The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-22 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

(THIB DA Y. )

MANSION-HOUSE.
THE CHARGE OF ATTEMPTING To FORGE NOTES OF THE
UNION BANK OF SCOTLAND.
_ _

Doric Johnson was brought before the Lord Mayor, to
undergo further examination upon the charge of attempting
to procure the engraving of plates calculated to forge notes
of the Union Bank of Scotland.
It will be recollected that the prisoner has already
undergone two examinations upon this charge, and that
the evidence against him principally consisted of the testi-
mony of a witness named Richard Smith, a die sinker and
engraver, carrying on business in Upper North-street,
Southampton-square. According to his evident,e the
prisoner was Introduced to him by a man named
Zellmann, whom he had previously known. After some
prelimitary conversation he was asked if he could
engrave a plate. He agreed to do so, and commenced the
work of engraving a copy of a U. Bank note of the Union
Bank. This witnessshortly afterwards appeared to have
conin.unicated with the City police, and Foulger and
Green, detective officers, were employed in the matter,
and the witness subsequently acted under their instruc-
tions. The prisoner was eventually taken into custody
with the plates in his possession, partly completed ;
and in a cellar, the key of which was taken from the pri-
soner's pocket, there were found a lithographic press and
other materials for printing. It is only fair to the prisoner
to state that from the first he declared that he was the dupe
of other parties, and it appears that Zellmann, the
person who accompanied him, had absconded, and cannot
be traced. In the course of the conversations with the
prisoner, it was stated that he desired the witness to
make arrangements to print :10,0001. worth of the notes.
Mr. Murray, the barrister again attended to conduct
the prosecution, instructed by Mr. Mullins, the solicitor
to tho Bankers' Association. Mr. Buchanan, solicitor,
appeared for the prisoner.
The examination of the witness Smith was resumed, and
he detailed the particulars of various other interviews
that took place between him, the prisoner, and Zellmann,
in reference to the transaction.
There were several other witnesses in attendance for the
purpose of corroborating his testimony, and the case was
proceeding when we went to press.

GUILDHALL.
EXTRAORDINARY SELP-ACCUBATION OP ROBBERY.
Janes ROILY, a respectable-looking young man, was
placed at the bar on remand before Sir R. W. Carden,
charged, on hie own confession to John Gißings, 109 R,
with stealing a each-box containing 51., the property o
Messrs. Chadd, Ragsdale, Randall, and Son, soliMters, of
14, Tokenhouse-yard.
It will be recollected that a couple of days ago the pri-
soner followed Oiling. about from place to place stating
that be wished to give himself up, and at last said that it
was for stealing a cash-box with N. in it.
Mr. West now attended from Messrs. Randall's and said
that they had missed a cash-box with about Si. in it, but
that was since the prisoner had left them. The prisoner
bad been with them twice. The first time he was with
them twelve months, and was dismissed because he was
so incompetent they could do nothing with him. After
being away for some time he came back and begged to be
taken on again as he was starving. He (Mr. West)
interceded with Mr. Randall to let him come back, and
that gentleman at last said that if he (Mr. West) would
put up with him he might come. The prisoner accordingly
came back, and during the eight months he was with them
his conduct was unimpeachable. On one occasion he
picked up ISO& in bank notes, and brought them to Mr.
Randall, sen. ; and in the course of a day or two a
reward of 15/. was offered for them, and he (Mr.
V. received it and gave it to the prisoner.
During the interval between finding the notes
and delivering them up at the police-station the prisoner
was in • most excited state. He received great commen-
dations at the station for his honesty. They were
obliged, however, to part with him, because he was. so
thoroughly incompetent as a clerk. It was his opinion
that the prisoner was not right in his mind.
Ile had written two letters to witness, in one
of which he stated that he had stolen the cash
box, and in the other that he was perfectly innocent
of the robbery. Messrs. Randall had no desire to pro-
secute the prisoner, as they believed his intellect was un-
sound.