Star.
London, England, 1823-07-31 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

Yesterday Ezekiel Cohen was placed at the bar for
fraudulently obtaining, under false pretences, from
Ann Dyas, various sums of money, in consequence
of his representing himself to be an Attorney.
Mr. THrSSIGER conducted the prosecution, which
was instituted by the Metropolitan Law Society.
Ann Dyas sworn-Llir July, 1820, saw the prisoner
at the bar in Union-street, Borough, when her -hus-
band's cart and horse was going to tile green-yard,
in consequence of her husband having been hawking
sand without a license ; the prisoner took witness by
the atm, and said, " My good woman, I'm a Lawyer
and an Attorney, and if you take the law in your
own hands you will suffer for it ;" witness then went
to a public-house in Union-street, of the sign of the
Catherine Wheel, where the prisoner said, " I want
6s. 3d. for a consultation fee ;" this sum witness paid
Cohen, who took out a piece of paper, and making
some memorandums, they then went to Union Hall,
but the Office was closed ; an appointment was then
made by the prisoner to meet witness on the following
Monday, at the above-mentioned public-liouse. A
few days afterwards prisoner called upon witness, and
asked her' what she meant to do in the business, and
whether she would engage him professional!),
tress expressed her willingness to obtain the services
of the prisoner, upon which the prisoner demanded
ten shillings, which witness paid him ; the next time
witness saw the prisoner was on the Ist of October,
when he came and said he wanted 2/. 2s. for.young
Turton. Witness told prisoner she could not collect
so much, but gave him 11. is. and 2s. 6d. for the,
above Learned Gentleman's clerk. Prisoner then I,
said, " This guinea is for Mr. Turton, when will you
have any for me?" A receipt for this sum was put
in, and proved to be in the hand-writing of the pri-
soner. Witness said she would let him have some in
a few days. In about ten days, witness took 10s.
more to the house of the prisoner. On the 15th of
October, prisoner came to witness's house, and de-
manded the whole of his money, and without which
he would not carry the cause further. Witness told
the prisoner she had only 31. 3s. when he said, out of
that sum lie had to pay Mr. Turton two guineas; and
added, he had already given a guinea to Mr. Turton,
as a retailing fee. Witness in a few days went to
Kingston Assizes, and heard the name of " Dyas"'
called in Court, when she went to the prisoner, who
was walking outside of the Court. Prisoner replied,
there was time enough. Witness was not in Court
•
the following
.day.
Cross-examined—They were not all drunk that
afternoon ; were in a puqic-house a few minutes;
never heard of a person of the name of Spencer, as
attorney; the first money she paid prisoner was 6s. ad.
next 10s. in a few days 10s.more ; on the Ist Octo-
ber £1 3s. 6d. and last £3 3s.
William Myers sworn—Was at the house of the
last witness on the Ist October, aad corroborated the
last witness's evidence, generally, as to what passed
with the prisoner on those days; and added, that the
prisoner repeatedly stated he was a regular attorney.
Cross examined—Did not know the prisoner as a
clerk to Mr. Spencer; never had a quarrel with the
prisoner, or said he would swear anything against him.
Esther Myers, the wife of the last witness, was
preseit with her husband at the meetings with the
prisoner, and confirmed the whole of the evidence.
John Bowers was clerk to Mr. Turton, the barrister,
in 1820, and kept accounts of all fees ; never received
arty fees on behalf of Dyas, in that year.
Mr. James Anderum, solicitor to the Metropolitan
Law Society, stated he had searched all the rolls of
each Court, and no attorney of the name of Ezekiel
Cohen appeared on the roll.
Mr. COWLEY addressed the Jury on behalf of the
prisoner, but called no witnesses.
The Jury consulted for a short time, and found a
verdict of Guilty.
The CHAIRMAN addressed the prisoner, and said,
he had at length fallen into a trap which he did not
expect when he commenced the practices of which
he had been found guilty ; and as an example to
others, for the purpose of preventing such harpies
preying on the poor, he must be punished to the
utmost extent of the law. The prisoner was then
sentenced to be transported for seven years.
On the sentence being pronounced a burst of ap-
probation took place.
Thomas Charles Fitzhugh Sandon, commonly called
Captain Sandon, was indicted for obtaining under
false .pretences various sums of money from Edward
Putland, formerly a timber-merchant at Croydon.
Edward Putland examined—On the 25th of April,
1822, I rendered to the King's Bench Prison, where
I first became acquainted with the defendant in June
following; I stated my circumstances to the defend-,
ant, who appeared much interested in my welfare,
relative to my creditors, when the defendant asked
me what amount there was against me at the Gate?
I informed him abbut 1:540, when the defendant re-
plied it was a trifling sum, and he could get my
affairs settled ; after some calculations made by the
defendant, he said he should want about thirty pounds
for my liberation. I expressed my surprise that with
so small an amount he could obtain my discharge;
when defendant replied, that lie had a friend of the
name of Green, who stood very high in the commer-
cial world, and also at his‘banker s. I then stated to
defendant my having no money, when defendant said
an acceptance would be equally satisfactory to Mr.
Green, as that Gentleman would pay the bill into
his banker's, and Mr. Green would then advance
money as required ; defendant added, should it require
a trifling-sum more, he would inform me in due time.
A few days afteretriids, a bill of exchange, at two
months, drawn by the defendant, and accepted by
me, was returned to the defendant. On the 25th of
Jane, defendant came to my room, and stated, that
he had seen Mr. Green ; he was with him last even-
ing, and that Gentleman had procured one discharge,
but could not state which it was; and added, that a
further supply of money must be made, to the amount
of six pounds, which mutt, if possible, be collected
the next day ; which sum defendant received the
following day. On the 29th, defendant required
a 16s. 6d. more, which he stated would finish the
transaction. I informed defendant that 1 had but £7,
upon which defendant replied, " You shall not stand
sMI for a couple of pounds, I will advance it, and
Tou,must return it as soon as convenient;" the two
patinas were aeturned the following day. For a
month afterwards I was daily' in the habit of asking

