The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-03 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday a young man, respectably dressed, Who
has been for some time past levying contributions
on the charitable inhabitants of Claphatn, was
brought before Mr. CHAMBERS, charged with distri-
buting begging epistles, representing himself to be
deaf and dumb.

Dr. Watson, of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at-
tended, and stated that the prisoner had used his
name in ,a variety of instances in recommendatory
letters that he had forwarded to distinguished indi-
viduals resident in town, begging for money, de-
scribing severe bodily afflictions, and referring to him
(the doctor) for the truth of his statements. Now
he (the doctor) knew peffectly well that the fellow
was labouring under no infirmity of the description
he had set forth in his epistle, and having been
apprised of the fact of his having imposed upon
several families, by pretending to be deaf and dumb,
in ordef to put a stop to such gross imposture, the
doctor wrote to the editor of the Tinies, describing
the appearance of the prisoner, and cautioning the
public against the artifices of a fellow who was well
calculated to impress the belief that he was art ob-
ject of commiseration. The doctor here handed in
a list of the names of the parties to whom the pri-
soner had written, solicitiir! charity on the ground
of his being deaf and dumb; and amongst them
were these of Earl Brownlow, Lord Binning,
Lord Hanley, General Ross, Lady Ross, Ludy
Lubbock, Lady Anson, Lady Raffles, the editor of
the Times, the Rev. Mr. Dealrry, the rector
of Clapham, &c. Dr. Watson added, that some
months ago the prisoner, upon finding that the im-
posture was discovered, assumed a different name,
and upon every subsequent discomy of kits tricks,
he uniformly changed his name, in erder to avoid de-
tection. On the present occasion he had made ap-
plication to the Rev. Mr. Dcaltry for assistance,
through the medium of writing., pretending himself
deaf and dumb, and referring to Dr. Watson for the
truth of his declarations. Mr. Dealtry, suspecting
the fellow to be an impostor, detained him until his
character was ascertained, and then he was sent to
the cage on Clapham-common, when it appeared he
was soon restored to those faculties, to the want of
which he attributed all his misfortunes in life ; for
he had not been long in durance before he fell down
upon his knees to Reed, the constable, and implored
him to let him go, and promising, that as long as he
lived, he would never again attempt to impose
upon any body by pretending that he was deaf and
dumb.

Mr. CH►AMBERS—On this occasion you have given
the name of Fold, is that your real mune
Prisoner—That is my name.

Dr. -Watson stated, that at the period the prisoner
hail written to the Editor of the Threw, lie gave a

differest name, for on that occasion he signed riis
name John Smith, afterwards changed to Page. In
fact, he (the Doctor) had ascertained that he was
the habit otpassibg by fictitious ap-
pellations.
in
.y
The prisoner, in reply to the Magistrate, stated
that he was a native of the county of Carlow, in
Ireland; that he was clerk to an eminent solicitor in
Dublin, and that, having quarrelled with his em.
ployer, he threw up his situation and came to this
country; that having failed in obtaining a clerkship
here, or any other suitable occupation, he was forced
to adopt the alternative of gaining a livelihood by
pretending to be afflicted with human infirmity, or
die in the streets of hunger.
Mr. Cri.tarnsurs said, that bewaa as fit a subject
for the tread-wheel as had come under his cognizance
for a length of time,
and according
for three months to hard labour at Brixton.
committed him
Brixton.
Mrs. Auld, the widow of the late Mr. Auld,
manager of the Exeter Theatre, who was killed in
consequence of falling through a trap-door on the
stage of that theatre, attended at this office to prefer
a charge of highway robbery against a man named
Harris. From the complainant's evidence it ap-
peared, that on Friday evening last, between six and
seven o'clock, she left home for the purpose of
making a few purchases in Prospect-place. She
had scarcely gone 20 yards from her own door, when
the prisoner seized her reticule, which contained Ecr
purse and some money, and, tearing it from her, ran
away. He was pursued, and at length overtaken,
but had managed to get rid of the articles be had
robbed the complainant of.
Mrs. Auld distinctly identified the prisoner, who
was committed to the assizes on the capital charge.
The prisoner is well known to the officers as a noto-
riously bad character.