The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-06 00:00:00

POLICE.-YESTERDAT.

MANSION-HOUSE.—ALLEGED FORGERY OF A Dive-
IMXD WARRANT.—G. Phipps was re-examined, charged
with having committed a forgery upon the Bank of England,
by signing the name of " Thomas Rance " to a dividend
warrant for the payment of the half yearly interest upon the
gum of 2,9181. 4s. 9d.—Mr. T. Rance, of Hatfield Beverell,
Essex, said he was the surviving executor under the will of
his late sister, Elizabeth Griffiths, of Chelmsford, and had
been in the habit of receiving dividends upon 2,9181. M.
Three per Cents. Reduced, standing in her name. He knt w
the prisoner and his wife, who was witness's niece, and for
whose benefit the dividends were received by witness. By
the direction of the prisoner and his wife, witnees turned
over the interest since the year 1838, when the prisoner was
a bankrupt, to a gentleman named Addington He was au-
thorised so to do in writing. The principal was to be divided
amongst the children upon the wife's death. Witness called
at the Bank on the 26th October, to receive the dividend as
usual, but found it had been received. The name of Thomas
Rance written upon the dividend receipt was not witness's
writing, nor was that in the dividend books. He bad not
authorised anybody to receive the dividend.—The prisoner
mid he was very anxious for the assistance of a solicitor, and
that with good legal aid he had no doubt of getting out
of the apparent difficulty.—The clerk to the Bank solicitor
did not object to a remand, and the depositions were ordered
to be made out for Saturday, the Lord Mayor being of
opinion that the arguments of a solicitor would not weigh
down the evidence by which the case was supported.
PLUNDERING A TRADE SOCIETY.-11. Roberts, the secre-
tary to the Silk Hatters' Trade Society, was finally exa-
mined, charged with having broken open and plundered the
box of 201. ls. Id.—For the greater security of the society's
money, it wag determined by the members that all cash
should be kept in a box, to which three different locks were
attached, one of which was unlocked by the president,
another by the vice-president, and the third by the secre-
tary. In the absence of the two principal officers, the
secretary contrived to get two of the members unconsciously
to assist him in his plan of robbery, they not being at all
aware of his object. A blacksmith was provided, who, upon
the representation of the secretary, broke open the box, the I
contents of which thus fell into the possession of the pri-
soner, who had pretended that the keys were lost, and that
he should be obliged to provide new ones. The two mem-
bers who witnessed the breaking open of the box, stated
what took place in their presence, from which it was
quite evident that they and the landlord, in whose custody
the box had been left, were altogether blameless.—The pri-
soner bad spent 151. of the money in smoking and drinking
at Bristol, where he was apprehended.—Hs was committed
for trial.
WORSHIP-STREET.—SINotLAR DEATIL—A 'middle-
aged, respectable-looking man was placed at the bar under
the following circumstances :—Mr. inspector Gmvestock, of
the G division of police, stated that the person at the bar
had, on the preceding evening, gone with a female to a
coffee-house opposite the Eastern Counties Railway, Shore-
ditch. Shortly afterwards the female complained of sudden
indisposition, and foamed at the mouth. A surgeon was im-
mediately called, when the woman was found to be dead.
The defendant has hitherto refused to give his name or ad-
drew, but he voluntarily placed himself in the hands of the
police, and expressed a desire, if they thought proper, to be
detained until the coroner's jury shall st.—Mr. Arnold,
having saceetalleed that epos: ',torten examination of the
body of the deceased female would this day take place, said
he did not call upon him to state his name and address there,
but that he would find he would be obliged to do so on the
loquest.—The party then retired with the inspector.
CLERK EN W ELL.—DEFRAITDING UNDER PRETENCE
Or OBTAINING COUNBEL.—H. M. Flannigan was charged
by Jane Denny, a poor woman, residing at No. 7, Lumley-
court, Strand, with having obtained from her 10s. under
false pretences. The prosecutrix deposed that her son was
charged with an await, and committed for trial, at the Mid-
dlesex Sessions. Prior to the trial, she was waiting in the
hall of the sessions-house, Clerkenwell-green, when the pri
soner entered into conversation with her, and on ascertaining
the nature of her businese, be asked her if she wanted coun-
sel. She said she did, but only had half a sovereign. He said
we wish to do these things as quietly as possible. He agreed
to take the half sovereign and introduce her to a counsellor,
when he took her into a room, and a gentleman in a coun-
sellor's wig and gown was introduced to her, whom she un-
derstood to be Mr. Herm, the banister, and she paid to the
prisoner four half crowns. The prisoner had previously
told her that a guinea was the usual fee, and
that half a sovereign would not do, and she signed
• written paper, promising to pay the prisoner 12s. 6d., by
instalments of 2s. 6d. per week. The son was tried and con-
victed, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment; but no
counsel appeared to defend him.—Mr. Mould, the clerk,
said that there were a set of scum hanging about at sessions
to take advantage of poor ignorant persons in their misery,
from whom they obtained mency under pretence of feeing
counsel, &c.--The prisoner referred the bench to the Times
newspaper, in which allusion had been made to the affair,
and said that Mr. Horsy was to meet Mr. Serjt. Adams on
Monday next, by appointment, to have the matter explained
by that gentleman.—ln answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt, the prisoner
said he was clerk to Mr. A. J. Head. On the day in
question he was with Mr. Wooller, who had some
brief", when a man came up to him end introduced
the prosecutrix to bins, saying her son was to be tried for an
assault, she was a poor woman, and would he employ counsel
for her? He agreed to do so; and, in consideration of her
poverty he explained to her that counsel's fee was one
guinea, but he received a half sovereign from her, and took her
" 1 0 U" for the remainder, at half a crown per week, and
he introduced her to Mr. Horry.—Mr. Tyrwhitt said he
must discharge the prisoner, and leave the prosecutrix to her
remedy in the County Court for the recovery other RH. He
regretted that such practices were adopted in the metropolis.
—Prisoner : 1 have two brothers who are barristers, and I
am well acquainted with the practice.—Mr. Tyrwhitt : I am
very sorry for it, and that such practices should take place.—
The prisoner then left the court, followed by the prosecutrix,
who asked him for her les., which she said was all she re-
quired of him, but he went off.
THAMES.—ReeeSAL TO GRANT SUMMONSESTO SEAMEN
NOT HAVING ?unit Dissenanoz.—Fin seamen whohavejust
arrived in the Mary of Newautle applied for eumenonsesaganut
Mr. Doubleday, the master, for refusing to pay their conga.
They shipped at Quebec each for 131. per month.—Mr. Bal-
Latins asked the men if they had their discharges from the
vessels in which they served before they joined the Mary,
and they all answered in the negative, on which the magis-
trate said he would grant them no summonsec—Me. Pelham
said the men quitted the Mary directly she was moored, and
had each forfeited a month's pay for quitting the ship with-
out leave. lie appeared for Mr. Doubleday, the meter.
—The seamen mid the muter surely did not want to keep
them in dock, and pay them 9s. per day and their provisions
—The summonses were refused.