The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-27 00:00:00

, THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENiNG, JANUARY 27, 1866.

An Elaborate Swindle.

On Monday, the 15th inst., a " gentleman" drove
up in a close cab to the house of Mr. —, in Berke-
ley-square, and presenting an order from Messrs.
Banting, the eminent firm in St. James's-street,
asked to see over the premises, which he wished to
take furnished for 12 months. Mr. saw him,
and explained that since he had placed his house for
letting in Messrs. Ban ting's hands he had sustained
losses, and had been besides disappointed in the re-
ceipt of a sum of money that was coming to him,
and that being under certain engagements it would
now be necessary for him either to sell his house or
raise upon it a sufficient amount for his require-
ments. The stranger, who listened with apparent
interest to this, announced himself thereupon as
Mr. Montefiore, the nephew of Sir Moses, and
connected with Messrs. Rothschild's house,
said that his wife and two children were
expected up, and that he wanted a house im-
mediately, pending the decoration and furnishing of
one he had purchased ; that money was of no ob-
i ect to him, and if Mr. could make any
arrangement whereby he could let the house he
should be very glad to take it, " although not quite
large enough to accommodate 11 servants." Mr.
" Montefiore" then affected to know a great deal
of Mr. —'s antecedents and personal history, and
begged him to " think it over," and see him at the
Langham Hotel on the following day at 4 o'clock.
Having been to Messrs. Banting and heard that
they had sent the " gentleman," Mr. kept the
appointment, and was shown into a private sitting-
room by a servant in plain clothes, who always at-
tended his master, and on each occasion of his visit
to Berkeley-square sat outside the cab, and re-
mained in the hall during the interviews. The face
of this man, as well as that of Mr. " Montefiore,"
were familiar to Mr. —, a fact which now goes
far to substantiate the belief that it was a deep-laid
scheme upon him by some persons intimately ac-
quainted with his affairs.
The millionaire received Mr. with much
cordiality, said he had really no idea of taking the
house, but had become so much interested in his
affairs and in him, and saw it to be of such im-
portance to Mr. —, with his fine prospects, not
to part with the possession of a residence he would
hereafter require because be was temporarily pressed,
that he had suggested this meeting with the sole
object of begging him (Mr. —) to regard him
as a friend able and ready to assist him to the extent
of his present requirements. Mr. could with
difficulty express his acknowledgments for an offer
at once so timely, so unexpected, and romantic,
and refused it, except on the understanding that Mr.
Montefiore would take a transfer of his leasehold
property as security for the advance. This the
millionaire assented to, saying that it would give
him a hold on his debtor, and said he would send
Mr. Chinnock, " whom he always employed," to
carry out the necessary arrangements, but that this
need not impede the carrying out of his part of it,
which he would be prepared to do on Thursday.
On his return home Mr. --- wrote to Mr.
" Montefiore." reiterating his thanks, his astonish-
went at the singularity of his friendly offices,
and his wish to secure his timely benefactor
in every possible way. To this note he received on
Thursday morning a reply as follows :
" Langham Hotel, Portland-place, London, W.,
January 17, 1866.
"My dear sir,—l regret that many engagements
throughout this day have prevented me replying
earlier to your note at hand, Until I shall have
accomplished something for your benefit I am but
the unworthy—because undeserved—recipient of
your thanks. If agreeable to you, I will call on
you to-morrow (Thursday), P.G., between 2 and 3,
for the furtherance of the object in view.
" Believe me, my dear Sir, very truly yours,
" To , Esq. " J. M.. MONTEFIORE."
Accordingly, at 2 on Thursday, he went again to
Berkeley-square, and said he had arranged with a
bank at which he had influence and some interest,
that Mr. should (having first, in the usual way,
opened au account with £500) have an open credit
for the amount he required, Mr. " Montefiore" be-
ing his surety to the bank. All this with any one
else but Mr. Montefiore would have seemed very
strange to Mr. —, who had had some experience
of banking; but he at once said he was not pre-
pared with £5OO. Upon this the millionaire said
he had £250 or £3OO with him (inferring
that it was in his pocketbook or at the hotel,)
and that as Mr. could return it imme-
diately on the completion of the affair he must
find the rest, and all could be concluded on the fol-
lowing day. Mr. --, regarding this proposal for
his finding £2OO or £250 as a test of his responsi-
bility, went on the following day at 1 o'clock, hav-
ing provided himself with an open check for £2OO
on the Southwark branch of the London and West-
minster Bank. Mr. " Montefiore" was waiting in
his room at the Langham Hotel and showed Mr.
—'s check he had drawn in his favour for £3OO,
which, from delicacy, Mr. did not particularly
scrutinize. Placing both checks carelessly on the
table, Mr. "Montefiore" asked whether he or Mr.
should first get them cashed, as he did not
wish the account opened with check. Here
again Mr. ---- could only demur to tak-
ing any part in a matter arranged with so much
apparent kindness for his personal benefit, upon
which Mr. " Montefiore" put them in his pocket,
and, after discussing religious matters for half an
hour, they started in a Hansom cab for the bank at
Southwark, Mr. ------ waiting outside in the cab
while the great man went in to cash the check or
checks. On his return he directed " cabby" to
drive to the corner of St. Swithin's-lane and King
William-street, on the plea of going to Messrs.
Rothschild's and getting " one of Sir Anthony's
men" to go with them to the bank to carry the
transaction through. " Montefiore" had previously
shown Mr. -- an agreement for a house in
Queen's-gate-terrace (made out in the name of
Montefiore), which the owners had offered to let
him unfirnished for £5OO a year.
Mr. again waited in the cab, but after an
interval of 20 minutes he had a suspicion that he
had been robbed, and went down to Messrs. Roths-
child's to inquire if Mr. Montefiore was there,
and heard that he • was. Feeling then quite
ashamed of his suspicion, he made the excuse
that he wanted to discharge the cab in which he was
waiting for him, and asked the cashier to give him
change of a sovereign. Having received this he did
dismiss the cab in order to account for his following
" Montefiore " to Messrs. Rothschild's. He then
walked up and down St. Swithin's-lane for half an
hour, and fearing that he should be too late for the
train he had to catch at Waterloo went again to
Messrs. Rothschild's to see Mr. Montefiore. Then
he did see the real Mr. Montefiore, and found to
his dismay that he had been the victim of a clever,
but, under the circumstances, most cruel hoax and
robbery. Mr.
in Old Jewry and Vine-street, and thence to the
Langham Hotel, where he found that the ser-
vant (or accomplice) had left. From Mr. Schu-
mann, the manager of the hotel, he heard
that " Montefiore" had been there a week, that his
bill for £l2, delivered on the previous day, had not
been paid, and that he had given notice of his in-
tention to leave on the day in question (Friday last).
Nothing was to be found in his sitting-room, but in
the bedroom were two portmanteaus, one empty
and the other weighted with bricks.

