The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-31 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

... . .
Decry Blitz, a person who spoke with • foreign accent,
was brought before the Lord Mayor, in the custody of
Spittle, the officer, upon the charge of having committed a
forgery upon the London Joint Stock Bank.
Mr. 'Tilson appeared as solicitor to the bank. The pri
soner was not defended by a professional man.
Mr. T. M. C. Kay, cashier of the London Joint Stock
Bank in Princes-street. said—The prisoner presented the
cheque I produce for 336/. on the 22nd inst. at the counter
at a quarter past 12 o'clock. It purports to be drawn by
H. D. Wells and Co., who keep an account at our house. I
asked the prisoner what he would have, meaning in what'
way the cheque should be cashed. He put down a paper'
which I produce, containing the words, " A 200,. note, rest
gold." The paper of the cheque is one of our forms. We
know to whom the number was issued. I asked him from
whom he came, and his answer was, " From Mr. Simpson's,
I Spital-square." He was then given into custady. I de-
tected the cheque as a forgery.
Mr. Robert T. Wells, a partner in the house of 11. D.
Wells and Co., Deptford. wood dealers, said—We keep an
account with the London Joint Stock Bank. Ido not
know the prisoner, The cheque was not drawn either by
my brother or myself, nor was it written by the authority
of either of ns.

Spittle, the officer, said—l was sent for to the London
Joint Stock Bank, and saw the prisoner in the manager's
room. He said that he had advertised for a situation about
a fortnight, and that on the 19th he received in answer a
letter, of which the folowing is a copy ;
" December 19.
Sir,—About a fortnight ago I saw in the Times A. B.'s
advertisement. If he should he still disengaged, and would
call to-morrow morning,:at 10 o'clock the Ship Tavern,
Water-lane, Thames-street, he would hear of some employ-
ment that might suit him. A. 11. will have to inquire of
the waiter for Mr. Simpson."
He said that he called accordingly at Water-lane
on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, and saw there
a person who represented himself as Mr. Simpson,
and desired him to call again on Monday, not being then
disposed to enter into any arrangement; that he left his
references with Mr. Simpson, and called on the 22d inst. at
the Ship Tavern and inquired for Mr. Simpson, and was
told by the waiter that the gentleman was not there ; that
be then came out, and on turning the corner of the street
he met the person whom he had seen on Saturday as Mr.
Simpson, and who said he 'was very busy, and the prisoner
must accompany him to the Corn Exchange in Mark-lane ;
that he then received five sovereigns from Mr. Simpson,
with directions to take them to the Bank of England and
get a 51. note fur them, and that if he should be asked for
whom it was he should say "for Mr. Simpson, 7, Spital-
square ;" that he obtained the 51. note and took it to Mr.
Simpson, who then gave him the cheque produced and
also the piece of paper, which had been written upon,
and directed him to take them to the London
Joint-Stock Bank. The prisoacr further stated that
he had made no arrangement with Mr. Simpson
on the Saturday as to the kind of duties he was to per-
form. I went with him to the Corn Exchange, and we
looked for Mr. Simpson, but could not find him, and I
afterwards *ranched the prisoner's lodgings, but found no-
thing relating to this case. I found a pocket-book upon
his person containing memoranda and 14 duplicates.
The prisoner—l am quite innocent. It is like a dream to
me. He told me to go and get the money. I suppose it
was to prove my honesty,. and ho told me to bring him the
money to the Corn Exchange.
Mr. 'Filson submitted that the evidence adduced was
sufficient to justify the prisoner's committal to prison for
trial, but it was proper to state that there existed some
doubt whether the statement made by the prisoner did not
contain some truth, and whether it would not be advisable
to remand the case, as there were circiimstances 'which
might lead to other evidence against the prisoner or some
other individual who might be implicated.
The Lord Mayor at once consented to remand the pri-
soner for a few days, and the prisoner, whose explanation
seemed to excite surprise, hut not at all to allay suspicion,
went from the bar protesting his perfect innocence.
Peter Proaser Corrigan was charged with having robbed
his employer, Mr. T. Rolfe, of Great St. Helen's, Bishops-
gate, wine-cooper, of 35/.
The Prosecutor—On the 20th instant I gave the prisoner
a 301. note and a 51. note, to take to the Custom-house, and
pay the duty on a pipe of port wine which was coming from
the Docks, and the papers relative to which he had passed
in the morning. The duty amounted to 331. 4s. 2d., and
be neither paid the duty nor came back. I have since cleared
the pipe of wine.
A Bristol police-officer said—On the evening of Christ-
mas-day the prisoner came to me at the central station at
Bristol, and, after telling mo that he wished to speak to me
privately, said he was desirous to give himself up, as he had
absconded from London, taking with him some money be-
longing to Mr. Italic, of Great St. Heleo's. I accordingly
detained him, and the superintendent having written to
Mr. Rolfe, as•ertainsd the fact. Tho prisoner had, when
he gave himself up, no more than threehalfpeuce in his pos-
session; and he had lived at the first inn in the town and
owed a bill there. Upon coming to London he wrote the
following words on a piece of paper : " Alighting front a
cab near the Euston-square station, I was accosted by a man
who got into conversation with me. We came to Tower-
hill, and awaited the arrival of a Jew front Petticoat-lane,
who gave me 151. for the 301. note."
The prisoner said all the officer had stated was correct ;
and that he had no wish to make further observations at
present.
Committed for trial.
The Lord Mayor requested that the press would acknow-
ledge his receipt of 101. lUs. from the Drapers Company,
and the half of a 51. Bank of England note 83537, from W.,
fur the poor box.
ssee

Bridget Daly, of Belll-a-11—ey,C—oreina n•street, was charged
with en aggravated assault on Bridget Burns, of the same
place.
The complainant stated that on Monday morning she had
left her child at the hospital and woe crying, when the
the prisoner came out of her house and told her if she did
not cease making that noise she would do fur her. She
then took up a saucepantul of hot water, which she threw
over the complainant, and then struck her with the same-
pan, cutting open her head, and knocking her down. She
war-obliged to go to the hospital and get the wound dressed.
Tho prisoner alleged that the complainant abused her,
and broke open her door, sad that as she was throwing the
water out of the door the complainant struck herself
against it.
A number of witnesses were in waiting to be called on
both sides. _ _ _

Alderman Farehrother said that the only plan of keeping
this disorderly court quiet was to hold all tht, inhalsitauts to
bail to keep the peace. Ile then said, I shall bind over all
the parties and witnesses in their own recogniaanecs to keep
the peace towards each other, and if they break them I
will direct the City solicitor to prosecute.