The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-13 00:00:00

THE SMYTH FORGERY CASE.

COMMITTAL OF DR. SMITH ALIAS SMYTH.
(FROM 001 COnSZIPONDIINT)
GLOUCESTER, FRIDAT.
The examination of Dr. Smith alias Sir Richard
Hugh Smyth, on the charge of forging &number of documents
for the purpose of proving his alleged title to large estates in
Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wilts, was brought to a
close at nine o'clock last night before the Rev. Dr. Jenne,
Master of Pembroke, and a magistrate for Gloucestershire.
The inquiry was conducted at the County Prison, where the
prisoner has been confined ever since Wednesday afternoon
on the charge of perjury on which Mr. Justice Coleridge
committed him.
Mr. Gray appeared to conduct the prosecution. Ns
counsel or attorney now appeared for the prisoner. No lees
than eight witnesses were examined after our report was
despatched last evening.
Mr. Robert Cocks, jeweller, of Oxford-street, gave details
of the prisoner's application to him to engrave fabricated
jewellery. Mr. Cocks was croa,-examined by the prisoner
and said the Bandon crest was copied by him from a book
of the peerage which he showed to the prisoner. When
the prisoner brought the miniature to him he ordered him
to put at the back of it a rim of brass, and to make good a
part of the frame which had been broken off, instructing
him to do the work in such a manner that it might look as
if it had been done 60 years. After it was done the pri-
soner complained that it looked like new work, and wit-
ness then did something to it to give it an older ap-
pearance.
Mr. John Roberts deposed that he was for forty years
clerk at Messrs. Mill's Bank, at' Bristol. Was well an.
(minted with the writing of Sir John Smyth, and believed
the signature " John Smyth," appended to the document
"A" (the deed of 1822) was not his genuine signature. It
was not at all like Sir John's signatare in 1822, but looked
like an imitation of his writing about the year 1846 or 1847.
The signature " James Abbott ' he did not think was
that of James Abbott, the steward, as set up. He knew
Abbott's writing well.
Mrs. Edwards, widow of William Francis Edwards, who
died in September, 1846 (and who was represented as en
attesting witness to the deeds of 1822 sad 1823), deposed
that the signatures were not those of her deceased husband.
Mrs. Honor Dobson, whose husband (he died last year)
was represented as another attesting witness to the throb.
gave 'bailer testimony as to her husband's writing. She et
one time thought the signatures were like her buslmadre,
hat not so now. One of the signatures wee spelt with tete
b's. Her husband never so signed his name.
Noah Crook, of Bath, deposed that he went to schen
to the prisoner in 1814. The prisoner was then knows
as Thomas Provis, and witness never knew him by las
other name. The prisoner (his schoolmaster) had a mak
on his neeko-a scrofulous kind of mark—he believed on the
right side of his neck. He had no doubt the primer
was the man. He was then about 24 years old. [The peP
toner has just such a mark upon his neck es the wham
described, sad this is the mark by which he was khans&
as having been under sentence of death in Usimereer imi
for bone stealing.]
Ann Heath, daughter of John Provis, of Wanahrthm,
and aged 62, stated that her father had two sons by Ne
wife—John and Thomas. Her brother Join was the
eldest, and the prisoner was her brother Tana. Ith
aver entirely lost sight of him. Ors ass samba whoa the
prisoner called on her, he asked hie Is he bit have the
likeness of his brother John. that haw, except by
hearsay, that he had assumed the am of Dr. Smith, until
after her father's death. Remembered, was about 13
years of age, aceempanying her &WM Bat► ea the occa-
sion of the prisoner's learns's. He son tins GAM Thomas
Provis, and was married to Ass Whitish. ♦ eon of thee
marriage named Frederick comae aathaelly to her father%
He is sines dead.
Crossimarnined by the prisoner—Had heard that prisoner
(Thomas Provis) had been in Ilehester gaol for horse•eteel-
p ing, and did believe that that Thomas Proofs, who was se
in Boaster gaol, Thomas Provis who was married at Bath,
and the prisoner was the same person. Believed he was
bora in 1792.
Mr. W. Rawood, clerk in the Prerogative Court of Can.
tsrbury, produced the will and codicil of the late Sir Hugh
Smyth, dated July 19, 1814, and, in reply to the prisoner,
expressed his belief that it would have been impossible far
a person to ►ave taken impressions of the seal and :signs-
tare of the will while it was at Doctors'-commove.
This cloned the examination of witnesses.
The prisoner then, having been cautioned by Dr. Jesse
in the usual manner, made a statement to this effeet—that
being unprotected by legal advice, he did not feel himself
' justified in entering into any explanation respecting any
of the circumstances which had been deposed to, except
that be stasidered that the proofs in support of the ille-
gal of the documents had not been in the present in-
Maas proved by any evidence, nor the facts of the drew-
fag, signing, or sealing by him of the deeds, or of his pas-
seam of them, except of the document marked " 13 " (the
deed of 1823), and considering the evidence given before
the Judge of the genuineness of the signatures not being
onspowered by the testimony of the witnesses examined
Mew the magistratesjhe left the matter to the magistrates'
essiietetion. He declared himself not guilty of the
ebeepa, and if he was committed on the charge of absolute
and punitive forgery he should consider himself unjustly
committed.

