The Sun.
London, England, 1832-07-25 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

FALSE CHARACTERS.—neItry Oaks,a middle-
aged man, was yesterday placed at the bar, charged
with having endeavoured to obtain, by means of a
false character, a situation in the family of the Hon.
Frederick Byng.
Jane Ward; a woman respectably attired, and of
ladylike appearance, was charged with having given
he above-named pri.oner a false character know-
ingly and intentionally.
_ _

This was another of those cases of the utmost im-
portance to the nobility and gentry, who are day af-
ter day being imposed upon by false characters,
through which means three-fourths of the robberies
in gentlemen's houses occur; the individuals having
reeoutse to these abandoned means of procuring
situat ions being, in nine cases out of ten, fir tle better
than common thieves. Thi. case had been well
planned, but through the vigilance of Ballard, an of-
ficer of this establishment, the fraud was brought
to light.
The Hon. F. Byng being in want of a servant,
he looked into a newspaper and saw an advertise-
ment, which, from its wording, he had no doubt
was worth inquiring into. He applied to the male
prisoner, whose address was given, and he stated
that lie had last been living with a lady named
Ward, who resided in Upper George-street, and
that he might go there for a character. Com-
plainant went to No. 13, George-street, on the
Monday, and saw the female prisoner. She stated
herself to be the widow of the Rev. Mr. Ward, and
assigned as a reason for discharging the male priso-
' ner, that in consequence of the death of her husband
she was going to reside with her sister. She stated
that Henry oaks had lived with herself and hus-
band five years. She gave him the best character
for vigilance, honesty, and sobriety ; he was clean,
diligent, attentive, and, in fact, the very paragon of
a servant. Both the servant who opened the door
and the mistress were in deep mourning (in order to
give a better colour to the tale.) One thing par-
Lcularly excited the Hon. Gentleman's suspicion.
Just as he turned out of the street-door, after re-
ceiving the character, he saw a person's hat
" bobbing" round the house, and he had no doubt
it was the prisoner who was watching him, and
feeling confident that there was something foul in the
transaction, he immediately applied at this office, and
the prisoners were apprehended. The prisoner was
daythado inv
formed
remn teedr e the
the
e gentleman situation l
that
tt night,he
could
but on u
ldnot
cNcome.ters.
Ballard, an active officer of this establishment, ap-
prehended Oaks on Monday evening at No. 13,
Upper George-street. He watched the above house
for some time, and at length saw the prisoner enter
it. lie immediately knocked and inquired for him,
and, on their replying that he was not there, the
officer observed, that he knew better, and was at
length taken into the room where the prisoner was.
On the latter being informed that he must go to Mr.
Byng, he said that he had informed that gentleman
that he had declined his situation. The officer then
informed him that he was in custody charged with
imposing on Mr. B. He denied that he had made
it§e of any imposition. He afterwards admitted the
fact, but said he had been out of place six months,
had a family of children, and distress had driven him
to it. He further added that he had pledged every-
thing in his possession to pay for his character,
which had cost him 21., which he had paid Mrs.
Ward for it. Ballard yesterday morning appre-
hended Mrs. Ward. He watched her coming from
her own residence, No. 4, Portland-terrace, Port-
land-town, and she, having been in his custody be-
fore, asked his advice about the best means of get-
ting out of the dilemma. She said she had given
him thecharacter from distress ; he had a wife and
family who were starving. She knew him to be a
good servant.
Mr. Byng inquired how the woman knew the
officer ?
Bollard replied that she bad been convicted about
two years since for a similar offence. She was then
in his custody.
Mr. DYER inquired what the prisoner Oaks had
to say.
Oaks replied tat be bad been out of a situation
for six months, and knew of nothing else but paying
21. to the female for the character. He had great
difficulty in raising the money. He had lived with
Colonel Reeve, of York•street. He would have
had a situation with Mr. Hodges, of Devonshire.
oprlalcoen,gbeuntouthgaht. the
ec hhaardacbt eere
nwdaiss
cnhoat good
rged enoughfrom his
last place for getting intoxicated.
Mr. DYER--Did you know anything of the Rev.
Mr. Ward ? oaks.—No, 1 did riot. She never
gave me a character before.
Mrs. Ward, on being called on for her defence,
stated that she had kept many servants in her time.
She had ktiown the male prisoner four or five years.
She did riot have the 2/. for her trouble, but she

paid it for the use of the house where she gave the
character. She did it from motives of humanity only.
Mr. Tifultssy—Are you the relict of the Rev. Mr.
Ward ? Prisoner—l am not.

Mr. DYER observed, that it appeared to him to
be a most abominable conspiracy to impose upon
the public. There did occur occasionally cases
where he felt reluctance in convicting; not so with
this. It was a duty, and far from an unpleasant
one. She could not plead ignorance of the nature of
the offence.

They were fined 201 each, and in default com-
mitted to hard labour for three months.
/Mr. DYER observed that the public were much
indebted to Mr. Byng.

--- .
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