Star.
London, England, 1803-03-07 00:00:00

POLICE.

UNION HALL.—Saturday a man named Smarr!
Be,?, but who is better known by the nick name of
Poor Help, was brought before the Sitting Ma-
giltrate on a charge of being a fortune teller. A
complaint had been made previonfly to the Magif-
trate by Robert Gray, the agent employed by the
Society for the Suppreffion of Vice and Immora-
lity, againa the prifoner, in which he fated that
the prifoner had been for feveral years pita em-
ployed in the praitice of telling fortunes, and pre-
tending to be a wizard, by which he had realized
a confiderahle fum of money, and in carrying on
his nefarious and deceitful profeffion, had induced
many perfons to believe he was really able to fore-
tel their future fortunes or deftiny, by the affiflance
of the Angel Gabriel, with whom he frequently
converted—and, by a knowledge of the Holy
Scriptures, for which purpote he always made it
a prauflice to quote many different portages from
the Bible to thole who came to him, and by there
means fo worked upon the minds of feveral weak
perfons, as not only to occafion them great anxiety
and diftrefs, brit had dillurbed the peace of feve-
ral families. That he, Gray, had been with him
at different times, for the purpofes of enquiring of
him different circumflances that might attend his
future fortune and welfare, at which times he had
charged him half a crown t and at the different
times Gray attended him, he found feveral other
perfons there, tome in the room with the prifoner,
and with whom he was prarEtifing his pretended
fcience ; while other; were waiting for their turn
to be admitted—and among fach perfons he de-
fcribed, that there were feveral of both fixes,
who would not be futpeCted of fuch folly and
weoknefs, as they appeared to be above thc mid-
dling clots.
lipan Gray making an information upon oath
before the Magiftrate of theft circumilances, a
warrant was granted to apprehend the prifoner ;
and to confirm what Gray Slated, he told the Ma-
giftrate he would introduce one of the officers to
the prifoner to have his fortune Laid.
John May, one of the officers, was fent with
Gray to execute the warrant, and when they ar-
rived at the prifoner's bottle, they found him en-
gaged in the exercife of his profeilion, with a very
decent dreffed woman, and Writing down portages
from Scripture. They waited till the prifoner an.
tapered her Inch clue:lions as Ehc wiffied to be re•
folved, and then May derired to have his fortune
told. The prifoner took hold of his tight hand,
and, after ersnsining the iodide, and quoting fete-
ral portages from the Bible, foretold him feveral
circumflances that would occur to him, and made
him and Gray a prefent if a curious firaw ring of
vari(itis ccdours. May then enquired of him his
charge, when he told him he never took the mo-
ney, but the woman below did, whom he called
sir. and May paid her a thiliing in the prifoner's
pretince.
May then informed the prifoner of the other ob-
jeet of his sitit, and in return predieted to the pri-
Inner what was likely to happen to him, and took
him into cullosly : the priiinscr, who was very
thong, refilled the officer, who, with the affihlance
of Gray, had much ti °obi: getting him out of the
honk ; oriel when in the Street, he made Inch re-
finance as to occafion a volt crowd of perfons to
;ramble who attempted to refeue the prifoner,
and it was with great dinicolty that May, with the
help of other officers, got bins into a coach, and
brought him to the (Ace.
Wlren he appeared before the Magiffrate, his
!vets appeared a difoifed garb, to give him the
pprarance of an old forcer:r, the better to carry
kin his praffsce, and wolfs sqs..at the minds of his

curio:llmi; he had a large crapping ::',osvn, trim-
med with fur ; a cap, and a Inge pair of -
tied round his legs. He pretended to be iufne
and would not give any coriiilent anitvers to the
quenions put by the Magiitrate, but talked in a
molt incoherent manner of the Angel Gabi lel, who,
lie laid, had given him the name of Poor Help ;
mentioned the names of fevcral Nobility, and c..lr.
tinned quoting palfages of Scripture.
The Magiftrate thinking he WAS as much like a'
rogue and vagabond as a fortune teller, commit-
ted him to the Houfe of Correetion, under the va
grant AI,C until the nest Qiarter Seniors, wheti
the Society mean to continue the Fidectition.
THAMES OFFICE.—On Saturday a charge was
exhibited againft a man and a woman, for havint,.
in their polfeilion a quantity of goods which had
been extracted from a bale in the hold of the thip
Union, Captain Hunter, lying at Mill Stair., tier-
mordley : part of the property has been traced ,o
a grocer in Rotherhithe, who, together with his'
wife, are committed for re-examination.

Several other cafes took place with refpeJ tn
people plunder Mg on the banks of the Thames,
which being dearly proved againft them, they
were convidled in feveral penalties adequa e to
their offences.

MANSION House.—Several perfons were film-
moned on Friday before the Lola) MAYOR, for bas
ing in their poirctlimi a large wiamity of 'woollen
flax, not marked with the word " Wool," pia
ant to art old Ad of Parliament, which fubjcds
the owner to a penalty of 6d. per pound. It was
contended on the behalf of the parties, that the
articles were made of old blankets and maw-tires,
and did not come within the meaning of the Aa,
and were not intended for exportation. His Lord-
Ihip however thought otherwife, and inflided the
penalty, but as no fraud appeared to have been in-
tended. he ordered the wool to be rellored.
Saturday Mr. Rolfe, who has had the building
of fereral houfes on Snow-hill, made a charge be-.
fore the LORD Mayo', againft Thomas Elliotr; a
carpenter and talk-mailer under his employ, for
leaving his work in an unflnithed (late. Elhat
acknowledged the fad, but raid he could not get
men to work for 225. a week, that being the price
agreed on by Mr. Rolfe. He called tome perfons
who gave him a good character, and who Paid
that journeymen could not now be procured for
lets than 24.5. a week. Upon the recommendation
of the Lord Mayer, the matter was accommodat-
ed between the parties.