Star.
London, England, 1826-05-09 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Saturday, Mr. Minsnuta. was occupied for some hours in the
morning, and again in the evening until a late hour, In the investi-
gation of the following curious affair :
A well-dressed man, about thirty years of age, who stated that
his name was Sun, and that he was in holy orders, was brought
from Dover by Ledbitter, of this offfce, who bad followed him
thither with a warrant, in which he stood charged with fraudulently
possessing himself of 551. the property of Mr. Coape, a merchant,
of Finch-lane, Cornbill.

Mr. Coape deposed, that in consequence of an advertisement in
the Times Newspaper, about ten or twelve days ago, in which three
horses, described as the property of a Rev. Gentleman going abroad,
were stated to be fur sale, at a livery stable in Orange street, Leices-
ter-square, he went there with his brother, and found a man in a
groom's livery, who chewed the horses; and on witness selecting one,
said he was instructed by his master to demand 70 guineas for him.
When asked who was his master, he said that his name was Sugg,
and that he was Rector of Layton. in Essex. Meer one or two
subsequent visits to the stables, the witness saw Mr. Sugg, and the
former finally agreed to give 701. for the horse, if upon trial of three
days he should still approve of him. Sup said as Mr Coape was
a stranger to hhn he should require part of the purchase money to
be paid down, and Mr. Coape consented to pay down 551. the
balance of 151. to be paid at the end of the three days' trial, if the
result should be favourable ; if otherwise, to be refunded and the
horse returned. Mr. Coape paid the money and said he would take
the horse away himself, but Sugg said he could not allow him to do
that; he would send his groom with it. This Mr. Gaps thought
at the time was purely a matter of politeness, and he requested
that the animal might be sent to Gale's livery stables in Oxford.
street, which Sugg said should be done before eight o'clock on
Saturday se'nnight the 19th of April. In the course of the conver-
sation between them, Sugg said he was in orders and had graduated
at Cambridge, but did not say he bad any living. Before eight
o'clock, Mr. Coape became uneasy, and walked down to the stables
in Orange-street, where he found that the horse was gone, as a
helper in the yard told him, to Oxford-street. He went to Gale's,
but the animal had not been seen there, and on his returning once
more to Orange street, he learned that the Rev. Mr. Sugg, his
groom, and all the three horses, had disappeared together. Mr.
Coape in a day or two ascertained that Sup had gone to Dover,
whither he caused him to be followed by the officer.
Mr. Sup very confidently deaied that there was any thing frau-
dulent in the transaction. It all arose, be said, froin a mistake of
his groom, who forgot where he was to take the horse, and when he
(Sugg) found that, he sent a note by a ticket-porter to Mr. Coape,
telling him where the horse was.
Mr. Coape admitted that, but said that in the interim he had
good reason to believe that the horse was hardly worth having.
Sir R. thaws asked whence the ticket-purter was sent, and being
told from the Royal Exchange, remarked that probably Mr. Sugg
was at that distance from Orange-street, on his way to Doves,'
when be gave the note.

Mr. Sugg next proceeded to cross-examine Mr. Coape with great
sharpness. " Now, Mr," said he, "you say you asked me to let

•ea take away the horse (which by.the.bye totally deny.) Pray
did you ask me to lend you a saddle and bridle ?"
Mr. Coape replied in the negative.
Sugg—Now, your Worships, I undertake to prove, by all the
rules of logic, that Mr. Coape has made two assertions which are
perfectly inconsistent with each other ; and that, therefore, he h4s
violated truth. He says he asked me to allow l'im to take away
the horse, and yet he admits that he did not ask me for the loan . f
a saddle and bridle, without which be could not take it away; for
it cannot be supposed a gentleman would lead a horse through the
streets by a halter.

Mr. Minium—Why, Mr. Coape says he asked you to let hint
take away the horse, which you refused, and after that refusal t
cannot perceive of what possible use the saddle and bridle could
be to him.

This plain answer to Mr. Sugg's rules of logic created muck
laughter. _ _

After some further remarks, the defendants were ordered he be,
kept in custody till the evening, when the parties again attended;
Mr. Coape bringing Mr. Harmer as his solicitor, and Bugg another
professional man (Mr. Humphreys).
The two lawyers, at the request of Sugg, had a private eisoferentef
at the termination of which Mr. !farmer informed the Benth that
Sun bad offered to give up 201. which had been found upon hhti
Ledbitter, to Mr. Cove, together with the horse ; and that, it Mr.
C. did nut like the horse in three days; it should be sold for his (
Coape's) benefit. 7 o this Mr. Coape was disposed to accede.
The parties then posted off to Orange•street, to get the horse, and
after a lung absence returned with it to the dour; Mr. Sugg
gizing by stating that the stables were locked, and they were obliged
to bteak them open. Ledbitter was receiv:77, o-titis in deliver the
201. and the horse to Mr. Coape, on the conditions mentioned, when
a man named Goddard stepp;il forward and said " that won't
do, the horse is mine." " Your horse," said Sur:. " I say it
is mine.' "It a'n't though, and you know it," replied Goddard.
" How then came Sugg to sell it ?" inquired Mr. MINSHULL. God-
dard—" Why, I authorised him to tell it." " Then, how can it be
your horse ? ' said Mr. Harmer. " I authorized him to sell it,"
answered Goddard, " but not to run away with tit: money*" (A
laugh). Sugg persisted for some time in saying the horse was his,
but at length admitted that he was employed by Goddard to seU
that and two others, and was to receive a commission upon the
money obtained. " Yes," said Mr. Harmer, " you were to be the
clergyman going to the Continent, you know." No answer from
Sugg, but Goddard said Mr. Harmer was partly right ; lie was to
pay Mr. Sugg tor the use of his name. Sugg and Goddard then
turned round upon each other, and a volley of recrimination burst
forth which it would he hard to describe. In conclusion, Sugg
turned to the Bench, and exclaimed, " 0! but for injuring myself.
I could disclose a scene of roguery almost unparalleled."
Mr. MINSHULL said he had never witnessed a scene to surpass the
present, and he should now close it by ordering the horse and money
to he delivered to Mr. Coape, and the other parties to go abort their
business.—Thus the matter ended.