The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-15 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.—YESTERDAY.
Berens Ma. Boa., ALDRI.O.I.
CHARGE OP FORGERY.
Monde Reed, 3.7 i, wine merchant, was indicted for felo-
niously forging an acceptance to a bill of exchange fur
3.51. 4s. 6d., with intent to defraud John Symtuuns.
Mr. W. Cooper prosecuted, and Mr. Parry defended the
prisoner.
Mr.Symmons, the prosecutor, deposed that he carried on
the business of a wine merchant, wider the firm of Sym-
mons and Son, in Fenchurch-street. Their firm had been
in the habit of doing business with Messrs. Reed and Co.,
wine merchants, at Bath, and on tltc 2nd April the prisoner
introduced himself to him as Mr. Thomas Reed, a member
of the firm, and believing him to be that gentleman they
entered into a transaction fur the purchase by the prisoner
of twelve dozen of champagne on account of the Bath firm.
At this time there was a balance of about 81. due from
Messrs. Reed, and the prisoner requested him to draw a bill
of exchange for that sum and also for the value of the
champagne ; and be did so, and sent the hill and a delivery
order fur the champagne to No. 28, Bloomsbury-street, and
in due course of post the bill came back, bearing the accept-
ance of Thomas Reed, junior." Ile had seen 51r.Thoinas
Reed, of the Bath firm, on previous occasions, and the pri
goner resembled him so much that he had no doubt when
he saw him in the countinghouse that he was that gentle.
man.
___

Mr. Thomas Reed deposed that he carried on business as
a wine merchant at Bath. The prisoner was his twin
brother, and his n•me NV MS William. lie had been a mem-
ber of the firm fur some time, but the partnership was dis-
solved about four years ago, and he had no authority to
accept any bill on account of the firm since that pi rMd.
The bill now produced was • forgery, and he had no
doubt that the acceptance was in the handwriting of the
prisoner. _ .

By Mr. Parry—Witness's handwriting was not at all
similar to that of the prisoner. After the partnership was
dissolved the prisoner had no authority to accept bills, but
he used to assist in the counting-house and look over the
hooks. He never received any remuneration for this ser-
vice. Ile was not aware ot anything that could have
operated upon the mind of the prisoner to induce him to
suppose that he had authority to draw such a bill. He had
never had any quarrel with his brother, and they had always
been on good terms. Witness had nothing whatever to do
with this bill, either directly or indirectly.
Mr. Parry, in his address to the jury for the defence,
said that whatever decision might eventually be arrived at,
it was impossible to deny that it was a very melancholy
spectacle to see one brother coming forward and giving
evidence against another on a charge of so serious a kind.
He had no instructions, and the circumstances would not
justify him in stating that Mr. Reed was not speaking the
truth ; but he should contend that, under the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the case, and taking into consideration the
anomalous position of the prisoner in coon, :ion with the
firm, the jury would he perfectly justified in coming to
the conclusion that there was not sufficient evidence to
satisfy them that the prisoner had committed the offence of
forgery. They had beard that for a considerable time he
had been a member of the firm, and yet when the serious
charge was made against him the only witness that was
called to speak to his handwriting, and to the fast of the
forgery was his own brother, and the evidence of
this single witness was not corroborated in any
manner. It was the duty of the prosecution not to
have left the jury in any doubt, and as they had chosen to
leave the case in this state, he urged that they ought not to
act upon any suspicion they might entertain with regard to
the transaction, but if the ease was not proved to their sada-
faction, they ought to acquit the prisoner.
Baron Alderson then summed up, and after the jury had
deliberated for a short time, the foreman said that the ma.
jority of the jury were of opinion that the evidence was not
sufficient, and the others had yielded to that opinion, and
therefore they found the prisoner Sot Guilty.
'fhe learned judge told the jury that their verdict must
be unanimous.

...
Mr. Parry said that the verdict had been recorded, and
therefore it was now too late for the jury to re-consider the
subject.
Mr. Cooper said that there was • second charge against
the prisoner, which he proposed to proceed with.
The prisoner was accordingly charged upon another in-
dictment with forging an acceptance to a bill of exchange
for 511. 14s. 44., with intent to defraud the same prosecutor.
The circumstances of this cue were precisely similar to
those of the former. The prisoner went to Mr. Symmons's
counting-house on the sth April, and purchased 27 dozen
of champagne, representing that it was for the firm of
Reed and Co., of Bath, and a bill was drawn for the
amount, which was accepted in the same form as the one
in the other case, and the prisoner's brother deposed
that he believed the acceptance to be in the handwriting of
the prisoner.
Mr. Parry again addressed the jury, and contended that
there was no more evidence in this cue than there was in
the former, and that after the verdict they had given in
reference to the former charge, they would be stultifying
themselves if they came to a different conclusion with re-
gard to this useend charge.
Mr. Justice Talfourd having summed up,
The jury deliberated a short time in the box, and
then stated they were not likely to agree, and wished to
retire. They left the court at half-put 4 o'clock.
Shortly after six they returned, and again gave a verdict
of Ner (Autry.