the reason my discharge had not arrived ; .also urged -
to be introduced to Mr. Green, which defendant at all
times declined ; from time to time defendant made
many excuses for the non-arrival of the disci rge.
On the 10th of -July defendant informed me t at the
reason 'why my discharge was not got was, at Mr.
Green had much difficulty in arranging with Mr.
Hodeson, Solicitor to the Assignees of Messrs. Todd
and Co. and that it would require a further sum of
El 4. Mr. Green was going to dine with one of my
creditors at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry.
On the 14th July, Mrs. Putland,. in my presence,
and also in the presence of the defendant's brother,
paid the additional sum of £l4, on the solemn pro-
mise made by the defendant that the discharge should
be lodged on the following day; at the time defen-
dant received the 1:14, he put it up in a piece of paper,
and handed it over to his brother, saying-4, Here,.
Matt. go immediately and deliver this to Mr. Green."
No discharge arrived the next day, and for several
days afterwards defendant alleged some excuse or'
other. At last my suspicions having been, roused, I
sent to several of my creditors, and the answer re-
ctived from them was, that no person had applied to ,
them for a compromise of their demands against me;'
and it was not until my brother settled ss ith my cre-
ditors that I was liberated from the King's Bench
Prison ; since which liberation and the filing of the
present indictment, I have been arrested upon the
before-mentioned bill of £5O, by Mr. Dolman, At-
torney in the Marshalsea, from which Court tbe ac-
tion has been removed, and this day I am brought
up by Habeas."
Many other witnesses were examined, whose evi-
dence confirmed the above statement; also several-of
the creditors proved no application having been made
by Mr. Green to settle Mr. Putland's debts.
The*Jury returned a verdict of Guilty; and the
CHAIRMAN, in passing sentence, remarked at consi-
'derable length on the enormity of the offence, and
, sentenced the prisoner to seven years transportion.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, JULY 30.

AN ATTORNEY OF COURT STRUCK OFF THE ROLLS.
William Henson, an unopposed insolvent, applied
fur his discharge, he being a marksman. Mr. White,
his attorney, was called on to read it, but neither he
nor his clerk appealing, the Court ordered his name
to be erased from the Roll of Attornies acting therein.