Star. — London, England, 1824-10-30 00:00:00

TRIAL OF MR.FAUNTLEROY. OLD BAILEY-THIS DAY. sever, perhaps, in the history of criminal jurispru dence, did any trial for forgery excite so much interest as the trial of Mr. FAUNTLEROY, which took place this day at the Old Bailey. The case of the brothers PER BEAU, about fifty years ago, excited public sympathy, on account of their respectable rank in life, and pre vious excellent character, as well as from a feeling of indignation against Mrs. RUDD, by whom they had ban beti ayed. In the case of Dr. Donn, which occurred a few years A f t erwards, public feeling was much excited, on ac count of his sacred profession, and his popularity as a preacher. Some palliation was also offered for his crime by a portion of the public, as the individual forged upon was able to sustain the loss, while it was s upposed to have been urged by his embarrassments, for the Doctor, though neither very extravagant, nor by any means dissipated, lived beyond his income. In the case of RYLAND, an ingenious artist, of pre vious good character, and who shewed his honour in not availing himself of a chance of escape when offered to him, all operated in his favour. With regard to Mr. FAUNtLEROT, the interest has been as great as in any of the cases, but •the sympathy rather extended to his family and his connexions, who' feel the degradation of his crime, than to himself.— Established as managing pat tner in a house of extensive business, where his own share of the profits was suffi ciently ample to maintain him in affluence, and to sup port his rank in life—of an age when the passions may be supposed to have become regulated by reason, and without any apparent extravagance or bad habits— without being forced by any unseen calamity—by any embarrassment either by speculations in business or at play ; he is charged with having committed forgeries to the amount not merely of thousands, but of hundreds of thousands, and that too, in some cases, under aggra ♦ated circumstances. The real history of Mr. FAutmEttoy's life would, we doubt not, afford a very instructive lesson ; it would strew, when once the barrier of virtue is broken, how easy crime makes its way, sweeping away all opposi tion like an avalanche,—nay, it would prove more, that crimes beget each other, and that to conceal one milers are often restated to. It would, however, be a great mistake to suppose that, admitting Mr. FAUNTLEROY guilty of all the for geries with which he is charged, that he has spent all the money. It appears that the first forgery was com mitted so long back as sixteen years ago : as it was the sale of 50D0i. invested in the funds, and, the discovery of the transfer has been recently made. NIr.FAuNTLEROY would of course have to pay the dividend every year, which, in the course of that period, would equal the principal. _ This was no doubt the case in other instances. There is another circumstance which will account for the large sums of money Mr. F. is supposed to have spent. Since the period of the first forgery, the Stocks have been continually advancing—have, in fact, nearly doubled. As it is probable that in some cases Stock, after being withdrawn, was, to prevent discovery, replaced, the difference of the price, if any time elapsed, would of course have to be made up by the person who . had transferred it. We offer these hasty remarks as an ex planation how the large sums said to have been received by Mr. FAUNTLEROY, may have been appropriated. All these circumstances, and many others, have com bined to excite great interest respecting Mr. FAUNTLE- Roles trial ; from Hyde Park Corner to Mile End, it is the only subject of conversation. At the West End, politics and play are alike' forgotten for accounts from the Old BAiley ; and in the City, even business and spe culation seemed to pause, and enquire what is doing at the London Sessions ? So early as seven o'clock this morning, persons were' seen hastening to the Old Bailey. Among the earliest visitors whom business, not curiosity, drew to the spot, were the Reporters for the London Newspapers, to whom the Sheriffs had previously sent tickets of admission, to facilitate their exits and their entrances. Every hour, indeed every minute, brought an accession of persons to the neighbourhood of the Court ; and every Gentleman quitting it was assailed with enquiries from a hundred tongues. But quitting the exterior, let us enter the Court, where proceedings more important and eventful ace passing. OPENING OF TIIE