The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-18 00:00:00

MARLBORO U GH.STREET.

Yesterday an old woman, who on this occasion
gave the name of diary Johnson, but who is known
to pass by a variety of other names, as it may
happen to suit her convenience, and another female,
who acts the part of the old lady's servant, who

gave the name of Elizabeth Wilson, were brought
from► St. James's watch-house, before Mr. ROE, the
sitting Magistrate, charged with obtaining goods
from a number of tradespeople in the following dis-
honest manner :
It appeared,. that on some occasions the servant,
and sometimes the old dame herself, goes to the
house of some person in one of the fashionable
streets at the west end of the town who lets lodg-
ings, and hires a suite of apartments for an elderly
lady of fortune, who is just arrived in town (mean-
ing the old prisoner herself), and of which posses-
sion is immediately taken by the pair; and they then
set about ordering in eatables and drinkables of all
descriptions from the surrounding tradespeople, who
do not hesitate to supply a lady occupying such re-
spectable lodgings, and indeed are generally glad to
meet so promising a customer; but no sooner are
the wines, brandy, tea, sugar, cheese, &c. delivered,
than they are quickly conveyed away again from the
lodgings by the two prisoners, who, it appears, are
regularly harnessed on those occasions with a con-
venience for the purpose. Thisi convenience con-
sists of a large sack made to buckle round the waist
and reaching almost down the heels like a petticoat,
which each of the persons wear behind, and
even when filled it is but little observed in this
position under a cloak or other loose outside cover-
ing. In this sack they stow away the goods left by
the incautious tradesmen, and carry them off to
some depot either for sale or their own use, and
having thus got all away, they decamp from the
lodgings without saying any thing of rent. On the
present occasion the prisoners, it seems, took up
their abode at the house of Mr. Swaile, in Clifford-
street, Bond-street, where they hired apartments on
Saturday last. the old dame, who is always gen-
teelly dressed, and has about her a very respec►able
appearance, told Mr. Swaile that she had just arrived
in town from the neighbourhood of Heston, where
she had a country-house, and that she would stop
in his lodgings for some weeks, as she had business
to transact in London ; but in the course of the
same day the suspicions of Mr. Swaile were excited
by the quantity and variety of goods that were
coming in from all sorts of tradespeople, and the

frequency with which both the mistress and the
maid went in and out of the house without any ap-
parent business. At last Mr. Swaile bethought him
of a neighbour he knew to be well acquainted with
Heston and all that country around, and upon this
neighbour he called to learn all particulars about
Mrs. Johnson, a lady of fortune residing at that
place ; but, to his great surprise, he was informed
by his neighbour that there was no Mrs. Johnson, of
fortune or otherwise, occupying a house at Heston,
or any where in that neighbourhood, and that of
course Mr. Swaile's lodger must be an impostor.
Mr. Swaile, upon this information, kept a sharp eye
upon his lodgers, and observed, that when either of
them went out of the house, which they did very
often, there appeared rather an unnatural protube-
rance upon their persons behind, which led him to
watch an opportunity of taking a sly feel at the
bulk as they went through the passage, when, what
should he chance to lay hold on but the neck of a
wine-bottle, and his worst suspicions being thus
confirmed, he immediately sent for a constable, and
gave both the mistress and maid into custody, and
had them lodged in the watch-house, when, on ex-
amining them, it was found they were each heavily
laden with provisions of various sorts, and that they
had already nearly cleared away all the goods that
had been sent in.

The sacks carried by the prisoners were, on exa-
mination, found large enough to convey away a New-
foundland dog.
A great number of respectable tradespeople who
had sent goods into the lodgings were in attendance,
but the particulars of their respective cases were
not gone into, as the Magistrate considered that
they were only matters of debt, of which he could
not take cognizance; but he ordered at the same
time that both the prisoners should find bail for their
appearance, to answer any charge that may be pre-
ferred against them at the Session!.
Mr. ROE asked the old woman if her real name
was Johnson, as he had some reason to think that
she bore a different name at another time ?—She
replied, that Johnson was the name she now thought
proper to give, and she should answer no mo:e
questions.

