The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-03 00:00:00

POLICIL

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fIowAITHRRTe..-.CHARCHI CHOI stoat.. -Yesterday
?‘ eoing at eight o'clock, a vpry elegantly dressed
Ding man, calling himself Benjimin Bloomfield; was
i :ought before Sir RICHARD BakNlft the chief magi*•
trate, on a warrant, charged with baring' fraudulently
and by false pretences obtained !tom William Shirley
the sum of 200/.
Before the examination upon thecbargeconimenced,,
Sir R. Birnie asked the prisoner if his name was really,
Benjamin Bloomfield?
Prisoner—lt is.
Sir RICHARD RIRNIR—I recommend you to be 0111=
tins, because I have mine reason to doubt that your
name is Bloomfield.
. Prisoner—l assure you it is.
Sir R. BinNta—Do you know a person. named
Nightingale ?
Prisoner--I do, very well.
Sir R. Brasia—Well, Sir, I think it necessary to
inform you that I have documents in my possession
which are likely to be of much more seriops import, as
they regard you, than the present case.
The prisoner then in a respectful manner begged to
be indulged with a private hearing, observing, that
Mr. Shirley, the complainant, had no objection to such
a course.
Sir R. RIRNIR—I know nothing in your case that
requires secrecy, and I must tell you thati am much
averse to private examinations. In cases of rape, or a
• crime of a still deeper die, 1 do sometimes consent to a
private hearing; but it is for reasons that need no ex-
planation. Private examinations partake too much of
the inquisitorial system, and I will never consent to
these when they can be avoided. •
Ildr. Wen. Shirley, of No. 16, Rockingham-row,
Kent-road, surgeon, was then sworn. He stated, that
on or about the 9th of April last, he saw an advertise-
ment in The Times newspaper, the purport of which
was that a lucrative situation might be obtained by
any man of respectability who could command a cer-
tain sum of money, and a reference was given to a per-
son in Thames-street. Witness wrote to ts.e place men-
tioned, and in a day or two received a letter from a Mr.
Hodson, of Gray's-inn-square, requesting an interview.
Be went there, and saw Mr. Hodson, who after some
conversation referred him to the prisoner, " Mr. Ben-
jamin Bloomfield, of No. 32, Lincoln's-inn-fields," as
the principal with whom he was to treat. Mr. Hodson,
however, added, that Mr. Bloomfield could net be seen
until the following Saturday, as he was from home.
Witness left his address, and on the Friday following
he was honoured with a visit by the prisoner, who
stated that be called in consequence of the answer of
witness to the advertisement in The Times, and that
his object in calling was to ascertain the respectabi-
lity of the person with whom he had to treat before he
entered into ally negotiation. He expressed himself
(after some questions) satisfied of the respectability of
the witness, and he then said there was a situation of
"sea:cber" in-the Custom-house vacant; that it was
at his command, and if he (the witness) worth' advance
Aponreain sum of money, it should he procured for him.
sla jome conversatioteabout the amount of the sum to
' • -he advanced, be said the situation was worth 500/. a
• glair, and that tireqvitaiss• must advance 6001. Wit-
"rinesa asked blotto.** questions as to- the means by
which :fie could Ware ateb'a situation, and he raid,
he could obtain it through the medium of Sir Ben-
jamin Bloomfield, to whom he was nearly related ; and
added, " but that is not the only channel by which I
can command the situation : I have a collateral in-
terest, that of Lord Liverpool and the Marquess of
Wailfort." Some further conversation ensued, and
the prisoner took occasion to recommend that witness
should place the 600/. in the hands of his friend, Mr.
Hodson, of Gray's-inn-square, who, he said, was a man
of the strictest honour. Witness said he should not
place the money in the hands of any man lentil he had
mails in ,uiries into his character; and the prisoner
said he had no objection to his making any inquiry he
might think necessary. He did make inquiries, the
result of which was the very reverse of that which the
prisoner It id led him to beieve it would be, and he re-
fused to lodge the money with Mr. Hodson. Witness
at a subsequent interview suggested that the money
should be placed in the hands of a banker in their
joint names, to be drawn by the prisoner when the si-
tnation was procured ; but to this the latter objected,
observing that lie was determined to have a sum of
noenev down. Witness at length agreed to give him
2.:01. in advance, upon his signing a bond for the re-
payment of the money, in case the situation was not
procured. To this the prisoner agreed, and he signed
a bond in conjunction with a Mr. Dunbar, who ap-
peared to be a friend of his, and witness then gave him
two bank notes, for 100/. each, lie gave this money
in consequence of the promises of the prisoner, and
upon no other consideration. He saw the prisoner so-
veral times after the payment of the money, and urged
him to be speedy in the conclusion of his engagement;
but he put him off from time to time with various ex-
cuses, among tither things stating that the situation
must he obtained through the medium of Lord Liver-
pool or the alarepiess of Ileadfort, and that the process
was necessarily slow. This was his answer from time
to time, and witness could no longer see him at his
house. the called many times, but he was denied, and
cot to be found. Some correspondence hail ;bassed be-
tween them upon the subject, and winless had de-
manded re-payment upon the bond, bnt hail been an-
swered by an insulting letter from the prisoner, setting
Lim at defiance. The prisoner.drew up the bond him-
self, and u-hen his friend Dunbar signed it;
told him "it was for a situation .under Government,"
to which Mr. Dunbar replied, " I don't want to know
any thing about it." Witness had not seen the psi
Boner for several weeks, and it was only by an artifice
that he apprehended him.
Mr. Shackleton, a friend of the last witness, deposed
to the payment of the 200/. and the:signing the bond.
Sir IL RIRNIE.—WeII, Air. Bloomfield, if your
name is Blonnifield, I suppose you do nut deny re,
caving the money? •

Prisontr--Certainly not; bnt I deny the false pre.
tence altogether.
Sir. H. lit RNIE.-Will you allow me to ask you what
you are? • •
Prisoser.l am a special pleader.
Mr..Rootencra, taut dltendeti• on the prisoner's be-
hatt, here asked the MillatNte •If•be contrived there
was‘sofficient' exit latch' ta *CA' the prianiter, as in
that case he (Mr. Adeloliers) Amid . whathe
lad o urge in defence Until another ex.athinnhAr. • -

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Sir R. Biarttit.-4 sotirWsly.lllduk 01110 so*,
Evidence upon which to detain the prisoner.
• Mr. ADOLPIEVS...4 presume, Sir, yon will take ha?
Sir R. Biants..--)lfloy,A ept sure upon that
point. I am sorry to ay Asa* there is more here
than meets the eye. I mil, perhaps, take very good
bait. •
Mr. HARKER, for the prosecution, slid he should de-
mind 24 hours' notice of bail:
Sir It. Mimic, (to the prisoner.)—lt has been
stated here, that you have represented yourself to be
nephew to Sir Benjamin Bloomfield.
Prisoner.—l never did.
Sir It. BIRNIE.—Are you known to Sir Benjamin
Bloomfield.
Prisoner.—l am very well known to him. •
Sir R. Btaxtz.—Yon persist in that, do you
Prisoner.—l do.