The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

THE ROUPELL FORGERIES.

This trial was resumed yesterday morning at
Chelmsford. William Reapsll was again present in charge
of the wiedsue of Peston s Prison.
Seriesat Shoe, Mr. Lush, Q.C., Mr. J. Brown, and the
Hon. Mr. Thesiger appeared for the plaintiffs; Mr. Bunt,
Q.C., Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. Garth were for the de-
fendanta.
Mr. Built, who bed only concluded his observations re-
lating to the handwriting on Wednesday at the adjonro-
meat of the court, resumed his summing up of tbe case for
the &students. The jury would remember that although the
avowed object of the precast action was to obtain possession
of this small Wide, yet there was no doubt that the reel
object was to regain poesessiou of the whole of the
property that had been squandered by Mr. Wm. Roupell.
He thee went on to sey—Why was not Sarah Roupell
called as a witness? Why was there • settled determina-
tion Dot to call her ? Wee there some secret that would
make William Roupell quail in the box where he was now
seated, and cause him to bemused out of court ? Why he
was allowed to be in court he did not know, nor why he
should be permitted to be in constant communication and
passing notes to the solicitors who were acting for his bro-
ther. It might be that there were secrete which the family
wished to eoocesl, but with regard to the letter of instruc-
tions to prepare the deed of gift, he submitted that the
fact of William Roupell retaining possession of the docu-
meat, showed that he knew it was genuine and that be kept
it in order to show that he had a title to the property. Although
Sarah Roupell was placed in the witness-box by the com-
pulsion of his lordship the plaintiff's counsel did not dare to
ask her whether the signature to the latter was genuine or
not. He said that whichever way they turned they were
met by falsehood and fraud. They were to rely upon the
evidence of • man who admitted that in the presence of the
dead body of his father he stole his will, and then wanted
to make them believe that he kept it in his pocket a whole
week without reeding it. If they wanted to 000 firm him
why did they not ull his mother, who was with him the
whole time? They knew they could not do so, and there-
fore the mother was sot examined ; and be contended that
the whole story wua fabrication, with a view to get back the
property, and motors the ruiveifortuninof the family. Wm.
Roupell actually attempted to make them believe that he
kept the original will for aix years, and that be did not de-
stroy it until just before he left England, when during that
pei iiml be was a member of parliament, an officer in • rifle
cogs, and ecosiantly attending public meetings. It was
idle to suppose that be could have done as be hal repre-
sented. The learned counsel then proceeded at considerable
length to comment upon the other points in favour of the
defendants—• great many of which he had before alluded
to, and he concluded by saying that the case rested entirely
uuou the evidence of tVillum Realm% who was • man,
upon his own showing, utterly unworthy of credit. It
might he said, what motive bad William Roupell to come
forward and mew himself guilty of fraud or
forgery ? but it was clear that he had every motive, for
it woe out disputed that he had forged the two leases, and
this forgery must have been discovered, and then he con-
fessed himself guilty of those additional crimes. He was
under sentence of penal servitude for life, he could sot have
any additional punishmest ; a few years ago be would have
been hanged, and although he did not complain of the alte-
ration of the law, still he did think it was • pity that he
should be in a position to come forward and give evidence
that would have the effect of depriving the defendants and
o great many other persons of property to which they were
justly and legally entitled.
At the close of the address of the learned counsel the
court adjourned for • short period.
Serjeaut Shee thee proceeded to address the jury, and to
reply upon the whole case. in a speech of great power and
eloquence. The real question was whether this deed was a
forgery ; and both the witnesses to whom he referred
swore positively that they tteated the signature
of Richard Palmer Reapell to any instrument whatever,
and the deed, therefore, must have been • forgery. The
learned serjunt then proceeded to comment upon the letter
of iostructioes that was sent to Mr. Whitaker to prepare
the deed of gift, sad urged that it was clearly not genuine,
because it referred to Richard Palmer Roupell having
already given the forms of lease, to William Roupell, when
it weR clear that at this time he could not have done so,
because the old leases bad several years to run, and he