NEW COURT.—YESTERDAT.
Baroas raa asouansa.
Doca ROHHERY.
James Burry, 30, labourer, was indicted for stealing Blbs.
weight of indigo, the property of the East and West India
Dock Company, his masters.
It appeared that the prisoner was employed by the com-
pany as sampler in the indigo department. On the 2nd of
May, the prisoner left a parcel at the Grapes, Tower-hill,
where two police-constables of the City force went and in-
quired for the parcel, and having examined it, returned it
to the landlord, and requested that it might be given to the
prisoner when he came (or it. About 8 o'clock the prisoner
cams and took it away, and was followed by the officers,
who after he had gone a short distance asked him what he
had got, and he said it was all right, and took them to the off'.
ces of an indigo merchant, where hesaid he had left it the
previous night. This, however, proving to be false, the
officers took him into custody, and on the road to the station
house the prisoner tried to escape from them.
Mr. Ballantine said he could not deny the facts, and ad-
vised the prisoner to retract his plea and plead guilty,which
he did, and it was then proved that prisoner had hitherto
borne an excellent character, and had a wife and eight
children.
The Recorder in passing sentence mid, the only reason
that should incline him to pass a lenient sentence on the pri-
soner was his previous good character, and the supposition
that this was a single offence ; but still his offence (as ser.
vent to a public company) was a bad one.
lie was sentenced to lour months imprisonment and hard
labour.

PAROCRIAL CONTEST IN MARTLEBONE.—A severe
contest is now waging in this parish between the new re-
form party, headed by the Rate-payers Protection Society
and the old reform party, headed by the old Parochial
Committee fur the election of vestrymen. The candidates
were nominated on Monday last, and the polling closes to-
day at (our o'clock. The Rev. Messrs. Gurney and Baring
have proposed that both parties coalesce and choose names
from each list, but the Parochial Committee at their meet:
sag lut night in Circus street, unanimously objected to the
proposal, being confident of success.
SERIOUS COLLISION OE STEAMERS OFF LlTER-
rooc.—On Tuesday night, as the Genova, screw steam
ship, from Marseilles, was entering the Mersey, when off
the Rock Lighthouse, she came into collision with the Nim-
rod, Belfast steam vessel Both vessels were so severely
damaged that the Nimrod had to be towed into dock and
the Genova to the Clarence Basin. A rent of seven feet in
the bull of the Genova is perceptible, and it will be a long
time before either vessel can be rendered seaworthy. The
night was clear, and the officers of both ships lay the blame
on each other. Fortunately no lives were lost.

The Complainant—l got into the defendant's omnibus in
the Strand for the purpose of going to Hackney. On ar-
riving at the Royal Excha .ge the omnibus stopped for ten
minutes. It then went on to Threadneedle-street, and
stopped for about three minutes. The conductor got down
at the Hall of Commerce. I then complained of the fre-
quent stopping+, and he tapped the side of the omnibus, a
notice to the driver, and it again moved on, but the horses
merely walked till we arrived at the Flower-pot in Bishops-
gate-street. The omnibus walked on afterwards fur a con-
siderable time, and I told the defendant that if he did not
go on I would get out. He said, " Very well, air, you can
get out," and I accordingly did get out, but I said to him
that I did not intend to pay hint anythieg. " Oh," said he,
" you don't go out unless you pay tue sixpence." I then
took his number and the number of the omnibus and paid
hint sixpence, and I called a tab and went the rest of the
journey. The fare of the cab was 3s. fiel. When I spoke to
the defendant in the Strand ho told me that he would set
me down at the corner of the street in Hackney to which I
wished to go.
The Lord Mayor—l wish to see the defendant's license.
The defendant banded in the document.
The Lord Mayor—l see that your license has been en-
don.ed twice within the month, once by Mr. Henry, at Bow-
street, and once by Alderman Copeland, at Guildhall.
The conductor said he could explain all about the en-
dorsements, and prove that Mr. Henry and Alderman Cope-
land were wrung.
The Lord Mayor—What do you say to the present
charge ?
Conductor—l know nothing at all about it, the gent
must have made a mistake. I never had anything to
say to him.
The Lord Mayor—This sort of conduct upon the part of
the servants of omnibuses is the cause of frequent and
heavy complaint. It has of late become so prevalent, that
I consider it to be my duty to prevent, by all means in my
power, the continuance of a system which occasions such
vast public inconvenience. The conductors and drivers act
lust as they please. They keep the passengers, particularly
ladies, prisoners, and delay in several streets as they advance,
without caring a straw about the annoyance which they
create. I have had recently a great number of complaints to the
effect that the omnibus men act in the most arbitrary man-
ner to their passengers, and I am extremely glad that a
gentleman who has been a sufferer comes forward to give
me an opportunity of stating what it is my intention to du.
The judgment I shall pass upon the defendant is meant,
and will I trust tend to operate to the correction of the
evil, and I shall Five immediate directions to the officers at
the Royal Exchange not to permit the Hackney and Clap-
tou omnibuses to stop there a longer time than will be ne-
cessary fur the convenience of passengers in getting in or
out. If my directions be not obeyed by the officers they
shall be discharged. In the hope that all omnibus drivers
and conductors will look to the result of this ease, I shall
suspend the defendant's license k,r one month and fine him
V. and costs, or It days' imprisonment. Ladies are pecu-
liarly liable to imposition and ill treatment from this class
of persons, who make a practice of exercising the most in-
tolerable tyranny.
The defendant intimated that the Lord Mayor's decision
was, in his opinion, as erroneous as that of Mr. Henry or
Alderman Copeland.
Mary Willaina, who has for a lengthof time been known
as a common impostor, and has appeared before the magi-
stracy in different names, was brought up in the custody of
a policeman.
_ _

