The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-25 00:00:00

MA RLBOROU GH-STREET.

Yesterday, a young man named Junes Sims alias
Broomfield, was brought to this office by the constables of
the Mendicity Society, before Mr. CONANT, the siding
Magistrate, charged with obtaining a sovereign from Earl
Spencer, by means of false and fraudulent representations.
It appeared that the prisoner addressed a letter, which
was produced, to Earl Spencer, stating that he, the pri-
soner, bad served for a considerable time as a midshipman
on board the Naiad frigate, while that ship was under the
comin•rnd of Sir Robert Spencer, his Lordship's son,
and continued so to serve until the vessel was paid eff at
Portsmouth. The letter then went on to state that the
writer had afterwards obtained a situation in a merchant
trading vessel called the Jane, in which he served
until a short time since, when the said Jane had the
great misfortune to be wrecked in a gale of wiud
off the coast near Harwich, and that in that distress-
ing casualty, he (the prisoner) lost every thing he
possessed on earth except his life, and the letter ended
with the usual prayer of such impostors, for some pecu-
niary relief. This letter was accompanied with a certifi-
cate, purporting to be signed by the Mayor of Ilarwich,
commencing " Harwich, to wit," and authenticating the
accstunt of the shipwreck of the Jane, and the prisoner's
identity as belonging to her. The letter also enclosed for
his Lordship's satisfaction a certificate, professing to be
authenticated by Lieutenant Webb. of the Naiad, stating
that the prisoner had served as midshipman on board that
vessel during the time that she was commanded by the
Hon. Sir Robert Spencer; but all the documents were
written, worded, and spelt in a manner that at once he-
trued them not to be by possibility the productions of a
Lieutenant in his Majesty's navy, and much less of ant en-
lightened Mayor of one of the Cinque Ports.
• • -

Lord Sp neer, suspecting a fraud similar to many which
his well-known benevolence has often subj,cte4l him to was
about to be practised on him, his Lordship directed Mr.
Appleyard, his Lordship's secretary, to have some inquiry
made as to the possible truth of the prisoner's representa-
tions, and Mr. Appleyard accordingly addressed a letter
to the Admiralty on the subject, aid learned, in reply, by
a letter from Mr. Lawes, of that department, that no per-
son of the name of Sims ever served on board the Naiad
ass a midshipman, and that all the documents alluded to
were barefaced fabrications.

Mr. Appleyard then communicated with the Mendicity
Society, and some of the officers of that Establishment at-
tended at Lord Spencer's house at the hour appointed tot
prisoner to call for an answer to his application, and
the prisoner, as arranged, having had a sovereign given to
him from his Lordship, he was instantly taken into custody.
In his pocket was found, on searching hint, another cer-
tificate, purporting to be signed by Admiral Raver, and
describing the prisoner under the name of James Broom-
field, as having served as midshipman under the Admiral's
command, which document was, no doubt, intended for
other frauds.

The prisoner was committed to hard labour in the House
of Correction for two months.
QUEEN-SQUARE.

In consequence of the publicity given to the ease of
Charles Rodius, the German artist, who was committed
last week from this office, for robbing Lady Meyrick of her
reticule at the King's Theatre, many persons of respecta-
bility have called at the office to examine the property, who
have been robbed in leaving the theatres. A lady residing
in Hertford-street, May-fair, stated she had been robbed of
her reticule as she was coming out of Drury-lane last
month, and identified an opera glass and a scent-bottle,
which were found at the prisoner's lodgings. Another
lady from Kensington said she was robbed of her reticule
as she was coming out of the King's Theatre on Tuesday
the 10th instant, and identified a miniatnte set i❑ gold, and
a valuable diamond ring. A gentleman attended on be-
half of a lady of title, and said that her Ladyship was
• robbed as she was leaving the lingiish Opera House a
short time ago of a purse, containing ten sovereigns. Ti,e
gentleman inspected the property, but he could not identify
the purse.
Handley, the officer, said he had no doubt but lie should
be able to find owners for the whole of the property in
a few days. The articles owned are the same the pri-
soner said haul been presented to him by his pupils. The
prisoner is to be brought up in a few days fur another ex-
arnination.