prison and a prosecution, I think you had better
give up either the whole of the wine-warrants, or
the prosecutor's property.
Proctor—l'll give up the latter, for I won't have
his bill for my warrants.
The parties then retired for the purpose of arranging
the matter according to the Lord Mayor's suggestion.