A clerk in the employment of Mr. Ebenexer Saunders,
the salesman, said the woman canoe to me at the counting•
house, apparently very large in the family-way, and asked
for Mr. Saunders, of-wham she said she wished to hew
assistance. She seemed to me to be in such a state that
the event would actually take place upon the spot, and I
thought she would fall down, and I begged her to be
seated, and, as Mr. Saunders was not there, 1 offered to do
her any service. She refused to sit down, appeared to be
exhausted with pain, and at last asked Inc for Is. Gd. to tit
her out for the Lying-in Hospital. I immediately gave
her the money, and I offered to go for any assistance she
might require. The moment she received the money she
said " God is good," and appeared to be in still greater
agony, but she declined any other kind of assistance, and
she went away. It occurred to me that if I followed her a
little way I might learn something, and I accordingly did so.
I saw her join another woman near the Flower-pot
public-house, but she did not any more seem to
be in any great want of medical treatment. Soon after I
got to the counting-house, in walked the very woman who
had joined the prisoner to ask for pecuniary assistance, and
pretended to be in the same critical condition in which the
prisoner showed herself. The woman said she wanted half-
a-crown to get a new certificate of her marriage, to entitle
her to admission to the institution; but when I gave her to
' understand that I suspected her, she suddenly opened the
door and walked away. I assure your lordship that the
prisoner played the part of a woman in the last stage of '
pregnancy so well that I expected every instant that the
occurrence would take place.
The Lord Mayor—Oh, you need not take the trouble to
speak of her talents in that way. We have had her here
before. She could make any one's heart bleed.
The Prisoner—l assure your lordship there is a mistake
here. It is true I have been pulled for something of the
kind more than once, but I am nut the offending party in
this business.

Tl;ell;tiMayor—What was my sentence upon you the
last time you were here for imputation ?
The Frowner—Fourteen days.
The Lord Mayor—And what the time before ?
The Prisoner—Fourteen days.
The Lord Mayor—And what the time before that ?
The Prisoner—Fourteen days (laughter).
The Lord Mayor—Now the character of the imposition
you have practised upon this gentleman is atrocious. It is
out of the power of any human being not to feel deeply fur
a female in the state in which you pretended to he. Your
offence is that you hare made a mockery of that which has
the most powerful claims upon the sympathies of mankiud.
I now sentence you to imprisonment and hard labour fur
three calendar months.

The priainer said she would never try it on again if hi
lordship would stick to the old sentence ; and was conveyed
to prison.

MARKETS.

COTTON.—Livittroot, MAT 14.—The market closes
with mine .bow of otembneos ; there has been more demon', and lem
prewar* to sell. Prima rnoy be quoted id toad. per lb. lower for Arno.
1c and all other sort. at 10. lb. down. The gabs me collimated
at 7,000 bales, so LI inchide 6.. 00 American, 100 Egyptian, bid.
to Lid ; toe Santa, 3,4. to 41d.