" Montefiore" is a Jew, about sft. sin. in height,
dark complexion, black hair, whiskers, and mou-
stache (slight), and very short-sighted, wearing
spectacles with powerful lenses. He was well-
dressed, and has the demeanour and address of a
gentleman. His servant, or accomplice, is a tall
thin man with no whiskers and black moustache ;
he was in plain clothes, with a white neckcloth.
Mr. Knox, the magistrate of Marlborough-street,
has issued his warrant for the apprehension of the
swindlers, and the matter is in the hands of the
detectives.

The Nashville papers state, on the strength of
!Information from department head-quarters, that Major-
General Sweeney has lately been dismissed from the
United States service by order of the Secretary of War.
The General's connection with the Fenians is the cause
alleged for his dismissal.

Arrest of Mr. Gordon in Kingston.

The Herald publishes the following narration
from the pen of a gentleman who himself took a
" prominent part in the suppression of the rebel-
lion"—we presume Dr. Bowerbank, the Custos of
Kingston :
About midday, the Governor, being anxious to
return to Morant Bay, proposed to drive up to the
general's to take leave of him. As we went into
the house a policeman whispered to me that Mr.
Gordon was inside. As we entered we found the
general, Mr. Gordon, and Dr. Fiddes standing up ;
the general and Mr. Gordon were conversing. On
seeing the Governor enter, Mr. Gordon turned
towards him and said, "Oh ! your Excellency."
The Governor replied, " I regret Mr. Gordon, I
can hold no communication with you," On
which Mr. Gordon said, " Why ?" His Excel-
lency replied, "Because you are a prisoner." Mr.
Gordon answered, " What for ?" The Governor
gave no answer, but turned to me. I immediately
arrested Mr. Gordon in the name of the Queen on
a charge of treason. As I laid my hand on his
shoulder he got very pale and trembled much. I
told him to accompany me, which he did. As we
got to the door he said, " I wish to see my wife to
take leave of her." I went back and asked the
Governor if I should take him to see Mrs. Gordon.
He replied, "Do as you think proper ; he is in your
custody, and you are held responsible for his
being taken down and put on board the Wol-
verine." I then said to Mr. Gordon, " You
shall see your wife if you will give me your
parole to go quietly with me." He said he
would. I asked him where his wife was. He
told me at a friend's in North-street. He then
I got into my carriage and I drove him there. In
driving up he asked me where I was to take him ; I
told him on board the Wolverine. He asked me
when she was to sail. I said, " Directly ; her steam
is up, and the Governor is anxious to be off." He
asked whither she was bound. I said to Morant
Bay. He then inquired how long it took to go there.
I replied, " About five hours." He asked in what
capacity he was to go. I said, " A prisoner charged
with treason." He then exclaimed, " Well, justly
or unjustly, I shall die to-day—this evening." I
said, " No, Gordon, it will not be so ; you will be
tried, and if you are innocent of the charges against
you, you need have no fear." He repeated, " I
shall die this night. It is an unfortunate train of
circumstances, but I have nothing to do with it."
When we got to the house, I %vas about alighting,
when he said, " You sit here while I go in." I
replied, " Oh, no, Gordon, I must go with you."
We then entered the garden, and on knocking at
the front door, Mrs. Gordon opened it. We entered,
when he embraced her and said, " Here I am, a
prisoner in custody. lamto be taken to Morant
Bay at once, to die this evening." He then sud-
denly walked into the next room, and took up from
the table a packet of papers. I went up to him and
asked him to deliver them to me. He said, "No ;
they are my property—my post letters." I said,
" You must let me have them." He said, " No, I
will not." I then took hold of his hand, and gently
took them from him, and put them in the breast-
pocket of my coat. He then said, "If you will not
give them to me, at any rate let me see the directions
on them." I told him I regretted I could not oblige
him. He seemed annoyed, and said, " You exceed
your duty." He walked back to the front piazza,
where ho had left Mrs. Gordon standing. Mrs.
Gordon said, " George, give me your watch." He
took it off and handed it to her. He then asked me
if he might take any Qlothes with him. I said cer-
