The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

VIIIIIIIIIIi

reeollPot

was for. She gave me some name. I
what, but it did not correspond with the ad-lee. I told
her I could not pay her until it was signed testhe eita.'"^e
person it was for. Prisoner then left the oeee. te,e
order was paid Dm same dav by James WelterWilliam')
—James Walter Williams mid he eres nenhe^ to Mary
Ann Williams, and an assistant in the Pent-efise. He
paid the order produced on the afternoon of theetth of
March. The female prisoner picked the money wit. She
came with Benjamin Hammond. The risouer Sullan
produced the order, which was not signe.l. Wineqs
asked who the order was for. She said it ws4 "her
son, Benjamin Martin, pointing to the male pOmeef-
Witness handed the order and a pen to the prisoner
Hammond. and he signed the order "B. Martin," in tie
witness's presence. While Hammond was signing tie
order. witness put the money on the counter, and this
female prisoner picked it un. and they went away lief
gethee—Stiperintendent Mills said from information lss
received he apprehended the female prisoner on the Litt
inst, at her own house, on the charge of steeling a post.
office order and some postage stamps. She said she did
get some letters containing the postmffice order and
stamps. She went to the Post-office, and the Post-mis-
tress refused to pay her, and sabl she snust get it signed
by the party for whom it was sent. She got Benjamin
Hammond to sign the realer. and went and got the money.
Witness arrested Benjamin Hammond on the 16th inst.
on the charge of forgery, he having signed the order
with the name of B. Martin. He said that he signed it
at the retreat of Mrs. Martin, but did not receive the
money. Witness knew the husband of the female pride-
nee. and had done so for twelve years. His name was
William Martin, and he had not lived with her for the
last eight years. Witness had often seen him at Dudley_
lie was bad up by the Union etithorities for allowing his
wife to become chargeable to the parish, anal he was or-
dered to pay the amount and costs, and recommended
to pay her some.—ln her defence, the female prisoner
said that her husband had left her, and that she thouieit
be was in the Potteries, and that he bad sent her the
money. She had lived in the eame house that she now
resided in, for eleven years. Did not know the com-
plainant. She read the letters, and she had a Janice and
aohn. Could not make out the name of Lawrence, bet
had a daughter. The learned Stipendiary said it was •
very serious offence. She must have known well that
she bad no friends of the name of Caner, and that the
money did not belong to her. He considered her livery
artful, wicked woman, in getting her son, Hammond. to
; ^notber's name. Hammond said he knew nothing
forge - mother asked him to sign B. Martin, and
about it. ha. • any harm, and his mother picked
he did so, riot thine..., 'se of it. The learned Sit-
up the money. He had '',izabetli Marlin CM two
pendiary said be should commit at the other for
charges—one for stealing the letters, Sn.. • forgery.
forgery ; and he should commit Hammon. s. _4 for
In the meantime he should remand them to Btalto. ,
a week, to complete the depositione. They would Is.
brought up then, and committed.