The Express.
London, England, 1858-07-20 00:00:00

?HE POLICE COUR7B.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Otto Feaeriek Howyer, described es of Wolgast, Prussia,
merchant, was brought before the Lord Mayor by detective
James, upon a charge of forging two bills of lading for oorn
to the value of 3,7501.
Mr. Mullen., solicitor to the Bankers' Protection COM.
mitres, appeared for the pmeerution ; and Mr. 8. Beard, of
Basinghall-strest, for the prisoner.
The prisoner being entirely ignorant of the English
language, the proceedings were conducted through the
medium of an interpreter.
Mr. Mullen. haying briefly opened the case, the following
wirnesee• were examined

Rudolph Fernando Tiedernann—l carry on business as
merchant at Newcartie.oa-Tyne and know the prisoner, who
moles on buainese as a merchant at Wolgset, in Prussia.
On the 12th June I received from him a letter, dated the 91h
of June, of which the translation now put in is a correct
copy. The letter was signed by him.
Mr. Mullen—l will read that letter, which Is as follows :
" Wolgast, Jane 9,lB6B.—During the spring I had the
pleasure of seeing your termiter with me, and in consequence
of the conversation I had with him I am rather inclined
shortly to consign a cargo of wheat to you. I therefore beg
to sak for tow much, and at what date, you will open for me
a credit in Leaden. I hope soon to have a more lively
correspondence with you here."
Examination reeemed—l answered that, and received from
the prisoner the letter now put in, dated the 26th of June, in
which was included a duplicate bill of lading. The paper
tow produced le a correct translation of that letter.
Mr. Mullen, read se follows:
Wolgaat, June 26, 1868.
In answer to your favour of the l2tb, I have made up
my mind to consign to you the 8.320 shefiala wheat shipped
by the veriest Anna, Captain Hell, for which I take the
liberty to make use of your kindness to draw 2,4001. on your
account on the Union Bank of Loudon, at two months' date,
mooting you to give due protection to these drafts. The
humane, you will please effect theirs, at the premium stated.
I tenet I shall find a good market with you, as few shipments
hays been sent to your quarter.—With special esteem,
"Orin F. Ilosteren."
Examination resumed—l received that letter at New-
cutk-on-Tyne. In consequence of something which I
heard I had occasion to send my clerk to Wolgast with the
bill of lading, and be has not yet returned. In coneequenoe
of that letter I gave instructiont to my hankers at New-
castle, and rertivei from them a notice of acceptance. The
paper now produced is a translation of that which I received
from the bank, and the 'denature, Otto F. Home's,. on
the back of the original, is in the hand-
writing. I received some communication from my bankers
with reference to the letter of the 28th Juoe, which refers to
having drawn upon them for 2,4001. The six bills produced
are drawn in the prisoner s handwriting.
Crow- examina by Mr. Beard—Before I was in business
for myself I wee in an once where I had opportunities of
seeing the prisoner's handwriting, but I never saw him
write I knew him personally before this transaction, but I
had Dever bad any previous transaction, with him.
By Mr. Mullesse—l had called upon the prisoner twice at
Wolpst, once while travelling for another honer, and once
glace foe my own. I have spoken to him More he was in
custody. . I sew him this morning at the station. I asked
him whether he had (owned a bill abiding, and he told me be
had. I did not show the bill of lading to him. I asked him
why he had don It, and he said to pacify other houses to
whom he had to ship wheat. He said they had pressed him
eo mach that he had done it in desperation. I asked hire
what he had dons with the bills, sad be said be bad seat
them to Berlin for discount. He further stated that he
should have been able to and me my cargo of wheat. I also
asked him whether he bad forged any hills of lading at
Antwerp.
Mr. Maass—Ton need not go into that.
By Mr. Beard—All this convertation took place at the
police station, in the pretence of the °those, but there was no
one who could speak the prisoner's language besides myself
at the time. The officer did not caution me, or make any
suggestion while I was questioning the prisoner in this way.