COURT. The Court was opened at nine o'clock this morning, at which . time Mr. ARABIN took his seat on the Beach. Aldermen WOOD, J. J. SMITH, Sir JOHN PEERING, the Gevernoi and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England: Mr. Hume, the Executor of the Bellis family, and a tong list of Noblemen and Gentlemen. The gal leries were by no means so thronged as might have been expected. At five minutes after nine oclock the prisoners were arraigned. The object towards which attention was more peculiarly drawn was not amongst them, namely-, Henry Fauntleroy, E.,q. At ten o'clock the galleries had .not to boast of any material accession of numbers, and this may easily be accounted for, by the heavy sums charged for admission—nothing less than a sovereign would be listened to for admission to the galleries, and higher sums were obtained in many instances. Lord TEMPLE and Lord DYNEVOR took their stations on the left-hand side of the Court, behind the box usually occupied by the Governor of the gaol. The intermediate time of the Court, up to ten o'clock, was occupied in the trial of prisoners whose cases did not excite the slightest interest, during which time porters were occupied in bringing loads of books into Court. ARRAIGNMENT OF MR. FAUNTLEROY. At five minutes past ten the .fudges took their seats on the bench, and the prisoner, Mr. /teary Fatruderoy. sips placed at the bar. He was dressed in black. Mr. Clarke read over the first indictment ; whicll 'charged the ptisoner.with hiving forged, and uttered as' true, a forged document, with intent to defraud Miss Frances Young of £5.4.50. in another count, the chat ge was made for defrauding the Bank of England. Mr. Clarke having gone through the numerous counts in the indictment, the prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. Clarke then read over the second indictment. charging him with uttering a forged document relative to Bank Annuities. The counts in this case ran the same as the previous one. The third indictment charged the prisoner with forging a certain deed, with intent to defraud Col. T. Lyster, or the Governor and Company of the Bank of England. The prisoner requested to be indulged with a chair, which was allowed. Mr. Clarke then read over the sth indictment, which charged the defendant with forging a certain transfer of Stock for £3OOO, with intent to defraud Col. Thomas Lister, or the Governor and Company of the Bank of England. The Gth indictment charged the prisoner with forging a certain transfer, with intent to defraud John Grif fiths and others. The 7th indictment charged the prisoner with forging a certain deee,l i with intent to defraud J. Griffith. The Bth indictment charged the prisoner with uttering a forged deed, with intent to defraud John Goodchild, E,ci. and others, or the Company of the Bank of Eng land; and also, with forging a certain warrant of attorney, with intent to defraud the said parties, to the amt tint of £46,000 Reduced Three per Cent. Annuities. Tire prisoner pleaded Not Guilty to each of the in dictments. Mr. Justice PARK said, the prisoner came within the jurisdiction of the city of London, and that the Jury (a Middlesex one), must leave the box. The Jury quitted the box with great reluctance, and a London Jury was then sworn in.—The prisoner did not challenge any one of the Jury. A London Jury was then hnpannelled. The fol• lowing are the names John Eley John Proctor William Mouatt Thomas Driver Thomas Reeve Abraham Agar Edward Joyce Thomas Clark Job Elliott Thomas Goad Job Orton William Whitechurch Mr. Justice Inax now ordered the passages of the Court to be cleared, to give free egress and ingress to the w itnesses. COUNSEL roa Taut Paosacurion.—The Arreaaar-Gaxaaaa, Mr. BOLLAND, and Mr. LAW. Fos VI a Dizzlicz—Mesas. Gummi', Muir, PHicurs, and BRODZILICK. The prisoner was now put on his trial un the first indictment, chargins , him with forging and uttering the name of Frances Young, to a certain deed of war rant of attorney, for the transfer of stock: Mr. LAW opened the case for the prosecution: The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated the case to the jury, in doing which he studiously abstained from saying more than giving a plain statement of the fact. In the present case, the documents forged purported to be signed by the prisoner in order to keep up the credit of the house, he had sold out money to the amount of 170,0001. and had forged warrants of attorney for that purpose. It might appear strange that the fraud was not disco vered before, but that was explained by the fact of the prisoner's having the sole command of the business. Mr. Marsh, the principal partner, had nothing more to do with the banking-house than receiving the dividend warrants from the Bank, which he handed over to the prisoner, who kept a private account ; and consequently every opportunity was afforded him to carry on the fraud. THE EVIDENCE. James Tyson.