The Sun. — 1831-12-30 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  MANSION-HO USE.  A young foreigner, who stated himself to be the Count de Rivoli, applied to the Lord Mayor for assistance in his deep distress. Tile Count stated that he was the youngest brother of the Duke de Rivoli, a nobleman of considerable possessions. He had seen a dreadful reverse of fortune, and had, in his adversity, felt the cold hand of the world, and particularly among the people of rank with whom he had associated but a very few years ago. At the time of the applications on behalf of the Spanish and Italian refugees, the Count was one of those who exerted themselves in aid of the subscription, and he little thought then that ever he should become equally destitute. He was then caressed by the opulent and powerful. Unfortunately, he went over to join in the struggle for freedom, and lost all prospect of obtaining any part of his property in consequence of the part he had taken. The Duke, his brother, being of the Royalist party, was secure in every respect, but the Count had received no assistance from any one of his brothers. He had called upon several of those who had formerly cotiked his acquaintance, but when they saw the plight he was in they knew him not. He was the master of five languages, and was anxious to get employment as a teacher, but in all his attempts he had failed to obtain pupils. Under these overwhelming circumstances, and actually famishing with hunger, be waited upon the Lord Mayor for advice and assistance.  The LORD MAYOR regretted that there was no funds from which the unfortunate refugees derived subsistence, but thought that 'the circumstance of such an application by a man of rank being made public, would have the effect of rallying round him those upon whom his claims were undeniable. His Lordship declared his readiness to receive any intelligence which would be likely to prove advantageous to the unfortunate Count, who, it wi.s stated, at one time actually contemplated suicide. The Count went away grateful for the reception he had met with, and for the bounty of the Lord Mayor. William Earle, who was some time ago charged before the LORD MAYOR with having defrauded a Mr. Price of a bill of exchange for MY., and who represented himself as the principal Director of the Pickled Fish Company, was again apprehended and examined on the same charge, and also upon a charge made by Mr. Woodhill, jeweller, of St. Paul's Churchyard. The moment the officer announced to the people who crowded the hall that Earle was at the bur, a great rush was made into the justiceroo.l. Mr. Price, it will be recollected, had been en gaged by Earle as a traveller for the Pickled Fish Company, and had given to Earle a bill of exchange for 50/., to be held as a security for the due discharge of the duties of the situation. The Pickled Fish Company had no business for Mr. Price to transact; and Earle paid away the bill to a tradesman for his own advantage. At the time Earle was first apprehended on the charge of converting the acceptance to his own use, the bill had not been taken up, and the case of course was imperfect. Since that period, Inzm ever, ;he bill had been paid, and the document was produced in evidence, the prosecutor Navin„ followed up the business with great zeal in consequence of the cruel nature of the imposition. Earle declared that he derived no advantage whatever from the bill. The whole transaction was his partner's. lie (Earle) was a respectable man, and could prove that he had been most honourable in all his dealings. _ . _  The next charge against him was attended with some remarkable circumstances. At the titre of the late Mayoralty election Earle, who is a man of address, waited upon the Lord Mayor, said that he admired the political conduct of his Lordshi?, was possessed of considerable influence in the city, and would, although a stranger, have no objection to make one of his Lordship's Committee, in order to secure the return of su popular and praiseworthy an individual. The Lord Mayor immediately referred the gentleman to his Committee, but Mr. Charles Pearson, after having questioned him a little, dispensed with his services without any ceremony. Earle, however, contrived on the occasion to scrape an acquaintance, which he did not fail to turn to account. He saw one of the Lord Mayor's Commit tee just about to enter the shop of Mr. Woodhill, the jeweller, in St. Paul's Churchyard, and not only addressed him, but entered the shop and conversed with him on the most interesting topic. The jeweller supposed, from the circumstance, that Earle was a friend of his customer's, and on the following day Earle called, spoke of his intimacy with the Lord Mayor and the gentleman whom he had accompanied the day before, asked to look at a handsome gold chain which he had cast his eye upon, and said he was desirous to show it to his wife, as he thought it would just answer: he was allowed to take it home, and never afterwards returned. Mr. Woodhill subsequently gave 71. for the chain to a perstur who had purchased it at the shop of a pawnbroker, where it had been pledged soon after Earle had obtained it by these ingenious  means. The LORD MAYOR said he believed Mr. Earle's cleverness had led him at length into a hobble, out of which it would be difficult fur him to escape. It was stated that Earle had made a very adroit attempt to convert the offence into a debt; for, upon hearing that inquiries were made after the chain, he sent word to Mr. Woodhill that, if the bill were sent, the money was ready, and there was no occasion to make any noise about such a trifle. Mt. Woodhill, while Earle was out of the way, by Mr. Hobler's advice, laid aside the chain, in order to be able to produce it against Earle in evidence, if he should be apprehended. It was also stated that Earle had been projecting engines which were to work without steam, and with greater velocity, anti that he had lately been lecturing the people of the north 011 the cholera morbus. He was remanded for further examination on both charges. Upo❑ the second charge the prisoner was silent ; but while the first was going forward he was very vociferous about his integrity.