_
Both prisoners were then committed for want of
bail.

The old woman is said to be known for years as
carrying en the same system of imposition, and to
have been several times before in custody.

MARYLEBONE.

Mrs. Sarah Dickenson, the wife of a builder, at
No. 30, Ernest-street, Regent's-park, was charged
with slapping the face of Mrs. Rosa Patten, a lady
of fashion and of fortune, who lodged in the house.
Mrs. Patten came, attended by a young gentle-
man, her friend, and a female servant of colour; and
it appeared by her statement, and was admitted by
the defendant, that she had paid liberally, and be-
forehand, for her apartments. After a time, the
good understanding which at first existed between
them was destroyed by trifles, and Mrs. Patten gave
notice of her intention to quit. On Friday morn-
ing, she was packing her plate for that purpose in
the kitchen, when Mrs. Dickenson was there wash-
ing, and Mrs. Dickenson took an opportunity to
draw her hand from the soap-suds, and without
wiping it, slapped the complainant's face. Mrs.
Patten went away to avoid farther mischief. Mrs.
Dickenson bounced up stairs after her, and declared
she would smash the breath out of her body. Mrs.
Patten went into her room and shut the door, and
Mrs. Dickenson forced it open and repeated the
violence. _

The first witness called by Mrs. Patten was John
Hopkins, a watchman in the Regent's-park. He
went into Mrs. Dickenson's kitchen on Friday after-
noon, to screw down Mrs. Patten's plate chest.
Mr. HosmNs asked him—Did you see this assault
committed ? John Hopkins—I can't say that I
seedany blow struck; it was done before I went;
but I seed the mark of it.

Mr. HOSKINS—What kind of a mark ? John
Hopkins—Mrs. Patter's left cheek was more fiery
like than the other.

Mr. HOSKINS—Do yoi know any thing more
about it? John Hopkins—l heard a good deal of
bad language made use of.
Mr. HosioNs—By which of the parties ? John
Hopkins—Both on 'em.
Mr. HosioNs—Do you remember any of it ? John
Hopkins—l don't remember much; but I heard Mrs.
Patten call Mrs. Dickinson a
Mrs. Patten attempted to check her witness.

" Oh, no, no," said she; " I called her a -,
believe; but I did not use the other word."

John Hopkins—They were the very words,ma'arn
The black girl was then put forward.
Mr. Hosxiss—Do you speak English ? Mrs.
Patten—No, Sir.

Mr. Hosioss—Pray, madam, do not interrupt.
(To the servant again)—Do you speak English ?
Yes, Sir.
Mr. HOSKINS desired her to tell him all she knew
about this affair ? Black Girl —Mistress up stairs;
speak no word ; Mrs. Dickenson open door; mistress
push back make fast again; Mrs. Dickenson open
door again, give one blow.

Mr. HOSKINS asked her how ? The witness dk
not understand the question, and Dutch, the officer,
who served the warrant upon the defendant, varied it:
Dutch—How did she strike her ? Black girl—
Strike one.

Dutch—Show us how. " So," said the girl,
tapping hi: left cheek, but not sufficiently hard to
make it look fiery.
Mrs. Dickenson denied the charge. Although,
she said, her house had been disturbed both night
and day with dreadful cries of murder, in conse-
quence of Mrs. Patten's conduct towards her black
slave, and she was heartily glad to get rid of her,
it was never in her thoughts to lift up her hand
against her, and she called her own servant to sup-
port her defence.

Mrs. Patten said she could not bear to see an oath
administered to that girl. She would rather give
201. than have her evidence taken, for she was sure
it would be false.

Her evidence was taken, but it did not show tha
the blow in the room up stairs was not given, and
Mr. HOSKINS held Mrs. Dickenson in recogni.
zances to keep the peace.

SECOND EDITION.
SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock

THE LONDON GAZETTE

OF THIS EVENING.

At the Court at Windsor, the 17th day of August, 1829,
PRESENT,
The KING'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
It is this day ordered by his Majesty in Council, that
the Parliament be prorogued, from Thursday the 20th of
this instant, August, to Thursday, the 15tn of Oct. next.