The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-09 00:00:00

BoW-S1 I?EE7'.

A tobacconist, of the name of Bush, residing in High Hol-
born, was charged with having blb. 4oz. of smuggled-goods
(tobacco and cigars) in his possession.
Mr. Potbury, from the office of the Solicitor to the Cus-
toms, called several Excise officers to prove that they went
to the defendant's house on the 18th ult., in consequence of
suspicions entertained by them, and under the authority of a
warrant granted by the Police Magistrate at Lambeth, and
proceeded to search the house, having previously read the
warrant to the defendant. The defendant's wife ran up-stairs
into a bed room, but was followed by one of the officers, who
saw her take a parcel of American Cavendish tobacco out of
a drawer. A box of cheroots was subsequently found in the
room. The defendant addressed the officers in a tone of de-
fiance, declaring that the Commissioners might do what they
pleased with him ; in consequence of which, Mr. Potbury
stated, the authorities had instructed him to press for the
severer penalty, instead of that usually inflicted in such cases,
where the offence was a first one, and the defendant expressed
his contrition for the same.
The defendant said he had not much experience in the
trade, having been only a year and a half in business as a
tobacconist. He was led to purchase the goods by the arts
of a Frenchman, but had kept them out of the way at the
suggestion of a friend.
Mr. TwYrouo, after examining the Act, observed that the
extreme penalty was 1001., but the magistrate had the power
to mitigate the penalty to one fourth of the amount.
Mr. I'otbury did not desire to press for the full penalty, the
quantity of goods found being very small.
Mr. TWYFORD then ordered him to pay 251. with the costs.
The defendant immediately paid the sum, and was dis-
charged.
Caroline Evans, a servant maid in the employ of her Ma-
jesty, was brought up from Windsor Castle, on suspicion of
stealing a coat from a fellow-servant, named Hall, at Buck-
ingham Palac c.
The case w Ailnly very shortly taken, to admit of the re-
mand of the peis3ner for a week.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
CONVICTION OF A NOTORIOUS BEAMING-LETTER IMPOS-
TOR.—Yesterday William Smith, a grey-haired man, of re-
spectable appearance, who has been known to the Mendicity•
Society for the last thirteen yelits as one of the most succes-
ful begging-letter writers in London, was brought before
Mr. Hardwick, charged with having attempted to impose on
several noblemen and gentle men by means of petitions,
statements of distress, arid also with having obtained money
under similar fraudulent pretences from a gentleman named
Olive, residing at No. 4, York-terrace, Regent's-park.
One of the society's visitors, named Fergusson, produced
an enormous bundle of petitions to persons of distinction,
which 1 al been forwarded for investigation to the societ.
Amongst parties who had been imposed upon were the
Bishop of Norwich, the Earl of Eldon, Earl Jermyn, Lord
Bexley, and Lady Shaw Stewart. The visitor stated that
Lord Bexley, on being applied to, had sent a sovereign to
the society for the applicant; the Bishop of Norwich had
also acquainted the society with the fact of having been ap.
plied to. As the petitioner was perfectly well known as an
impostor, Horsford, one of the constables, was instructed to
take steps to insure his apprehension. Tl'e constable, after
considerable trouble, got upon his track, and on Friday last
he succeeded in meeting with him in Kensington, and taking
him into custody.
Mr. Olive stated that the prisoner some time ago made
application to him for assistance, and received half-a-sove-
reign. Shortly afterwards the prisoner made a second appli-
cation, and was then told he could not be relieved unless he
brought a recommendation. Thu prisoner went away, and
returned with a letter of recommendation, purporting to be
written by Mr. Mackenzie, of Cornwall-crescent, a friend of
his (Mr. Olive's), and it was on the strength of this letter
that the prisoner obtained a sovereign. A few days ago the
prisoner paid a third visit, and, in order to escape detection,
he assumed all the feebleness of age and infirmity. The
prisoner brought the following letter:— " Sept. 29.
"My Christian Sir,—l hope you will be pleased to feel for
an old servant of the Religious Reformation Society, who,
through long affliction, is brought to the greatest of distress