The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-27 00:00:00

ANOTHER ROVPILL CASS.

Luther limn, a middle-aged man, residing at
No. 1, Lesecert-place, Oradisevell, and lately carrying os
the barna. of aa sooonatera at No. 14, Tokeehouserard
Lothbary, wee placed at the bar of the Mansion-house,
yeeenday, In the eratody of detective officer Spital, before
the Lord Mayor, to endorse a further examination upon a
&arm of forging and &Marin certain deeds purporting to
have been signal by Admiral Sir John West, G.C.8., with
intent to defraud Lientenant-Colonel John Temple West, of
Hyde, Isle of WWit.
Mr. Lewis again attended for the prosecution, and Mr.
T. H. Loogley appeared for the prisoner.
From Mr. Lewis's emends( statement on the previews
examination M appeared that the prisoner had at some
time or other bees is a solicitor', office, and in addition
to hie having pissed • knowledge of the mode of making out
deeds of converters, &e., be by some means or
ether to have obtained a kaowle the existence of some
property known as the St. Usage's Fate* and that it be-
longed to Admiral Sir John West, end that he availed him-
self of that ram/ledge, and forged at different times within
the last few years a number of deeds of conveyances, pur-
porting to be signed by Admiral Sir John West, conveying
So him certain house, in West-squers, Lambeth, which com-
prised the St. George's estate apes eanskleratioa of certain
mums of money, and that having keyed the deeds, he more them and obtained advances upon them from
differeot solicitor& By this means be appear, to
bare obtained advances to • very large amount, and was
negotiating with • solicitor for an advance upon
another deed, but that Haman happened to
hear of the death of Admiral Sir John West,
and upon examining the deed, he noticed that it was dated
subsequent to the death of the admiral, and he accordingly
instituted an inquiry, avid the deed was discovered to be a
forgery. It will be remembered that upon the last at-
m:Monaca a deed upon which the prisoner bad obtained
money from • gestlemen mimed Parker. • solicitor. carry-
ing on Mennen at Bedford-row, was proved to be a forgery.
Although upon the last examigation Mr. Lewis stated
that the amount which had then bees ascertained to have
been obtained by the prisoner was upwards of 6,0001., it
Las been subsequently ascertained that the amount is much
larger.
Yesterday Mr. Lewis called John Morgan Deere, solid-
tor, Lincoln's-inn-gads who mid he acted as solicitor for
the prisoner in the year 1880. Os the 7th of August in
that year be saw the pnsoser execute the mortgage deed
then produced by Mr. Parker, rad attested his signature.
The deed purporting to be sigrad by Admiral West, par-
rzdto be attested by James Baran, land spot, Perim le,
oir d. He banded the mortgage to Mr. Parker. He
did not remember raving sees the original lease. He re-
ceived a copy of the lease from Mr. Yeats to furnish to Mr.
Parker in Bedford-row.
The Lord Mayor asked Mr. Lewis how many of the cams
be intended to go into.
Mrs. Lewis said he proposed to prove eight out of about
eighteen.
fits lordship said he should have thought two or three
separate cases already proved would further the sods of
justice, and be as well as going into so many.
Mr. Lewis mid so far as the prosecution went two or
three cases would be sufficient, but the friends and family
of the late Admiral Sir John West were anxious that it
should be understood that all the deeds of conveyance
executed by the pneoser were forgeries, and it was m ma-
rry to prove as many cams an possible to prevent litigation,
*therein in the cones of twenty years or so the holden of
the mortgages might probably come upon the family for
payment.
Iris lordship said, under those circumstances, he had
nothing more to may.
Mr. Ebenezer Morley, • solicitor, at King's Bench-walk,
Temple, was then sworn, and said in the yes, 1859 he was
acting as solicitor for • Mr. Hopley, and Misr Brandoq
of Pasex-.freer, Strand, applied to him on behalf of the
prisoner respecting a mortgage, and on the 14th of October,
1859, a deed of mortgage was executed in his pr senor.
The m • was four booms Nos. 45 to 48, West-square,
Lambeth, both isclasive. He produced the deed of
mortgage and the lease, which he received from
Messrs. Brandon in the presence of the prisoner.
There was at that time annexed to the lease the receipt
produced, purporting to be a receipt from James Bernet
for the last two quarters' rotted rent. The 'immature' of
the prieoner and Sir Jobn West were attested by James
Bennet, Hertford. Upon the mortgage of that lease, he
advanced to the prisoner the sum of 7001. on behalf of Mr.
Hopley, and the prisoner had since been punctual In paying
the interest due upon that mortgage. In January, 1861, be
was acting as solicitor to Mies hiliride, and the ',li-
mner applied to him to advance • sum of I,OOOL
upon • mortgage of a lease purporting to have
bees executed y Sir John West of four houray
25 to 28, West-gram inclusive. The lease was dated 124
December, 1860. He consented to adman) him the gam of
8001., on behalf of Mims M'llride, on the 17th January, and
1861, he (prisoner) executed • mortgage, which he produced,
and handed over to the firm the deed of mortgage, and the
lease which he also produced. The prisoner had paid the
• interest on the mortgage from time to time since that
period.
