The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1876-12-30 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

IIIIP"'"  THE BEGGING-LETTER IMPOSTER.  At the Marylehone Police- court, on Friday, Walter John Plunkett Wade, aged 57. described as a military tutor, living at No. 5, St. Mary's-villas, Richmoad, was placed in the dock charged on remand, before Mr. Mansfield, with fraudulently attempting to obtain from Sir Edmund Beckett charitable contributions by means of false pretences.—The facts of this case have been already r-ported.—Mr. Lewis, who appeared to prosecate for the Charity Organisation Society, c died Sir It. N. Wilson, residing at No. 3, Mecklenburg street, Mecklenburg-square, who said the prisoner was an entire stranger to him. About the 9th of November he received a letter, dated the Bth, asking for assistance, and he sent it to the Charity Organisation Society. It was a similar letter to that sent to Sir Edmund Beckett, in which he stated that he was educated at Eton, that he had served in the army, and that he had gained his livelihood by taking pupils for thle military examinations. His wife, however, after some years of happiness, suddenly left him, and went to live with an officer, taking one of the children with her. The applicant commenced proceedings in the Divorce Court. but could not continue them from want of means; his home wee broken up, and he had no longer the power to support his two remaining children, one of whom was of weak constitution, whilst his health and eyesight were gradually failing him. He therefore solicited pecuniary assistance. Inquiries were made, and it was found that the prisoner was not entirely destitute and without the common necessities of life, for he was living in the service of Mrs. Mershan, at Herne, near Canterbury, but through his misconduct he was discharged.—Mrs. Mershan, of The Limes, Herne, near Canterbury, said the prisoner entered her husband's service in March last as tutor, and left on the 14:1 of November. He received no salary, but had his board and lodging. On No-v. Bth he was not reduced to utter destitution far the commonest necessaries of life. He was discharged through some misconduct. The prisoner was engaged to teach two youths about three hours per day, and in consideration he received his board and lodging, but had paid, at his own request, for his washing.—Mr. Oaktnes, solicitor, of Gresham House, said he was engaged by Mrs. Hughes, formerly Mrs. Wade. He attended at the Bow-street Police-court, when the prisoner was I charged with attempted suicide. The unagisr I trate refused to give the subscriptions that had been sent by the public, as he thought the prisoner was an impoi-tor. Proceedings were instituted in the Divorce Court, but the petition was dismissed for want of funds.— Mr. Lewis said that was the case for the prosecution, and asked the magistrate to deal with the prisoner summarily on the two charges.—Mr. Sampson, for the defendant, contended that the prisoner had not been guilty of a false pretence, and it was a fact that at the time that he left Mrs. Mershan he was without food or habitation.—Mr. Mansfield I sentenced the prieoner to three calendar months in the House of Correction with hard 1 labour.