The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-02 00:00:00

CASE OF CLERICAL DELINQUENCY.

(Further Particulars, from the Times.)
In consequence of certain rumours, we have made
inquiry into the conduct of this person, and in the
whole annals of guilt, we scarcely find one equal in
atrocity. It appears that about 30 years since this
man was ordained in holy orders under the name of
Fall, but why or wherefore he subsequently changed
his name to that he now bears, remains at present a
mystery. Under the assumed name of Fenn, he was
employed as a teacher in Kirkman's academy, at
Islington, and about ten years since purchased, on
his ow►► account, an academy in Bloomsbury, in
which he succeeded beyond his most sanguine ex-
pectations. Unfortunately for him, and we may say
with truth for the greatest body of his creditors, :Mr.
Fenn was not satisfied with the profits derived from his
school : he started also as a bill-broker, or rather dis-
counter of bills, taking to himself (as others of that
notorious class do) an exorbitant rate of interest.—
He thus made many bad debts, and was himself ul-
timately induced to resort to other usurers, who, like
himself, though more wary, were not wanting in the
rate to be charged to a brother miscreant. Spurred
on by this Connexion, he was led to comm►t the
crime of forgery, a►►d not only committed various
forgeries himself, but he also made one of his tutors
draw and accept bills in fictitious names. He also
had the unmanly hardihood to involve his pupils in
his guilt; for he has, in like manner, made them
draw, accept, and endorse fictitious bills, and has cir-
culated that kind of rKbbish (among tradesmen only)
to an enormous amount, and in order to give a greater
facility to his criminal traffic, an account was opened
at Messrs. Ransom's bank. This circumstance
gave a degree of credit to his movements, and,
by an insinuat►ng address, pretended friendship, and
plausibility of manners, ingratiated himself with vari-
ous tradesmen ; he would, in some instances, pre-
tend that he possessed a bill for a large amount,
such as 2,0001. on this nobleman or the other, and
that he W6S himself to receive 2001. or 3001. from
the pretended nobleman for the accommodation, and
consequently could afford to give the unsuspecting
tradesman 50/. for the loan of 5001. The tradesman,
confiding in the sanctified clergyman, has, in many
instances, been thus duped to the tune of 2,000/. or
3,000/. Again, the clergyman would produce one
of his concocted bills, and say, " If you discount me
this 2001. at 5 per cent., I will take 501. worth of
goods, and you shall draw a bill on me for the
amount of the goods ;" so that this fellow has, in
many instances, obtained 250/. for one of his forged
bills of 2001.

It appears that the circumstances which led to his
immediate detection was his absenting himself from
his home, together with several of his cheques (which
ha had post-dated) becoming due, which were re-
turned as a matter of course by his bankers for want
of funds. Under these circumstances, a meeting
was convened, and an intercepted letter coming to
hand disclosed the whole system, and that the Rev.
gentleman had emigrated to Paris, under the name
of George Lewis.
It may be imagined that he had associates in his
guilt, and consequently those associates leave no
stone unturned to prevent inquiry.
We say, if certain parties (whom we can name)
are not equally culpable, how is it that an immediate
inquiry has not been instituted ? Public justice de-
mands inquiry.
It is a curious fact, that with all the Rev. Gen-
tleman's frauds, it does not appear that he has
lodged any of his concocted paper with his imme-
diate associates, viz., the bill-brokers.

The following are a few of the persons who hold
the Rev. Gentleman's forgeries :
Messrs. Davies, of Giltspur-street, auctioneers;
Mr. E. Jones, Whitefriars-wharf, coal-merchant;
Messrs. Tosswells, Garlick-hill; Messrs. Cookson,
Strand ; Mr. King, Bolton-street, Piccadilly ;
Messrs. Hansler and M'Kenzie, Round-court,
Strand, wine-merchants; Messrs. Davidson, Ox-
ford-street ; Mr. Pratt, Parliament-street; Mr. Mar-
shall, Great Ormond-street ; Mr. Wigley, Essex-
street, solicitor.

In some parts of the north of Europe the
grass grows under the snow, and it is the custom, in soma
places, to throw ashes upon the sr ow, for the double pur-
pose of hastening its melting and forwarding vegetation.