Mr. George Mathews Arnold. solicitor, practising at
Gravesend, said he knew the prisoner. He had three trans-
actions with the prisoner. He produced an assignment of
a lease of Nos. 18 and 19, West-square, Isabel, dated
August 29tb, 1859, grunted by Sir John Wen, to
Luther Yeats, the prisoner. lie made as advance
upon the assignment of that lean of 3754
on the part of hie client, Mr. Cheeper.
He likewise produced a mortgage dated 20th Marsh, 1860, .
made between the prisoner and Mr. Alfred Tabard, who '
was& client of his, of a lease which he produced. It was •
mortgage dated 25th February, 1860, purporting to be
made between Sir Jobs West and Luther Yeats, of holism
20 to 23, West-square, includes The prisoner applied
him for the advance of 7501. upon that property, and on
the 25th March he made him the advance, and then received
the deed of mortgage and lease. He also produced a deed
of mortgage dated 30th September, 1861. between himself
and the prisoner. It related to • lease dated 10th September,
1861, of homes 45 to 48. West-equare, and purporting to be
executed by Sir John Wed to the prisoner.
Mr. Lewis remarked that the prisoner had forged the
lessee for those four houses, and bad obtained money upon
each of them.
His lordship said, that if he undentond the case rightly,
the r had been in the habit of concocting fictitious
d of conveyance upon the property in question over and
over again, and then mortgaging them.
Mr. Leas said that was just the ease.
The witness then continued his evidence, and said he
advanced the prisoner 7501. upon that lease. He likewise
produced • teem or mortgage, dated 30th Sept., 1861,
between himself and the prisoner on • lease dated the 10th
Sept. 1861, and purporting to be signed by Sir John West,
in favour of the prisooer, of homes Nos. 44 to 48, West-
square. The prisoner personally applied to him for an ad-
vance of 800/. upon that lease, and he made him the advance,
and received the deed of mortgage and lease which he pro-
duced from him. In two instances the signature of Sir John
West was alleged to have been attested by James Beonet,
Loose agent, of Portvale, Hertford ; and in the third instance
by James Bonnet, joy., of the same place.
Mr. James Lay, solicitor, of 44, Poultry, was then called,
&Wand he had known the prisoner about twelve years. He
produced a lease dated April 10, 1862, made in favour of the
prisoner, and purporting to he executed by Sir John West,
in respect of four houses, situate Noe. 25 to 28, West-square,
both inclusive. He advanced the prisoner 150/. on the 10th
of May, 18e, on behalf of one of his clients, and the prisoner
deposited the deed with him as security. He believed there
were negotiations with another solicitor for a mortgage upon
the same deed fora much larger amount. He likewise pro-
duced a policy of insurance on the property.
Mr. Lewis said the latter was not necessary. There was
so carelseiness attributed to the solicitors, who had had
tranemahmes with the prisoner.
Mr. Lay said be wished to make a complaint to his lord-
ship with regard to some observations which fell from Mr.
Lewis upon the last examination, sad which be did not think
be was at all justified in making. It appeared in all the
papers that that gentleman had stated that Mr. Lay was
not present, and that hews' &bald he was keeping out of the
way on purpose, and would Dot produce the deed. He wished
to state, however, that he was sway on bnsiness at the
time the subpcens was served at him office—which was
not until about an boar before the case was called
on, and he being away his son was dibprensed instead,
but he had no knowledge of the whereabouts of the deed.
He did not consider that such observations ought to have
been made, and he had rendered Mr. Gaudin every &mist-
ime, in his power.
Mr. Lewis said that he was sorry Mr. Lay bad alluded to
the matter, as it would compel him to say what otherwise
be would not have said. Its considered he had very just
grounds for the observations which he made on the last
occasion, as Mr. Gaudin bad seen Mr. Lay on the previous
day, and Mr. Lay thou sail he did not think he should
attend at the examination of the prisoner at the Hannon-
Douse, and the lease which had been left at Mr. Ley's office,
instead of being left out to be produced, bad been put away.
and, in addition to that, be had lodged a detainer on the
prisoner's account at his banker's on the previous day as
soots as he knew the prisoner was is custody ; and if his
lordship wished it, he would mill Mr. Gemini.
His lordship, however, said it had better rest as it was.
Mr. Lay said Mr. Gamin had told him that he intended
to go into several other cram and be thought his attendance
would not be
Mr. Francis rTalrbaLary said he was an articled clerk, and
resided at Bexley, in Kent He produced • mortgage,
dated 16th September, 1859, made between the prisoner
and Frusta Hilleary, his father, of a lease, dated 27th July,
1859, in respect of home 18 sad 19, West-square, pur-
porting to have bees matted by Sir Jobe West to the pri-
soner. He saw the prissier emirate that mortgage, and
attested it. He produced the lease to which the mortgage
related. The sum of 3001. was advanced upon that lease.
Mr. Gratin was than sworn, and said he had looked at
the leases produced by the several witnesses, and the signa-
tures were not the writing of Sir John West.
Augustus Etaley Healmell, cashier of Gosling and Co.,
brakers, Flesteirsea.mid they were the bankers of Sir John
West for many yema He had the management of Sir
Jobe West's ass eeed mew* others. He had looked at
the deeds modem& and was quite sure the signatures were
not In the bradweiting of Sir Jahn West, nor did they bear
as r.kamemMages te
Kai.* supwleilendest of police, borough of
Hertford, oral he lemma plass gelled Parente. He believed
he know nearly wan ese who lived in Parted*, and from