The prisoner was then family committed for trial ea
the charge of forging and uttering the documents ; and so
ended this strange cam.

IluxnAßY.—The Augsburg Gazette stab" on the
authority of a letter from Petah, that M. Fan, the former
Provost Marthalof Comorn, has hanged himself in his cell
in the military prison at Peeth. The reason given for his
suicide is that as be was accused of having participated in
the well known Comets plot of lut year, the object of
which was to liberate the political prisoners and to get pos.
erosion of the fortrem. It appears that he laid violent hands
on himself fa order not to be obliged to compromile any of
hie sestatplitee by hie ententoes.

ANOTIIER ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF

SHERIFF.

Yesterday a Common Hall was held for the elec-
tion of a fit and proper person to serve the office of Sfieriffi
of London, and jointly with Alderman Wire the office of
Sheriff of Middlesex, in the room of Mr. Joseph Turnley,
who had refused to give bond to serve the office upon being
elected.

At two o'clock the Lord Mayor accompanied by the Re-
corder, Aldermen Wilson, Lawrence, and Farncombe, and
attended by the Sheriffs, Mr. Secondary Potter, the City
Solicitor, Mr. Firth, of the Town Clerk's Office, and other
I officers appeared upon the hustings. The meeting of the
Livery consisted of a few persons who seamed not to care •
straw about the proceedings. Here and there was to be
seen one of those dirty fellows whom the carelessness of the
corporation has elevated to the dignity of sheriff manufac-
turers, and who are of course ready to take the necessary
hints from their acknowledged leaders in all affuirs con-
nected with the election to expensive or lucrative office.
The BECOUDaIi came forward upon the hustings, and
stated in the usual terms the occasion upon which the Lurd
Mayor had summoned the livery.
Mr. Puma. (the secondary) then read the names of the
gentlemen whose names stood upon the list for the office of
sheriff. The were Mr. Henry Muggeridge (alderman),
Mr. John Thomas Norris, and Mr. George Appleton
Wallis.

The two first names, although long known in the City,
appeared, upon being put up on the hoard, not to be known
at all in the Hall, while the name of the third gentleman,
who, we believe, never showed himself on the hustings be-
fore the day of his nomination, was received with
1 all the rapturous accompaniments of merited wel-
come and recognition. All hands were held up in
favour of Mr. Wallis, who was immediately declared
to be the successful candidate, and upon being called upon
to come forward and announce his acceptance of the office,
advanced to the front of the busting., and in an excellent
and emphatic voice addressed the meeting to the following
effect:—" Fellow citizens, you are perhaps somewhat sur-
prised that I should be a candidate for the office of sheriff.
I assure you that such was not at all my intention, that I
would not have contemplated any thing of the kind if I
had not found that the shrievalty was hawked about the'
City, and that it was put up for purchase and sale. (Hear,
bear.) Finding that such was the case I determined that
the livery should have it in their power to elect •
man who would not support the system of jobbery,
which has so long prevailed, and which will
now very soon receive its death-blow. (Laughter, and cries
of " Hear, hear.") I shall be proud to serve in the office
of sheriff. I mean to perform the real duties of the office.
I shall have no gold coaches—no gentlemen behind covered
with lace—(laughter)--but I shall do the business in such
a manner as will satisfy m respectable fellow-citizens that
office
my object in taking the was to serve them, and not to
support the continuance of the gewgaw exhibitions which
have so often been substituted for the performance of the
essential duties of the office." (Cheers.)
The Lord Mayor and aldermen having returned from the
Council-chamber, to which they had retired during the
election, the result was formally declared, and the Common
Hall was dissolved.