"COMING LORD AUDLEY OVER THEM."

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue XVII, 24 May 1879, Page 1

"COMING LORD AUDLEY OVER THEM."

A singular case of imposition was brought before the magistrate at Devizes recently (says an English paper). It appears that the landlady of a public-house at Lydeway, who had died, was about to be buried on Tuesday, when a well-dressed man entered the house, and was at once recognised by some persons present as the*on of the deceased, Charles, a carpenter, who had left home and had not been heard of for eight years. The man, on being told that his' mother was dead, was overcome with grief, and insisted upon seeing her body. The coffin was accordingly opened, when he flung himself across the body and wept bitterly, and had to be forcibly dragged away. He spoke to persons present, and gave satisfactory answers about things which had happened 10 years ago — such as working in an adjoining carpetner's shop — and conversed with a cousin of the missing man about a visit which be paid to him in Bermondsey. Black clothes were borrowed for him, and he attended the funeral as chief mourner, and wept piteously over the grave. On returning to the inn, however, he borrowed some money and s;ot drunk, and being no longer able to act his part, it became known that he was a perfect stranger. He was then given into custody. When charged before the magistrate with obtaining money by false pretences, he said that ho was a vocalist and low comedian, accustomed to "little performances" in public- houses, and finding the Wiltshire people very gullible, he could not resist "coming Lord Audley" over them. The magistrate dismissed him, but warned him not to repeat the performance. The Government of South Australia have introduced a batch of Chinese coolies at pnblic expense, for employment in the colony for a term of three years. They are advertised for hire.