PETERSFIELD.
A PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL IMPOSTER.—CAUTION.—A few days back a professional swindler, styling himself GEORGE MELVILLE HORTON, M.D., about five feet seven inches high, with dark hair, whiskers, and moustache, having the appearance somewhat of a foreigner, paid a visit to this town, and engaged a bed at one the hotels. From being too late, or some other cause, he was prevented occupying the same, and consequently after rambling about the streets till the middle of the night availed himself of the opportunity which a beer house afforded, being at the time a little the worse for what had taken in his endeavours to obtain a “valet.” It afterwards transpired that upon arrival on the first day of this accomplished imposter that he deposited a great number of letters ready prepared—being duplicates—to all parts of the county, and to long distances in the country, principally to clergymen; appealing on behalf of a very affecting case of destitution in the person of a Miss Watson, which, he said existed in Petersfield. He slept at the same house on Thursday and Friday nights, and stayed till Saturday after the second delivery of letters at the post-office, when he decamped by the 3.40 train in a second-class carriage for London, taking with him a box and some parcels forwarded directed to D. F. Horton. M.D., Petersfield, sent to him by some swindling accomplice in town. It is said this clever imposter received a goodly number of replies to his applications, and also many of the clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood as to the truth of the statement of appeal.