-1 was a clerk in the house of Marsh and Co. at the time of the failure, and for 17 years previously. In 1815, the names of the patmeis wete James Marsh, Henry Sibbald, George H. Graham, and two others. The prisoner lived in the house in the early part of the year ; he was the acting partner in the firm. Mr. Marsh lived in Kent, Sir James Sibbald in the country. A Lady named Frances Young had dealings with the house. The power of Attorney for ,50001. was here handed to the witness, the name James Tyson was not his hand-writing. He never saw the lady. None of the signatures were genuine. They were. all in the hand-writing of the prisoner. There never was any other clerk in the house of the name of James Tyson. The la riting oc the back of the warrant was also a forgery. John Watson sworn—l was a clerk in the house of Marsh, Sibbald, and Co. and was so for about twenty five years. The signature to the warrant " John Wat son," is not my hand-writing. I did not know Miss Young. I never saw her write her name to this warrant of attorney. The writing is that of Mr. Fauntleroy. Mr. Robert Browning, jun.—l am a clerk in the Three per Cent. Consols Mice, in the Bank of England I was so in 1815. My name is subscribed as a witness, and I saw the prisoner sign his name to the document "at the Consol-office. Witness produced the Bank boJk, in which the transferi were entered. Could not say on what day the entry was made in the book. He had not the original, of which it was a copy, with him. Witness read the entry to the Court on the 28th. Benj. Cole examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL. I am the stock-broker of the Bank. I was instructed to purchase £5,000 S per cents. to be transferred in the name of Frances Young, on the 22d of October. The cash was £4,812. 10s. I received an order by the flo veinor for the money, and paid for the stock. The paper produced is the stock receipt. Mr. Browing proved that Miss Young had credit for the stock. Mr. Partu sai . ,l that in order to make Miss Young .a competent wit ess, he had replaced the stock, so that she was not an interested party. The document was then put in, and read by the Clerk. Miss Young was then called : she seemed extremely affected. In 1815, Marsh and Co. were her bankers. Witness never authorized the house to sell the £5,000. The document was not her hand-writing, nor was the signature to it written by her. Witness was not in London in 1815. James Tyson examined by Serjeant BosANQuET.— Mr. Marsh received the Dividend Warrants, and Mr. Fauntleroy made out a list of them. The list now pro duced was the hand-writing of the prisoner. Ibe paper in question contained a long list of names and sums. In that list the name of Miss Young appeared, and opposite to it the sum of 5,5001. this did not tally with the ledger, as the sum appeared there . to be, 5,4501. The entries were all in the. hand-wilting of; Mr. Fauntleroy. At the July quarter following, the same system was pursued, and different entries The books, in 1816, and the subsequent years, were in the same state. A very considerable portion of time was occupied in going over the respective accounts, a detail of hich vipuld perplex rather than elucidate the case ; ,uflice it PO try, that all the false entries were swerni to hertl the haxtd:wating of the prisoner, as well as the entries in the private ledger. In two pages there were accounts to the amount of 50,0001.; but witness could not say whether that sum ever reached the Bank, or was applied to the private use of the prisoner. The expenditure of the money rested with the partners solely. J. E:Firley.—ln the year 1815, I was stock-broker to Marsh and Company. I sold, on the Ist of June, 54501. Three per Cents. and on the same day I paid in the pro duce at the house of Marsh, Sibbald, and Co. This Stock stood in the name of Miss Frances Young. Samuel Lack.