THE TRAFFIC IN HUSH MONEY.
Theophilus Bellasis, an infamous character, was well known at
Bow Street, where he had been charged with breaking into the
counting-house of Sir James Sanderson, Bart. Bellasis was some-times clerk and sometimes client to John Shepherd, an attorney of
Bow Street; while at other times Shepherd was prosecutor of those
who kept gaming houses, and Bellasis attorney. Sir William
Addington, the magistrate, was so well aware that these two men
commenced prosecutions solely for the purpose of hush
money, that he refused to act. The Joseph Atkinson just
mentioned at one time gave them £100, at another £80;
and in this way they had amassed an immense sum, and undertook,
for a specific amount, to defend keepers of gaming houses against
all prosecutions!