COALS.-LONDON, MAT 14.--CLOSE OF TRB MARKET.
-11. Inn 11, 13a. 9d. Monad's West Hartley Netherton, Ms.;
Itedheugh Main. 12s. ;South Peareth, II ; Tanfield Moor Ruth,
124. dd.; Townley, lii. Gd.; Went !Wiley, 1,.,d.; Went Wt lam,
134. ; Wylant, 1.14,6 d.; Wall, End Ae tra Close, 13s. Pd.; Will. End
Brown, IS.. 9d.; Walls End Oustortk, 134. 9d.; Walls End Marton,
13s. 9d.; Waha End HMI y, 13, ; Walls End 13s. 3d.;
Will. End Riddell, 13.. 64.; Eden Mats, 14 3d.; Latabton Prim-
rose, 114.1 M.; Walk End Ilneldyll, 140. 9d.; Wall, End Helton,
IS.. 3.1.; Wall. End Latabton, ISA ; Walla End Petolter, lea.; Will.
End Itleholund, 144. 6d.; Well's End Kumell's Hutton. 134. ; Wane
End Denims, Ib.; Will, Eel Ilertlepool, 13s. 3d.; Walla End
Kellen. 15..; Wails End ow h ILtrtlepool, 136.; Walla End Thornily,
lea. Id.; W.4la End Weet Hanlepool, 144. Pd.; Walls End Adelaide
Teas, 14i. dd. ; Walt% End Mucleues Teas, 15..; WaAtt En I Penne
Weil, 12s. &I.; Weis End Seymour Teen, IS. 3d.; Walls End South
Dares. Ile. ed.; Walls End ler, 13a. 3d.; Llannenneeb, sa• 661.;
Paraon'• Gralgola, 194.; Sldney's Marne', 134.-Shlpa at mutat. IS;
euw, do.

CORN.—BARtraLLY, May 14.—The supply at the mar-
ket W-daf see lees than we are accustomed to at this time of the
)ear. Flowerer. ard may sum thee are no alterations in the prices
of Whmt and other gram
_ _

Hoax Font), May 14.—The market was but thinly at-
tended, ovnng to the hoklunt.of the •• nine day.' fah." on Mundy
neat. Ttasneetkom +ere laul en. but the rates of all kinds of groin
fully sooporcd our previous quotations.
-- • '

iiEWiltIL, May 14.—May fair falling on market-day, the
Coro EnUonge era* only thinly attend d. o,e.h fine W heat exmaSed
In several itlataKel IMO week's priers% withaut soy quotab'e advance.
Oats and Bean, sod in favour • f the seller. Barley no/ritual.
ROMPOkI), May 14.—We had a fair quantity of Wheat
at no, masker, whims sold at lag w. ek's prima; all other kinds or
rain a litoited supply with no alteration in price. Wheat, 31.. to
46.. etarley, 25.. to 295. ; grinding, 22r. to 245. Oat., 16a. to 22..
Beans, 24.. to Joa. Perm, 26.. to Sus. stye, 22.. to ars.
Duarms.—Mat 13.—W0 had again a small supply of
home grain at market today, and we oute n. alteration iu our out
qautatices. Whits wheat, 21s. 6d. to 250. ; red ditto, 21a. to 24a. ;
Miley, IL. to 1!..; oats, lOs. 6,1. to 12s. 64. per bet.; oatmeal. Its.
to 13e.; bakers' Boor, 12e. to He. per out; Indian own, Stls. to
335. 6d. per 160ths.

CATTLE, &e.—Romrottu, May 14.—Our market to-day
wan larkely supplied nab neer, and but a short quantity c 4 Mutton.
Beef a dull sa e, at rather lee. money; Mu too the rams as Lot reek.
Be.?, 2a led. to 3.. td. Mutton, J 4 bd. to 4.1. 2d. Laub, ht. to
ta. Ikl. Veal, 3r. 21. to 4s. Pure, la. 2d. to 4.

•
SOUTHALL, May 14.—Thingt moved off alcawly, at about
last rterk's rotes. Supp:ie, short. f sisde from Ir. id. to 3s. 4d.
Mutton, 2s. 60. to is. tel. Lints, Sr. to 3s. Gd. Veal, 36, to sr,
rock, 2e. Id. 35.6 d. pa stone or 31013, sinking the otraL

Mr. MA. RNI•1111K It MATT/1 MWS, ut the Mart. —A freehold
public-hour, called the Home and Groom, Editionton, let
at a wet kly rental-7101.
A plot of freehold building ground near the preceding,
rontsiining about 4} acres, and suitable for a public institu-
tion-4901.
Twenty lots of building land near the proveilin;r, all free-
hold, and each suitable for a genteel dwelling, fetched a
gross sum of 1,6001.
MAY 12.-117 Mean. lIA tN IN and SoN, at Garrawav's.
—Lease, with goodwill and possession, of the Crab en Arms,
Marshall-street, Gulden-square, held for 22 years, at 601.-
2,2601.
Mr. FIELD, at Garraw public-house, called
the Duke of Clarence, Commercial-road East, let fur 801.
per annum-2,6201.
Messrs. Citarren, at Oarraway's.—The Running Horses,
Blackfriars-rosid, held for 55 year., ut 1001.-3,00 n/.
The Queen's Head, Vauxhall-walk, held fur 37 years, at

SHIPPING rNTELLIGENCE.

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