The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-17 00:00:00

THE POLICE CO URTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Samuel Ellior was brought up in the custody of Webb,
the detective officer, upon the charge of having uttered a
forged cndoratment to a bank post-bill for 301., with intent
to defraud. Alderman Humphery presided.
Mr. Denton, from the offices of Messrs. Freshfield, solici-
tors to the Dank of England, appeared for the prosecution ;
Mr.Wontner. fur the defence. . . .

The case being one of • very unusual character, the
justice.room was crowded during the investigation. The
following is the additional evidence.
Mr. Samuel Leigh, cashier in the Bank of England, said
I recollect the application made by Mr. Hall, of the firm of
Hall and Sun, sbipbroken, for a bank post-bill for 301.,
dated 25th of August. It is the practice of the bank, upon
the application for a bank post-bill, for a clerk in the post-
bill office to fill up the form and hand it to me or one
of the other cashiers for signature, and when it is in a fit
state it is given to the applicant. On the 25th of August,
when Mr. Hall applied for the bill, the bill produced is, I
have no doubt, that which I signed for him. It is the
practice to call out the name of the party when all is com-
plete, if my one is waiting. If there is no one waiting, we
lay down the bill with • lead upon it till it is required. I
gave out this bill to some person shortly after it was com-
pleted. Ido not know to whom. The transaction is an
ordinary one. The bill was cot rectly applied for. We ask
to whom the bill is payable, and who paid in the money,
and those questions being satisfactorily answered, we hand
over the bill. I have no doubt the person who got
the bill said " Hall and Son." This took place
at an early hour in the morning. I recollect
Mr. Hall coming afterwards and claiming the bill.
I told him it was already given out, and a second
bill was made oat and given to him, upon the corner of
which I wrote " second bill." Some years have passed
rises an occurrence of this kind took place.
Mr. Charles Cockburn, clothier, of Chatham, said—On
the 30th of August the prisoner came to my shop, between
seven and eight o'clock in the evening, and asked me if I
sold clothes suitable fur mourning. I said I did. He then
asked me, if he made a purchase, whether I would take a
bank past bill for the amount ? I told him I would. He
then selected some goods, and there was a difficulty about
a coat fitting, and I wanted him to wait till next morning,
but he was determined to have one, and said
he could not wait, as he had to attend •
funeral. In the course of my serving he said
he came from Canterbury. I was not quite
satisfied with him, but could get no further information
respecting him. He then ptodnced the bank post bill, and
I asked him to indorse it. The indorsement of Hall and
Son" was on the bill when he produced it, and I then saw
him write " George Thompson ' on the bill. In making
the flourish, the pen stuck in the paper, and he lifted it up
and completed it. lie did not seem flurried. When ,I
saw the amount of the bank post-bill I felt more afraid to
take it. I had more doubt. The amount of my bill was
only 61. 54., and I stated to him that I had not sufficient
Mange in the house, and I must send out for change. I
did ee, and it was returned, and I told him so, but if he
would wait till the morning I would get it changed at the
bankers. He said then that he would come at nine o'clock
in the morning, but he did not come again. I was informed
subsequently of his apprehension by an officer who said he
had been told about the matter by one of two women who
lived with the prisoner.
Charles Hudriek, • person in the employment of Messrs.
Moms, of Oxford-street and Aldgate, outfitters, said—On
the 31st of August I saw the prisoner at my employers'
shop in Oxford-street. I was applied to by Mr. Lewis, a
fellow sbopmao, to change the bank post-bill produced by
the prisoner. I proposed to the prisoner to send out the
bill and get change. He said that he would rather de-
cline, as I proposed to send it to our house in the City. He
said he could get it changed close at hand, and I said I
would send a party with htui to receive the amount; and he
then stated that he would come in again in about an hour.
He said he was going to leave by the 7 o'clock train that
evening. I asked Lim to indorse the bill, which be did
without hesitation, in this way, " George Thompson, Guild-
ford, Surrey," and I put the date and my initials to it.
He then went to another part of the shop to select a
hat, and I kept possession of the bank post-bill. The
hand•bill produced describing the prisoner, was then shown
to me by Mr. Lewis, and I sent Mr. Lewis into the city with
the bill and the hand-bill. The prisoner upon returning
from the bet shop, asked for the bill and the change. I
told him I had sent the Bank post bill into the city, as I
did not wish to take the respinsibility on myself without the
direction of Mr. Moses. He said, " You cannot be too
careful," and inquired how lung the young man would be
before he returned. I said he would be back in half an
hour. He then said he had to make a call, and he would
return in ten minutes, and he went away, but never re-
turned, and I did not see him again till he was in custody.
Thomas D. Ener, of 13, Church-street, Sabo, lapidary,
said, I am the landlord of the house in which the prisoner
has Mon lodging for the last nine or ten months. He
became much indebted to me, and I was constantly
applying to him for the amount. There ware
two women with him who, he said, were his wife
and daughter. He passed under the name of Samuel
Eden. He left the bonze on Saturday the 20th of August.
A child was brought into the place and spoken of as his
child by his wife, but I understand that it is his by the
younger woman who passed as his daughter, and who is the
daughter of the elder female. I have seen the prisoner
write. To the best of my belief the indorsement, " Hall
and Son," and the signature, " George Thompson," are in
his handwriting.
Mr. Wontner declined to ask the witnesses any question.
The prisoner, upon being asked whether he wished to
say anything, stated tint he would reserve his defence for
the day of Lis trial.
The prisoner was then committed for trial.
BOW-STREET.
- • -

John Rutter, a young Mairwa7chiiged with stealing a
quantity to orals harneu worlc, plated goods, dm., worth
41.4., the property of Mr. John Royston, saddlers' iron-
monger, 22, Broad-street, Bloorasbury.
The peisoner had been in the employ of prosecutor until
about these mouths ago, when he discharged himself,
although having plenty of work to do. He bad occasionally
visited the shop since that time, to talk with a boy (prose-
tutor's nephew) who served behind the counter. For a
long time put a great variety of goods had been missed,
and the prisoner was at last suspected. The prosecutor,
by the advice of the police, caused the lad in
the shop to invite him again. Police constable 110 A
laid in ambush to watch his movements; and while
the prisoner was in the shop -he lad made one or two ex-
egete to go down int) the cellar. During his absence the
°dicer di.tinctly saw the prisoner take the shop ladder and
lift down two or three packets of goo te, which he concealed
is his pockets. On the boy's return the officer followed the
prisoner int* Little Andrew-street, where he stopped him
and a-ked if he had just been into Mr. Royston's shop. The
prisoner replied, " Na." The constable then stated who be
was, and desired to search the prisoner. The stolen
petty was found upon him, upon which
.the prisoner said,
" It is the first time I ever had ivaything.'
It was stated that the prosecutor had been robbed to a
very serious extent within the runt half year.
Mr. Henry committed the prisoner for trial.
CLERKENWELL.
Mrs. Jernima Downes, who made the charge against
Pierre Peoleenetti. the Italian Roman catholic priest, ap-
plied for advice and protection under circumstances of an
aggrarsted nature.
Applicant, whose bead was bound up with adhesive