—l apprehended the prisoner on the 10th of September last, in Berner's-street. There was a desk in the room, which the plisoner locked, and at tached the key to his watch. I delivered the watch and key to Mr. Freshfield. On going a second time to the banking-house with Mr. Freshfield, we searched a pri vate drawer, and found some papers and two tin boxes. The keys we had before found opened these boxes. Mr: Freshfield tqpk the boxes away. Mr.Freshffeld examined by the ATTORREY-GENERAL. -I went, as stated by the officer, to Berner's-street, where I saw several tin boxes, one of which had the name of Fanntleroy on it. There was another box tinder it, without any name, and I desired the officer to try the box, which he opened, and fi 'cling from the first paper that it was Mr. F.'s box, I took possession of them. In the box with Mr. Fatintleroy's name on it, there were deeds, probates of wills, and official papers. In the other, there was a large quantity of memorandums, a diary, and stock receipts. Witness handed in certain papers, which were also found. _ _ - The case for the prosecution having closed, the Learned Judge called on the prisoner for his defence. He im mediately rose, and having bowed to the Court, pro ceeded to read, from a written paper, not a denial of the facts, but rasher an exculpatory address. His sufferings had been known to a very few. His life had been a sea of troubles and vexation, and ruin stared him in the face whichever way he turned. He declared solemnly that he had never put one shil ling of the money into his own private purse. Every action of his life had been founded on the most laudable zeal to rescue the firm from destruction. The whole weight of care and trouble had fallen on his shoulders. His partners had deserted him; two of them had overdrawn to the amount of 100,000/. What was he to do ? How was he to act, placed as he was in this dreadful dilemma ? Reports had gone abroad ' highly detrimental to him, but he trusted a kind pub lic would not deal harshly with him. With respect to the Lady in question (Miss Young), he was sure she still wished not the slightest ill to befal him: He was certain that that Lady by no means would have placed him in the awful situation in which he then stood. What he had done, he repeated, was not to benefit himself; and at the time he was doing that for which he was now called on to answer, he had not the most remote idea of wronging any one. He implored the Jury to weigh well the situation in which he had been placed—a situation which threw on him the whole weight and responsibility of so extensive (and not by his own act, but by the acts of others,) a concern, already tottering on the blink of ruin and destruction: How had he been situated? At a moment when every assistance ought to have been afforded him, he was left forlorn and helpless. In this dilemma he had done that which his country now called upon him to answer for, but which, could the inmost recesses of his heart be laid open, would be found to have many claims on a merciful consideration. He had felt himself called on to state thus much in ex tenuation, if not in justification of his conduct; and, in conclusion, he threw himself on the met ciful considera-i tion of the Jury. The inconvenience our Reporter was under prevents more than a brief summary of the defence, but the' above contains a faithful epitome of his address. Six or seven highly respectable persons gave the un fortunate Gentleman a most excellent character. Mr. Justice PARK summed up the evidence to the Jury, who, at half-past two o'clock, retired, and on their return, found the prisoner " Guilty of uttering, knowing it to be forged." The Arrosurr-Gauaam , after some consultation with the Judges,said he would decline proceedingwitb the other Indictments. Mr. Justice Paint then addressed the prisoner; and observing that there was no hope of mercy in this world, advised him to seek it in the world to come.—His Lordship added that he could receive sentence at the end of the Sessions. The prisoner, who seemed much affected, was then conducted out of Court, leaning on two persons. Yesterday Edward Harris, a character well known to the police, was put to the bar, charged with taking from the person of Mary Drew, on the King's high way, with . force and violence, the sum of 17s. at the parish of Hackney, on the 2d of October last. This case excited the deepest interest, and the Court was crowded to excess during the whole of the trial, which lasted nearly eight hours. The prosecuttix stated, that she had been in the ser vice of Mr. Cayle, of Spitalfields, previously to the day in question ; a short time before the house of her mas ter was broken open and robbed. An inquiry was in consequence set on