The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

THE FORGERIES OP DEATH CERTIFICATES.

At the Westminster Police-court, yesterday,
George Phillips, 3S years of age, was re-examined, charged
with forgery and fraud.
Mr. Poland, banister, with whom was Mr. Pollard,
from the Treasury, instructed by Mr. Haanick, barrister,
cud Superintendent of Records in the officeof the Registrar-
General, Somerset-house, prosecuted ; prisoner defended

hiMICIC

The prisoner was given into custody by Mrs. Birch, of
43, Winchester-street, Pimlico, under the following cir-
cumstances:—The authorities at Somerset-bones, having
ascertained that some evil disposed peewee were forging
death certificates, and preying on the feelings of the
friends of missing persons, determined to put • atop to it,
and inserted • fictitiatis advertisement in the Times re-
specting one William Canldwell Cnok, a sailor, last seen at
Hall in 1862. This had the effect of bringing the pri.
I soner to Mrs. Birch, who personated the mother or sister
let the missing man PO well that prisoner ultimately pro. I
duced his death-certificate, upon receipt of which Mrs.
Birch sent for • policemen and locked him up. He was
remanded till yesterday, failing to procure tail
Mr. Poland. having opened the ease, said the prisoner
was the son of • registrar, and therefore had every facility
of being an adept at the Waimea.
Mr. William Bronesse Phipps, clerk t Mr. Mate,
solicitor, 33, Bucklersbury, said in September last his em-
ployee ordered him to insert an advertisement in the
Times y,
inquiring for one William Beasle and offering 2/.
reward for such informatiou as should lead to his where-
abouts. On the 26th of September the prisoner called at
the office, his master being out of town, end maw him.
After some conversation prisoner produced his death
certificate. lie said he bad been sent by Mr. Bradbury,
the registrar of births nod deaths at Chippeuharn, in Wilt-
shire. In reply to witness he said Mr. Beasley first
worked at Bristol, then he removed to Bath, and thence
to Chippenbain, where he remained until his death ; that
a person named Jane Allen was present at the death, and
her name was on the certificate. He further said an affi-
davit or declaration could be made by the said Jane Allen
if it were wished; a declaration would be preferred, as it
was cheapest. He was paid 21., and gave the receipt (pro-
duced). He said Mr. Bradbury, the registrar, was his
father. Witness believed the forded documents produced
were all in the same handwriting.
Mr. John Shoveller said he was superintendent in the
Registrar-General's ofßoe, and bad the care of all the ap-
pointments of registrars every three months. He pro-
duced the original entries transmitted by the registrars to
Somenet-house. Had examined the registers from Chip-
penham from January to March. 1862, and found no death
of one Wm. Beasley, who was alleged in the certificate to
have died there on Feb. 20, I:Li2. The registrar's name
was James Utterson, not Bradbury. The certificate was
numbered 25. That referred to the death of one Edwin
Holliday.
The next cam was one in which Mr. William Smith, a
bootmaker, in Chelmsford had advertised for the birth
certificates of William and Thomas Boetell, registered in
Kent, Middlesex, or Essex, from 17130 to 1765. The pri-
'Geer produced the necessary sertiocates, and received 3/..
for them, and on being requested by Mr. Smith to produce
the certificate of baptism of Tbome, Bernell, and the mar-
riage certificate of the parents, he did so within three days,
and received a further sum of V. 10a. He also mule a
fate declaration that his information was correct. All the
certificates were found to be forgeries.
Prisoner was remanded for another week.