tainly, they should be taken on board for him. Mrs.
Gordon then gave him a small black bag, saying,
" That contains all you have here." He then said
to me, " Shall I want the money ?" I said, "No ;
you will be on board a ship of war, and will be pro-
vided with everything." He then asked Mrs.
Gordon if she wished his pocket-book. This
was a portmonnaie, whhich he handed to her. He
then went into a bedroom, -where I followed him.
He turned, and said to me, " What ! you follow
me?" I replied, " Excuse me, Gordon ; where
you go I must go." He then came back, and
suddenly walked rapidly to the back of the
house. Mrs. Gordon told him to come back.
I followed him. He took leave of an elderly
lady, saying, " That is all I wanted," and came
back. I then said, " Come, Gordon, it is time for
us to go." He again embraced Mrs. Gordon and
wished her " Good bye." Mrs. Gordon then said
to me, "May I ask as a favour of you that you give
me any information you can about Mr. Gordon ?"
I said, " I promise to give you all the information
lam at liberty to communicate." I then took the
bag of clothes and went out into the garden. Mrs.
Gordon and Gordon followed, and here again he
embraced her and followed me out into the street.
When he got to the carriage he said, " I will take
the bag." I said," " Oh, no ; you shall have it
when you get on board." He laughed and said,
" You take good care of me." I then drove him
to the general's, but found the Governor had
left. At this time a number of persons were collect-
ing in the streets. As I turned out of Duke-street
to the general's door I saw a couple of troopers on
horseback. I sent my servant to tell them to come
to me. As I turned round into Duke-street they
came up. I told them to accompany me down to
the Ordnance-wharf. We proceeded at a rapid rate.
When near the bottom of Duke-street a great crowd
appeared, and a number of people running. I heard
some one behind me give the word, " Troopers, draw
pistols !" I turned my head and saw Col. Hunt
and Capt. Johnstone. The former called out,
" Get on quick !" As we drove down Duke-street
Gordon said to me, "I wish to consult my lawyer,
Mr. Airey." Isaid " I have no authority to take you
there. When you get to the Ordnance-wharf you
can notify your desire to the Governor." When we
came opposite to Mr. Airey's office he repeated, " I
wish to see my lawyer. I wrote to him this morn-
ing." As we got down to the crowd he began
bowing and taking off his hat and saying, " Good
bye." He asked if he might speak to them. I said,
" No." He replied, " I could do no harm." !said,
" Gordon, do not attempt it." In Port Royal-street
the crowd was very great. We reached the Ord-
nance-wharf, the troopers clearing the way.
As soon as we drove inside the gate Colonel
Hunt ordered the prisoner to alight. He did so,
first thanking me for my kindness. He .was then
taken in charge by the two troopers, and was re-
moved on board the Wolverine, which was anchored
about half a mile from the Ordnance-wharf. Just
then the governor drove up to embark ; he requested
me to accompany Dim to the vessel, which I did.

George W. Gordon, in my humble opinion, ought
to have been arrested and sent to Morant Bay long
before he was.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE--Last Evening.

Amsterdam Short. 11 171 11 181
Ditto 3 Months. 12 11 12 2-1
Rotterdam
Antwerp — 25 50 25 55
Brussels
Hamburg
Paris . Short 25 121 25 20
Ditto 3 Months. 25 45 25 521
Marseilles
Frankfort on the Maine 1201 1211
Vienna — 10 821 10 871
Trieste — 10 821 10 871
Petersburgh - 291 291
Berlin
Madrid 461 461
Cadiz
471
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples — 25 65 25 70

Sir Charles Wood, Bart., M.P., has nominated
tho Rev. Enoch Valentine Richards, M.A., formerly curate
Of Carnarvon, to the incumbency of Hickleton, near Don-
caster, in the room of the Rev. J. W. Armitage. The
Rev. Reginald Nealo Shutt°, M.A., of Gonvillo and Caius
College, Cambridge, has been appointed to the incumbency
of the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Etall.
TEAR'EM IN TROUBLE.—Mr. Roebuck, M.P•, was
summoned to appear yesterday at the Westminster
Police-court, charged with refusing to pay a cabman his
proper fare. The amount in dispute was sixpence ; and
the matter seemed to rest upon the time the cabman had
been kept waiting before starting. Mr. Roebuck, who
from illness was unable to attend, was adjudged to pay the
sixpence, with five shillings costs.