LIVING ON HIS WITS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 634, 12 June 1874, Page 2

LIVING ON HIS WITS.

The Times reports that at the Borough Police Court, Derby, a case of considerable interest was beard, in which a smart gen-manly-looking man, who gave the name of Edward Jones, aged 30, was charged with having come to tho town with the intention of committing a felony. Mr Hilton, chief constable, [said on the day previous the prisoner was apprehended, just before the sitt’ng ofjlthe Court, on a charge of having stolen some silver ladles and spoons from an hotel at Chesterfield. It was ascertained that the ladles 'had been pledged at Mr Holly’s pawnshop, Corn-markit, Derby, and the pledge tickets sold by the prisoner. The prisoner was ordered to he handed over to the police authorities at Chesterfield ; but, from facts the chief constable had obtained, he thought it desirable to detain the prisoner at Derby. Tho prisoner arrived a few days ago at Mr Sim’s the Clarendon Hotel, Lltchureh, Derby, bringing with him a small leather bag. He lived on the Leri of everything, running up a hill-of 1/. 7s. lid. When apprehended by Inspector Fearn, tbe following remarkable document was found upon him:—-‘Receipt how to live well on 6s. a week. —ln the first place you must he possessed of a good suit of clothes. Secondly, you must have confidence in yourself, otherwise called ‘ plenty of check. ’ Thirdly, you must provide yourself with a leather bag (about 25.) well stuffed with paper. When you arrive at any place where you intend to stay for a few days, walk into an hotel and ask if they have a bed at liberty fur a few nights, if ‘lyes’ is the [answer, make yourself at home, walk into the room and order dinner; ask to be shown into your bod room, as you want a wash ; come do wn again, leaving your hag upstairs, taking care to keep it locked up, that they shall not see what it contain. Take dinner of fish, fowl, roast beef, pastry, cheese, &c., taking care to order half-a-pint of sherry, then they will think you know your way about and have plenty of money. After dinner call for whisky hot and cigar, which is very nice. Sit for an hour or two, and then go out on business or for a walk, as the case may he. Order tea for half-past five, with toast. After tea sit awhile, then ring for brandy h< t (Then take a walk, weather permitting. Come in about nine, call for whisky hot, cigar, and slippers. Full off your boots and make yourself comfortable by tho fire ; have another whisky hot ; then ring the bell for your candlestick, and retire to bed about eleven o’clock, taking care to order breakfast for nine o’clock, with ham or eggs, or a nice chop. After breakfast take a walk, and so on as before. P.S. The bag is the main point. It may serve you for a week, it has served me for eight days ; but you must watch well tho people whom you are with. You can always toll when they think you have been there long enough. Sometimes they will ask if it is convenient for you to settle your bill.’ If so say, ‘Of course it is lam just going to the post-office for a letter. Get my hill made out, and I will settle it when I come back., Of course, take care not to return for your bag, and bo careful to put your comb and brush in your pocket 1 every morning, as you don’t know what may happen during the day, and you may want to bo off in a hurry , but, above all, keep a bold front on it. Then buy another bag, and proceed on your journey. You need never despair of getting a night’s lodging if i you possess a bag ; and if you don’t happen to have one, don’t despair, but go straight l in and ask for a fieri, they will not refuse. Order supper and breakfast and such-like. After breakf.vt you can say, ‘ Can I have • the bed again to night ? as 1 don't think I shall he able to do my business to-night.’ I t have not had a bag when I had but one i half-penny in the world to bless myself with, But then you will say, ‘ What are ; y°u going to do for a hag !’ Well, there i are lots of bags at these hotels : help yourself to one when you depart, and yon aro : all right again. It is about a month since I ; had hut one half-penny left and no bag, and to-night, tho 16th of January, I have got , one half-penny in my pocket and a hag to i go on with, living like a fighting-cock, and seeing almost all tho towns [in England. , Yours, &c., E.J.” There was also a letter , addressed to his wife in London, stating [ that he was leading the same course of life, but that he intended to abandon it. In ■ his pocket-book were tho names of all tho . hotels and towns in England. Mr Hilton ■ now charged him with coming to Derby with the intention of committing a felony i (especially as there had been several hotel ! robberies lately), and must ask for a remand ! for further inquiries to be made. Remanded t accordingly.