Star.
London, England, 1830-04-24 00:00:00

NIANSION-HOUSE.

FALSE LETTERS Or ADMINISTRATION.—A cafe, whics
proved to be very curious in its details, came on before the LORI.
MAYOR.—A middle-aged female, who occasionally calls herut•
Mra. Brown, was charged by Captain Cook, of the Cambria, will
having endeavoured to defraud the relations of William 31'Kersey,
late a mate of that vessel, under the following circumstances :
Captain Cook stated, that one of the mates of his ship having
died, he went to take out letters of administration for the sister ot
the deceased some months ago, but was informed that letter of ad-
ministration had already been iuued, and presented at the Receiving
Office for Greenwich Hospital on Tower-hill, by the prisoner, who
represented herself as the sister of the deceased, and gave an address
which nobody could find out. He had taken a great deal of
trouble to get her apprehended, but she contrived to shift her
quarters, and escaped until she was regularly entrapped.—
Whenever the witness left London, she repeated her appli.
cation, and she would have received the money due to the mate it
there had not been some mistake in spelling of the name. On th.
last arrival of the witness he learned what had occurred at the Re.
ceiving Office, and a letter was sent to her to one of her numerous
addresses, desiring that she would call at Tower-hill to receive her
brother's wages. She obeyed the summons, and was, to her great
horror, taken into custody. The Captain produced all the neces-
sary documents in proof of the guilt of the prisoner.
The Lotto Al al'Ort said the case was a very gross one ; and aslo,'
whether it was intended to prosecute ?
Captain Cook said he was obliged to sail for a foreign country
immediately, or he should not hesitate to prosecute, whatever might
be the expense or trouble ; but such a plunderer ought not to be al-
lowed to escape, and he trusted that the Commissioners of Green.
with Hospital would, as he considered them bound to do, indict her
for the offence.

A gentleman, who appeared to be an officer of Greenwich Hospi-
tal, stated that the case was an every day one. Unfortunately there
were great facilities in procuring the intelligence relating to deceased
seamen, and the villainous tricks of perjurers of this description
often succeeded. The Commissioners were most anxious to put a
atop to such a system of plunder, but could not ; and he believed
that they would not prosecute.
The LORD MAYOR asked why in such a case they could object
to perform what appeared to be their public duty ?
The officer said, they had some time ago prosecuted a person for
getting felonious possession of a seaman's money, and having ea •
pended 701. or 801. they were wholly disappointed, the Grand Jury
having ignored the bill.
The LORD MAYOR: But there may have been circumstances is
that case which rendered it doubtful. Now in this case every thing
is as cleat as possible. This woman has taken the false oath, and
other acts establishing her guilt have been committed by her.
The officer said, the use he alluded to Wag one of forgery.
The Loan MAYOI: Aye, ; that might have operated upon the
Grand Jury. The dread of the infliction of capital punishment can.
not, however, operate in this case. As the offence is so prevalem
there ought to be a prosecution.
Captain Cook—This woman, I have ascertained, belongs to
knot of depredators who are always at work of this description. 'Pk
poor sister of the deceased cannot take out letters of admistratio-
until those which the prisoner has presented are cancelled.
The officer said that she aid her gang set every one at defiance.
11cr proctor had received wages a dozen times under similar circum-
stances, and cared not a straw for any person ; in feet, the persons
concerned in (lauds and robberies of the kind set themselves &hose
the law.

The Lokn MAYOR again urged the propriety of prosecuting, and
said he should regret to discharge a prisoner who was known as
such an offender. He then ordered Mrs. Brown to find bail to au-
aver any complaint that might be made against her at the next Old
Bailey Sasions.

Several meetings have been called in various parts of
Ireland to protest against the proposed increase of thl•
Stamp taxation. Seven magistrates of Upper Ussery
have convened the landholders of that barony fly
Monday.