The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-21 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday Edward Delais, the son of a gentleman re-
siding at Tunbridge, was brought up in custody, charged
with stealing 101. from Elizabeth Wood, the daughter of a
tradesman in Bermondsey-street.
The complainant stated that on the evening of the 25th
of March, the prisoner called at her father's house in Ber-
mondsey-street, dressed like a naval officer, and inquired if
her father was at ''home. The answer being in the nega-
tive, the prisoner then said that he was particularly anxious
to see the complainant's father, adding that it was to impart
to him some agreeable intelligence from his relations abroad.
Complainant asked the prisoner his name, and he replied
that it was Edward Butler, chief officer of the ship Aus-
tralia, and said that he had just arrived from Sydney, New
South Wales, and had seen the family of the Underhills,
to whom complainant's father was related, previous to his
departure from that country. He also claimed acquaintance
with a Miss Harriet Butler, an intimate friend of the fa-
mily, who was living in the neighbourhood, and expressed a
strong desire to see her after his voyage. He then talked
about his long passage home, and amongst other matters
related that two of the Judges of New South Wales had
come home passengers in the ship of which he was the
chief officer ; that he had brought over a great number of
Java sparrows, a rare and curious bird, also a parrot of
great beauty of plumage, several jars of tamarinds, and
some camels' hair shawls of the finest texture, two of which
he added were then wrapped round his body, and that he
had brought them ashore in that manner to prevent their
seizure by the Custom-house officers. He then said that
he should beg her acceptance of a few Java sparrows and
other curiosities when the ship was in dock and the confusion
incident to a long voyage over, and he then got up in order
to leave the house, when he observed that he had his boat's
crew, consisting of six hands, waiting for his return at a
neighbouring public-house to row him back to the ship.
Previously, however, to going away he asked the com-
plainant if she could oblige him with 101., and she pulled
out her purse containing between twenty and thirty sove-
reigns, considering he wanted change for either a note or a
check. She then counted out five sovereigns on the table,
and he said that if she could let him have ten sovereigns
it would much oblige him. She commenced reckoning five
sovereigns more on the table, and then asked him whether
he required it for a check or a note ? The moment she
uttered the words he immediately placed his hand over the
ten sovereigns, saying, " No, I shall be back here in half
an hour to see Miss Butler, and I shall return the money
when I have sent off my boat's crew." He then took up
the money and left the house, and she never saw him since
until she was apprised that he was in custody.
Mr. John Cope, a cheesemonger, in Snow's-fields, stated
that the prisoner subsequently called at his house, and
having by some means or another ascertained that he bad
some relatives in New South Wales, he represented that
he vvi.s an officer in the American service, that his name
was Lieutenant Moore, and that he had just arrived in
England. He then told the complainant that ho had

brought him home some valuable shawls and other articles
from his friends, and that he was then going to clear them
at the Custom-house, and asked for a sovereign to make
up the payment of the duty. The complainant, however,
only gave 2s. 6d., and he then went away promising to re-
turn immediately with the property from the Custom-house,
and left the card produced, saying that it was his address
with the name of Lieutenant Moore written upon it. The
complainant added, that he had not seen him since the visit
until he was taken into custody.
Murray, a policeman of the K division, stated that the
prisoner's name was Edward Delias, the son of a man pos-
sessing large property at Tonbridge. The prisoner was in
the habit of going by different names, and witness was pre-
sent at the Surrey Sessions in February, 1832, when the
prisoner was tried and convicted of felony, and sentenced to
six :months' imprisonment and hard labour in Guildford
House of Correction. It was also stated that the prisoner
was the person who prosecuted Itwo privates belonging to
the Royal Marines for a highway robbery attended with
violence, a few Sessions back at the Central Criminal
Court. The judge and Jury, however, before whom the
marines were tried, were so satisfied that there were no
grounds for the accusation that they immediately acquitted
them, and Delais was strongly rebuked by the Bench on
the occasion.

Mr. JEREMY should commit the prisoner for the felony
on the first charge, and on the second a detainer might be
lodged against him for obtaining money under a fraudulent
representation. The Magistrate gave directions when the
prisoner was tried, that the Court might be apprised that
he had been previously convicted of felony.
Murray the policeman produced some gold lace, which was
taken oil' the prisoner's shoulders when he was last in cus-
tody, and on the present occasion the prisoner exhibited a
narrow piece of gold on his right shoulder, indicative of a
commissioned officer.