The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-29 00:00:00

7 —(This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

EXTENSIVE ATTEMPTED FRAUD AT MESSRS. SWAN
• AND EliGAn's:—Leopold Kropp, described as a singer,
and natifie of Pesth, Hungary, was charged with endea-
vouring to obtain a quantity of shawls and silks of the
; 'glue of:£148 125., by false and fraudulent pretences from
Mr. Win. Edgar and others, silk mercers, &c., 10, Pic-
. cadilly.
Mr. IT errand prosecuted on behalf of the Association
:fOr'the Prosecution of Shoplifters, &c., and said prisoner
.called at Messrs. Swan and Edgar's, and stated that he
had been sent by Mr. Tom Taylor, to request that some
shawls and silks might be sent for approval, and it was out
of that circumstance the charge arose.
Mr. Edwards, of the shawl department, said—Yesterday
the prisoner called at Messrs. Swan and Edgar's, about
two. He asked to see some shawls, saying he wanted a
shawl worth £l5. He said they were for Mr. Tom
Taylor, writing down the address, 8, Richmond-
terrace. I wrote Mr. Tom Taylor's name on it. I selected
four shawls, prisoner saying he did not understand them of
the value of 15 to 18 guineas. Prisoner said Mr. Tom
Taylor wanted to make a present to a lady. He also said
Mr. Taylor wished for a grey silk dress and a black silk
dress sent with the shawls. I gave the shawls to Mr.
11-.skey, one of the managers. The value of ,the goods-is
£l4B—the whole pieces of silk being sent for selection.
Mr. Albert interptieted the evidence to the prisoner.
Prisoner—Did Mr* Tom Taylor:buy a dress five years
ago for a lady ?
Witness—l cannot tell.
Mr. Benjamin John Balding, assistant to Messrs: Swan
and Edgar, said—l took the parcel of goods now in court
to Mr. Tom Taylor'i office, in Richmond-terrace. I saw
the hall-keeper; Mr. Owen Owen. I said I had brought a
parcel for Mr. Taylor, and left it there. On going back a
second time I saw the prisoner gobig in, and he said he had
gone back for the parcel, as Mr. Taylor was in a hurry.
This was near 5 o'clock. I asked him if he had come for
the parcel, and he said " Yes." I told him the parcel was
inside, and we went in and the hall-keeper recognised him
as the same person who had called before. I asked him
where Mr. Taylor was, alai he did not give any answer ;
but on asking where the order was he had just taken to
Swan and Edgar's, and he said he had no order, On ask-
ing him again where Mr. Taylor was, he asked for a person
who could speak German. I asked in French where Mr.
Taylor was, and he said if I went with him he would show
me. I told him that would not do, and wanted his address.
He then said Bedford-square, but that Mr. Tom Taylor
was at Messrs. Swan and Edgar's.
After some further evidence, the prisoner was remanded
for the attendancepf Mr. Taylor.

THAMES.
THE LATE TOM SPRING'S WIDOW.-Mr. Stocks, the
builder, of Wapping parish, applied to Mr. Woolrych to
receive the legal examination of a poor woman named
Winter, who had been for some time chargeable to the
pariah of St. John, of Wapping, in the county of Middle-
sex. The woman, who was in the garb of a pauper, and
who turned out to, be no other than the widow of the
famous boxer, Tom. Spring, the renowned champion of Eng-
land, who won so many battles in the prize-ring, was intro-
duced and sworn. It is well known that the real name of
the late champion was Winter, and he adopted the name
of Spring when he became a member of the
ring. Mrs. Winter stated that she was married
to the late Thomas Winter at St. Peter's Church, in the
city of Hereford, in 1823, and that her late husband died in
the year 1851. Her legal settlement was St. Andrew, Hol-
born, above the Bars, in which parish her husband occu-
pied and resided in a distinct dwelling-house called the
Castle Tavern, well known to the sporting world, and
which was situated No. 25, High Holborn. Her husband
succeeded the famous pugilist Jim Belcher in the occu-
pancy of the house, and the rental was £BO per annum.
Her late husband was charged and rated to the poor rates of
the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, above the bars, for
and on account and in respect of the Castle Tavern for
the term of one whole year and upwards.
Mr. Woolrych signed the necesary papers, and Tom
Spring's widow will be forthwith removed to the workhouse
of St. Andrew, Holborn, above the bars, in which parish
the brave and gentlemanly Tom Spring entertained so
many thousands during his long occupancy of the Castle
Tavern.
The poor widow, who is about 60 years of age, appeared
to be in good health and spirits, and was recognised by
many persons in and about the court.