could not have known anything of the leases that were pre- '
pared by Messrs. Waterlow. With regard to Sarah Roupell
The Canadian screw steamer North American, not having bees called, the only explanation, and he be-
Captain Britton, which sailed from Quebec on the lieved it would be a satisfactory one, was • desire to spare
11th, and willed off Cape Race on the 14th inst., a young woman the pain of passing and almost touching •
dear brother who was. undergoing the terrible sentence of I
arrived at Liverpool nhortly before 1 o'clock yesten lay
penal servitude for life, and by her own rips bringing home
afternoon, trid Greencastle. She brings 45 passeD- to that brother the crime of (emery. There was no struggle
gars and 5,500 dole. in specie. to have the evidence of Sarah Reopen, and for the reasons
The steamships Kangaroo, Great Eastern, and he had stated he should not have called her, but
when his lshi intimated his opinion she ought to I
Sidon, have arrived at New York. The steamship
he examinedord pbe at once acquiesced and hal her Endued
Jura:for Quebec, had passed Cape Race. in court to state all she knew epos the subject. He they
ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE—The remarked with nine of
upon the conduct of Mr.
City of Baltimore, from New York oe the 11th instant
.Witedite?lasen,dthe brother of tbe wittier
.who.
.had bee_eexa-
plowed that he, who bad acted for indeed
arrived at Queeestown at 6.20 p.m. yesterday, and pro- Roupell throughout the proceedings, was not called as a
needed for Liverpool at 1.30 p.m. She brings 26 lue- witness, for he could have told them everything connected'
imagers and 380,306 dole. in specie. Her news has been with the deed of gift, and whether he bad not received the
aetkipated. instructions to prepare the deed of gift from William
Roupell. He could not help thinkieg that William
Tan NEW VOLUNTEER Acs.—Yesterday the new Roupell was to be pitied. W been be was only
act to consolidate sod amend the law relating to the Volum- just twenty-one yearn of age, with such a father•
tear force in Great Bei tsin, which received the royal went end neverbe.n.. sees anything of rapeetabilitp
on Tuesday, was printed. It contains 53 sections, sad • in hi early youth, he fell into the heeds of • spendthrift
schedule of forma to be used, and slap showing the uncle. who icitredoeel him to Mr. Whitaker, and they am-
i enactments now repealed. The act is divided into seven sited him to raise large Burs of money, and executed con-
, parte. Her Majesty is empowered to accept the service of 'maw@ of the property of the old man without Mr.
volunteer corps through the lieutenants of counties, sod Whitaker ever oakum him for any information or making
to forma permanent staff. The acceptance of a coinuliesion I the slightest inquiry respecting the traissaction. The learned
in • volunteer corps by a member a the House of Cum- werjeaut next proceeded to remark upon the will, and said
moms is not to render his scat vacant. A volunteer rimy Ihe thiiught that not the slightest doubt could be enter-
leave his corps when not on actual military service on cow- I Wind that the will of the 2nd of September, 1856. was a
plying with certain conditions set forth. The general forgery, sad he called the attention of the jury to the feet
unrnmond maybe Waned under • Sold or general officer, a*.i I that only a few days before the deceased bad been
an annual inspection IS to take plank The Secretary of his proctors and absolutely confirmed by a
State may, make regulations for the government of the codicil the will of 1850, in which DO mention whatever
force, sod in case of invasion the crown may call on the was mid, of the Great Worley propert
yelneteen for actual military service, and grant them an , y having been dis-
peed of in any manner, still less that it had been mode the
allowance. Minors other provisions in the statute respectiog subject of • deed of gift to his son William Roayell, and
discipline, sad the power to acquire land for drill .o'l prat- . this he urged was conclusive evidence that the pretended
The Chief Commissioner of Works may allot • portion i will of the 2nd of September was a forgery. The learned
of the royal parks for shooting practice. I eerjeaut thee made moms brief observations in referuce to
Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur- the evidence as to handwriting, and at the cooduaion of
clisalus Horniness's Pure Tea: very choice st Ss. Id soil ss his address the trial was again adjouroml.
•• High Standard ' at 4. ad. (formerly tn. bd.), Is the Sirl.Celi
and most delicious imported. Agents In every town supply Is I At the sitting of the court this morning, Ruse Channell
In packets—(Advertisement) willproceed to sum up the case to the jury.