foot, and the witness recollected the person of a man who had been seen lurking about the. house ; accompanied the officers of Worship-street to two places in Wentworth -street, the one named the " Black Hell," and the other known by the sign of the City of Norwich, for the purpose of recognizing him, if there. At the Black Hell the prisoner, with about thirty others, 'was found in a piece of waste ground, at the back of the house, playing at different games. The prisoner was pointed out to her, but she said he was not the man, and here the matter ended for the time. The Sunday following, she went to Shoreditch Churdh, as was her usual practice, where there was a charity-sermon preached ; and on her coming out she saw a mart whom she immediately knew to be one of the persons who had been seen lurking near her master's house.— She had been previously instructed how to act by the officers, and accordingly followed the person in ques tion towards Hackney, under the idea of finding out where he lived, in order to inform the officers. She had, however, well nigh paid dearly for her temerity; for the person in question led her towards the fields at Hackney, on approaching which he was joined by air.: ther, and the prisoner, the lattet of whom came up, and looking her full in the face, said, " Do you know me, Madam?" The witness, although she knew him from having seen him at the " Black Hell," answered, " No, Sir." " Oh! you don't, don't you ?" he replied, and immediately seized her by the hand, while one of his as sociates took hold of the other, and in this manner they led her to a pond in the London•field, Hackney. Having on their way l made lier-take off her pattern, they stuffed her mouth ith bay, robbed her of all the money she had, struck her violently on the breast, and finally threw her ,into a pond, in which she was immersed up to her chin. The robbers then left her, under the idea that she was dead, having thrown her umbrella and shawl into the pond after her. In this situation the prosecntrix was found sonic time after by two persons, named Field and Brad shaw, who humanely took her to the Shoulder of Mutton and Cat, where she was treated with the greatest kind ness, and eventually put into a coach, and conveyed, wet as she was, to Worship-street, where she informed the officers of what had happened, and gave a descrip tion of the prisoner, who was, after much pains, taken into custody by Handley, the officer. _ _ This statement, as far as they had an opportunity, was confirmed by the respective Officets.—Wituesses were called for the prisoner, to prove an alibi, but they failed. Mr. Justice l'aat summed up the evidence to the Jury, who im mediately found the prisoner Gulley—Death. The prisoner has long been a terror to Kit neighbourhood, and was well known by the Rash term of " Kiddy Itaris." The agony of his wife and three children excited great interest I w 111 I . • • 1 7 : i • E. 1Y; CORUNA77ON Or ME KING OF FRANCE. (PROS! THE CONSTITUTIONNEL.) It is said to be determined that the cotonation of his Majesty shall take place, according to a nc i e nt cu s tom, at Itheints. It is even affirmed that a skilful architect, M Mazois, has set off for that city, for the purpose of determining what works may be necessary for the august ceremony. We think our Readers will not be sorry to hear a few particulars upon the subject. Upon the ap painted day the ceremonial commences at six in the morning t when a deputation, composed of Laymen and Clergy in pairs, repair to the King, clothed in grand costume, preceded by all the Canons of the Cathedral, in the midst of whom is placed a band of music. Having reached the chamber, which is closed, the first clergyman strikes upon the door with his wand. The Grand Chamberlain, without opening it, asks," What do you require?" " The King." " The King sleeps." The Clergyman repeats the same demand 'wise, and the Chamberlain does not open the door till the 3d summons. As soon as the doors ate opened,_ the deputation enters, and salutes the King with profound reverence. The King reposes upon a splendid couch; he is attired in a long crimson under-waistcoat, trimmed with gold lace ; it is open as well as the shirt, upon those parts where his Majesty is to receive the oils. Over the waist coat, the King wears a long robe of silver lace, and upon his head a cap of black velvet, encircled by a string of diamonds, a cluster of feathers, and a double white aigrette. After a discourse, pronounced by the Bishop of Laon, two Prelates raise