Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1889-10-23 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SHAM DETECTIVE AT SWANSEA A FEW OF HIS ACTS.  At the Swansea Police Court on Monday, before the Stipendiary, T. Cook Davies L. Tulloch, and J. G. Hall, Esqs., Joseph Smith, (40) was charged with stealing a mackintosh coat fr ,m 3, Hall-street, the property of Thomas Dewy, on the 19th. Complainant, who is a confectioner, said he met the prisoner at Carmarthen on Friday morning, and travelled to Swansea with him in the Caine train. On their arrival at Swansea, prisoner went with complainant as far as his employer's, Mr. William Richards, when he said he would have to go. Prisoner asked him not to go. Prisoner said that he was the brother of Detective Tom Smith, late of Swansea, and that he was going down the next morning to see Captain Colquhoun. Witness took him to his house, and he slept there that night. Deacy got up at two o'clock the following morning, leaving prisoner in bed. About , ten c clock in the morning prisoner called at the , shop and said he was going to see Captain Col- I Iquhoun, and witness expressed the hope that he I I would be successful with his business. Prisoner had the coat on when he came to the shop, but he did knot say a tything to him. In an hour afterwards prisoner called again, I , and said that he had passed as an officer. , Prisoner still had the mackintosh on, but Deacy did not have any objection to him wearing it. Prisoner later on pledged the coat, and this: , 1 plosecutor did object to. Prisoner was also I charged with obtaining by false pretences from Mr. Robert Hughes a Milton coat, cap, I and one shilling. Prisoner called at I complainant's house, the Temple Vaults, and , , enquired if any men had been there changing I money. The landlady replied in the negative, and he said "Well, there had been a robbery of a cash-box containing 1:40 at Morristou, and I believe I am on the right scent." Prisoner I then went away, and returned at 2.30. He , I said "I suppose people are wandering in and out, 1 but we are only looking for the men." Prisoner then went into the kitchen and he asked Mrs. Hughes, to lend him her husband's coat and hat so as to disguise himself, as he did not want one of them to know him, and that he had two safe in the station." She lent him her husband's coat and hat, andprisoner showed her the photo of the man that lie said he was looking for, and who bad the money. He added that if he could only get that one (meaning the subject of the photo) he would have 1:5 from Captain Colquhoun as a reward. In the evening prisoner again called at the public house, and asked for the "boss," and in an interview which he had with the landlord prisoner related the story of the robbery, and represented himself ass detective—a strange detective from Carmarthen. He asked for the loan of 10s., which amount was gradually reduced to le., to enable him to go and see the "boss "—meaning Captain Colquhoun.—Mr. i Woodward, who was n court, said that prisoner had instructed him to represent him. He cross-examined Mr. Hughes at some length, but that gentleman persisted in saying that he lent prisoner the Is. on the strength of his auger- , tion that he was: a Carmarthen detective. P.S. Gill said he saw the prisoner at Carmarthen on Friday, and he came to Swansea with the same train. He also caw prisoner several times on Saturday. He saw prisoner at,nine o'clock in the evening ; he was wearing a high silk hat, and his moustache and side whiskers were dyed black. Witness accosted him and told him that he would have to go along to the police station with him. Prisoner said " What for 2 I think you have got me on a 1 string, Gill." He then charged prisoner with the theft of a melton coat and hat, the property of Mr. Hughes. . . . . .. . 0_ .  Prisoner °now, in reply to the charge, said he was not guilty. Prisoner WBB committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.  A sad suicide took place at Kidderminster on Thursday morning. Mr. Thomas Edward Grindon, a gentleman of independent means who resided with his eider at Sussex Lodge, Shortheath, and who had been ill for a long time, was left by his nurse for a few minutes and in her absence he shot himself in the head with a revolver. Dr. Evans, who had been attending deceased, was called in, but death took place in about an hour. The coroner has been communicated with, and an inquest will be held