The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-16 00:00:00

THE CHARGE OF FORGERY AGAINST A

CLERGYMAN.

PRON OUR CORRESPONDENT.
WORCESTER, SATURDAY EVININO.
The inquiry into the charge of forgery, preferred **
by Mr. Hughes, solicitor, of this city, against the Rev.
James Nisbett, until recently curate of Shrawley, in this
county, was resumed at 12 o'clock to-day, at the police
court, before Mr. Bidebottoca, police magistrate, and Mr. J.
M. butch, one of the city bench. Mr. Wright, of Bir-
mingham, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Elgie, of
Worcester, the defence. The police court, which is an in-
convenient room at the lick of the Guildhall, totally un-
fitted for carrying on a public inv, '• -..owded to
• • ..et iganon, was"-
lk"" hear the resalt, and among
stuhtentwit ari
or.two of the local clergy.
The ease, it should be mentioned, was adjourned on Tues-
day last, to allow time to send for the drawer of the alleged
forged hill, who was represented to be a clerk at the Nine
Elms Station, Vauxhall. This person, however, was not
forthcoming; and Mr. Wright, for the prosecution, asked
for time to produce officials (rota that rtation to prove that
there was no such person employed at the railway, nor had
been at the time when the bill was drawn. This it was
understood would be agreed to, and in the mean time
Mr. Thomas, clerk at the Worcester Old Back, was ex-
amined to prove that the prisoner kept an account at that
hack from 1149 down to a recent date ; that he had fre-
quently seen him at the bank ; that he frequently signed
cniqurs at the counter, &c. The witness, however, could
not positively swear to his handwriting, but he knew it
from having had his cheques frequently pion through his
hands for entry in the bank books. The forged bill was
then handed to the witness. It was in the following
terms.

" London, March 1,1851.
"E3oo.—Siz months after date pay to the Roy. James
Nisbett, or order, the sum of three bond rd pounds, (or
value received. " Richard Mitchell.
"To Wiliam Robert Nisbett, Fort Nisbett,
" Rurris.a-Bane' Ireland.
"Accepted—William Itobert Nisbett.
" Payable at Messrs. Scott and Co., bankers, Cavendish-
square, London."
Endorsed—" James Nisbett."

The witness, ;11;;;InininFithe bill, gave his opinion that
the name of the drawer, the body of the bill, the name of
the acceptor, and the acceptance, were all in the same hand-
writing, and that the whole was the handwriting of the
prisoner. The handwriting of the endorser, though larger
than the rest, was also of the same character, and the
writing of the prisoner.
Mr. Winwood, the cashier at the Old Bank, was then
sent for, and produced 33 cheques which had passed
through his hands, drawn by the prisoner. lie had seen the
ri.oner write frequently, and should may that the whole
body and signatures of the bill produced had been written
by him. The bank had had several hill transactions with
the prisoner, and he had no recollcctioa of ever having seen
the signature of " Richard Mitchell " before.
Mr. Wright submitted that this was sufficient evidence to
warrant the magistrates in committing the prisoner for trial.
The witness had given evidence distinctly showing that this
WAS a fictitious bill signed by fictitious signatures, and in
the handwriting of the prisoner, which was as much a for-
gery as if an individual's signature had been actually noun-
terteited.

Mr. Elgie, for the prisoner, on being called upon, de-
clined to address the court for the defence until the cue for
the prosecution was actually closed.
Mr. Sidebottom said that at present he had no evidence
before hint that there Was no such persois as Richard Mit-
chell, and he therefore thought an adjournment advisable,
in order to clear up that point.
After some conversation the evidence of Glossop, in-
spector of the Birmingham police, was taken as ti the ap-
prehension of the prisoner, ►nd the papers found upon
him.

Inspector Glossop deposed that, front information which
he had received, he apprehended the prisoner this da•
week, at the White Hart, Higbetti, Birmingham, and took
possession of a quantity of papers found in his possession.
These papers (which it is said contain some revelations of
consequence) were, by consent of all parties, now placed in
the custody of Inspector Chipp, of the Worcester police,
who was instructed to allow the solicitors on both sides to
inspect them in his presence. Amongst the napers is a very
full and elaborate diary, which, it is said, will forunA
some materials for the prosecution.
The prisoner is also charged with other fraudulent trans-
actions. At present he stands remanded fur a few days,
when he will no doubt be committed for trial.