the Monarch fiaast his couch, and hear him in procession to the Church. The object of this part of the ceremony is to prove, that our Sovereigns were not acknowledged as Kings until the day of their coronation; before that, in the language of our old chronicles, " the King slept." —When his Majesty arrives at the chinch, he is can ducted to the chair placed tinder the canopy in the midst of the choir ; there the Bishop of Laon presents him with the oath of the kingdom, which the King pronounces, with his hands placed on the Evangelists ; he swears to do justice and maintain the fundamental laws of the State. Immediately after, the Archbishop of Rheims bestows his benediction upon the royal orna ments in which the King is to be attired. Whilst they are preparing the holy chrism, the King is extended at full length upon a long cushion, covered with golden fleurs-de-lis. Long Litanies ate then uttered, attet which the Archbishop, seated in his chair, anoints the King, raised upon his knees, seven times.—lst, on the crown of his head ; 2ndly, on the stomach ; 3dly, between the shoulders ; 4thly, on the right shoulder ; sthly, on the left shoulder; 6thly, on the joints of the right arm ; and 7thly, on those of the left. When the onctions are completed, the Archbishop closes the openings of the King's shirt with gold lace, and the Grand Chamberlain clothes him in the tunic, the dalmatique, and the royal mantle. These garments ate of violet-coloured velvet, thickly adorned with Rears de-lis in gold embroidery, and denoting the habits of the three orders—Sub-deacons, Deans, and Priests. After the benedictions conferred upon the gloves, the royal ring, and the delivery of the hand of justice and the sceptre, the Chancellor sf Fiance calls upon all the Peers, who advance with haste; the Archbishop takes the crown of Charlemagne, which lies upon the altar ; all the Peers extend their bands to enable him to sup port it ; and the Prelate places it upon the head of the Sovereign. MR. GRAHAM'S NUN-ASCENT FROM CANTERBURY. Mr. Graham, who has so often disappointed the in habitants of London and its environs with his half-as cents and non -ascents, has been equally unfortunate at Canterbury, where it was announced he would ascend on Tuesday last. Tuesday came, and no ascent— Wednesday came, and with it a large crowd of specta tors to the Old Palace Bowling-green, Canterbury—a grand dinner was also in preparation at the King's Head Hotel "to celebrate the event." The inflation commenced, the bowling-green was thronged, and the band of the 17th Lancers played some tavoutite airs. At half-past two the balloon was not half inflated. Mr. Graham said there was not gas enough, but the Committee (for nothing can now be done without a Committee) urged the aeronaut to try—he entered the car, but the clumsy machine could not support itself. At four o'clock, Mr. Gosling, one of the Pi oprictors of the gae-wor ks, announced that, although they had called the gas like spirits Trom the vasty deep, yet it would not come when they did call it : he, however, said no blame attached to Mr. Graham. The company who paid, received cheques and separated. On Thursday the Cryer (whJse wife, not having died that day, consequently could cry,) announced in the streets of the Archiepiscopal City, that the ascent would certainly take place at three o'clock ;—but, alas! when the appointed time arrived it was evident, by the appearance of the Balloon, that it could not ascend, even with its own weight ; the attempt ss as individually made by the zronauts, and the public were again disap pointed. The clamour and riot in consequence was very great, and there was great apprehension that both Mr. and Mrs. Graham would have met some serious injury from the vindictive feelings of the populace. The balloon was threatened, and nearly met w ith de struction, the mob having seized the car, and dragged it in triumph through the streets of the city. The whole of the money received, with an addition of 50/. from Mr. Graham, was placed in the hands of Messrs. Hal ford and Co. Union Bank, by, the Committee. llu ing the afternoon, .the flor r of the orchestra, on the Bowling Green (which formerly stood on the Dane John), being crowded with Ladies and Gentlemen, un formnately broke down, but all escaped, with the ex ception of a few slight scratches and-the fright, with out any material injury.—We should think Mr. Graham must, by this time, have discovered that he was born to be an rronaut. . I 1 I !'n% . 1 .A ~! 1' 1 , ; . I i