MUNCHIN, JULY 22.
The King of Bavaria will meet the Emperor
Francis Joseph at Regensburg.

TIM FATAL AccmaNr To THE "FINALE
BLONDIN."

The inquest on the body of Madame Geneive, the
"finish) Blr nal," who met with her death on Monday
Lathy the breakim of the rope on which she was perform-
ing her sensation feats at Aston Park, took place on Wed-
'today afternoon, before Mr. W. S. Poole, the county
coroner. Mr. J. W. Cutler. solicitor, of Birmingham,
appeared on behalf of the Foresters' Committee, who had
the management of the fete.
The first witness examined was Edward Powell, the bus-
bald of the deceased. He said he was formerly • coach-
maker, but now followed the theatrical profeesion. The
deceased was his wife, and they had been married seventeen
yens. She was born into a theatrical family, and
was • member of the celebrated Huntini
Her maiden name was Hunt. She was thirty-
six years of age, and had always been used to
rope discoing. Since she was three years and • half
old she had been accustomed to it, and had been engaged in
it ever since. Her first performance on the high rope was
at the Old Ranelagh Gardens. Woolwich, about fourteen
years ago. She never had a fall before, except at Aston
Cross, Birmingham, nine years ago. That was condoned by
• man leaning against the stand to which the rope was
affixed, but she did not hart herself.
Mr. Charles Porter, surgeon, of Birmingham, said he was
standing near the rope when the felt He went to her m-
inima, and found she rem respiring, bat after two or three
gasps she died. (This witness was ordered to make a pod.
mortem examination of the body.)
Mr. J. A. Langford, monetary to the Astra Hall sad
Park Compasay (Limited), said that in the early part of
the year application was made by Mr. Nicholls, oa be-
t half of the committee of the Order of Foresters, for the
me of the groupie for • fete on behalf of the Wok and
'fauna fend of the society. The agreement was put in by
Mr. Cutler. It was !an agreement for letting to the com-
mittee of Foresters so much of the park and pounds as
were in the possession of tbe Aston Park Company, with all
their plant, for a fête on July 20, the company to receive
as remuneration one-fourth of the money received for ad-
mission, without incurring any expense ; the company not
to interfere with the control and receipts and the pro-
gramme to be published by the Foresters. A placard an-
uouncing the fete was then put in ; it stoked that the pro-
ceedings were under the patronage of the mayor
(C. Sturm, Esp.), Lord Leigh, and others. The
bill announced that " Madame Geneive, the female
Biondi's," would perform certain feats. The wit-
ness Langford stated that he merle no remonstrance with
the committee on wine the handhille. There was no re-
monstrance from the managers of the Astoo.park Company,
except en expression of opinion that they should have been
glad if a female had not been engaged. The oompaey had
no control over the performance, but when the accident
occurred the chairman of the company waited upon the
Foresters' committee, and expressed an opinion that all
similar performances should be stopped, and the Foresters'
committee acquiesced. The wither further stated that
though the Aaron-park Company had engaged Biondin on
six ocesions oo their own aooouot, they had refused to
engage female performers. After the bills were issued,
and before the performance, they had no representation
from anyone in respect to the danger ; not from Mr. Chas.
Sturge (the mayor), Lord, Leigh, or any other persons
patrodeing the fête.
Mr. Powell, the husband of the deemed, was called to
identify the rope. He said it was two years old last March,
and it was helm in such a remarkable manner that he
never sew each a thing before.
Mr. Henry White, ropemaker, foreman to Mews.
Wright, said be had examined the rope, apd, supposing it
had been perfectly sound, it would have taken the weight of
four tons to break it. From the appearance of the fractured
part he should say that a careful examination oil the Pops
beforehand would not have revealed a defect in it. Toe
only proper way would be to cut the rope and open it. On
doiog so he touod the rope bad every appearauce of the dry
rot. Even the heart of it was rotten. The outward sip.
memos of the rope would deceive anyone. Had he been
asked to examine the rope for use he should have advised
more than so external examination, and said "open it."
If he had only the outward appearance to guide him he
should have said it was strong enough.
Mr. T. Nicholls, secretary to the Foresters' committee,
was called to prove the eogagemeot of the deceased for the
fete. Tbe terms were to be 15/., with 61. extra if the per.
formancea were postponed on account of the weather. He
was present at the time of the soeident, and the committee
afterwards decided to go through the performance
on the magnums, omitting the snore dangerous
ones. The proceedings concluded by a display of
fireworks about half-past eleven. The committee wee*
afraid if they stopped the performance the "roughs" might
ham mated a row and here done damage. He was not
aware that the rope bad been spliced. Shortly before the
time deceased appeared on the rope Mr. Allen requested
him to keep her back, as they had to tighten the rope. That
was the cause of the delay.
The inquest was then adjourned to Friday, to allow of a
post-mortem examination and the production of other
withesece.