The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-18 00:00:00

CURIOUS CHARGE OF BANS NOTE FORGERY

At the Birmingham Police Court, on Wednesday,
a very singular case came before the presiding
magistrate. Arthur Petty, -of Deddington, Oxford..
shire, corn dealer ; John Whiteman, of Livery street,
Birmingham, engraver ; and John George Cotterill,
of Cherry street, Birmingham, engraver, were
charged with being concerned in forging plates for
a £lO and a £5 note, purporting to be those issued by
the bank of Messrs Pease and Liddell, Hull, known as
the " Hull Old Bank." As far as the engravers.
both respectable tradesmen, were concerned, it seems
that Mr. Whiteman had received the order to engrave
the notes from the prisoner Petty, and had employee Mr.
Cotteeill to execute a portion of the work, so that with the
exception of the allegation that they ought to have in-
formed the police of the commission given them, there
was no blame or suspicion attaching to them. With
regard to Petty, a curious paint arose. When appre-
hended by Inspector Glossop at Deddington, his reply to
the charge of forgery wag, " I don't see how you can make
it a forgery, when I was going to open a little banking
concern at Hull myself." On the p'ates being produced, it
did appear that, with the exception of appropriating the
ti le of Messrs. Pease and Liddell's Bank, " Hull Old
Bank," there was no resemblance betwixt them and the notes
of: that establishment. It was made payable "to order of
Arthur Petty, at Coutts and Co's., bankers, London," with
which firm Me srs. Pease and Liddell have no business con.
nection. Mr.Harding,salicitor,who appeared for Mr.White-
man, submitted that under these circumstances the charge
of forging a promissory note with intent to defraud
persons carrying on business could not be maintained.
Fha stipendiary magistrate, Mr. Kynnersley, remanded
the accused until Tuesday (admitting Messrs. Whiteman
and Cotterill.to bail) in order that he might consult the
legal authorities on the point.

Accounts from Berlin state that the King of Prussia,
who always feels indisposed on the return of spring,
will this, year take a long excursion for change of air,
and will perhaps even visit Rome.
The Necropolis company have started a new kind of
insurance—" funeral insurance ;" persons can pay monthly
or yearly sums that will insure them a fuaeral, grand or
humble, according to their payments.—London Paper.
VERY "SMALL BEER" IN BANKRUPTCY.—It wss noti
fled in the London Gazette, on Tuesley week, that in the
estate of J. Ffolks, Sherborue, brewer, a further.dividend
of 7-48th of a penny in the pound is in the course of
payment.

THE MURDER AT 'MAIDSTONE. —The inquest en the
bo:ly of Elizabeth Jones, who died on Monday night
from a blow received on board a barge a few days before,
has ended in a Verdict of " Wilful murder " against
Chumley, the man who struck the blow.
RESPITE.— We are glad to perceive that James J rice,
under sentence of death in Castleb :r gaol, has obtaiaed a
commutation of his sentence to transportation for life,
through the agency and Lman° exertions of the Rev.
James. Anderson, rector of Rallinrobe —Getw,sy Express.
We understand that the Marquis of Witerford is abort
to emberith in princely style his splendid residence
at Curraghmore. His lordship has lately improved
the out ()tikes and erected new farm buildings, and
the r.r.edosed works now about to be commenced wit
render Curraghmore one of the handsernest mansions
in the country.—Tipperary Free Press.
THE LTTNDHILL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.--SiOCO the
operations of drawing the water from the pit were again
resumed on Tuesday afternoon, no persons hive descended
the shaft, as it was considered dangerous to do so while
the pit was in the process of unroofing, as the escape of
gas might have caused another explosion. A placard bas
been issued, calling upon volunteers who may be willing to
take part in the recovery of the holies, to attend or send in
their names to the colliery by Monday next, on which day
it is eXpeeted their cervices will be required.
The Emperor of the French, accompanied by the Mini-
ster of State and Count Edgar Ney, visited two days ago
the new race course in the Bois de Boulogne. Observing
that there were no places of the price of 2f or It' 50e suit.
able for family parties, the Emperor ordered that a num
ber of places at that price should be provided, that
uncovered stands should be added to the existing con.
structions; that the windmill should be considered a
dependency of the course, and that uncovered stands at
the same price should be added to it. The Emperor also
intimated that the establishment of cafes, restaurants, and
booths near the_course would be desirable.
•Mit. D ISRAELI AND THE NEW REFORM B October
1832, Mr. Disraeli issued an address to the electors of High
Wycombe. In that addreis Mr. Disraeli said—" I am
prepared to support the ballot, which will preserve us from
that unprincielel system of terrorism with which it would
seem we are threatened in this town. I am desirous of
recurring to those old English and triennial parliaments of
which the Whigs deprived us. I shall withhold my support
from every ministry which will not originate some great
measure to ameliorate the condition of the lower orders, to
rouse the dormant energies of the country, to liberate our
shackled industry, and reanimate our expiring crediv."
THE CONDEMNED CRIMIN.A.L, NATION.—This criminal,
whose execution is fixed to take place in front of the Somerset
county gaol, at the want hour, at noon, on the 21st lust , has
regularly received the ministrations of the rev, chaplain of the
gaol, who spends four or five hours daily with the unhappy
culprit. He is said to maintain his self possession in a remark-
able degree, although lie now entertains no' hope of a reprieve.
Ho has been again visited by his father, when the old man
entreated him to confess his guilt and prepare for another
world. His solicitor, Mr. Taunton, spent some time with
him, but the prisoner made no admission of his crime, or of
the justice of his sentence. He takes his food apparently
with a good appetite, but at night seems rather depressed
and restless. He has written an admonitory letter to one of
his relatives, and expressed a wish that a little book, published
by the Tract Society, which had been sent him by pos
should be given to his brother.

SECRET SOCIETIES IN PARIS. —A corresoondent writes :
"I have not noticed the various stories, some of them
extravagant enough, which hive been c irrent about the
arrests which have recently taken place in Paris. It is
hardly nee, ssary to say that st cret societies never wholly
disappear in France. They may be more or less quiet—
more or less dongerous—more or less withdrawn from the
publ'c eve, but they do not cease to exist, and their
influence is never, wholly unfelt. When a certain time
a e'apses. and when movement is observable, the authorities
think it useful:to lay their hatvls on a few dozens. To do
this it is necessary to entice them out of their hiding places,
as rats are coaxed wit of their h}lus. In the meantim e
the traps are prepared, and as the conspirators become
visible or tangible, they are caught when least aware of
their danger. The ratcatchers, in the present instance,
have been rather successful, though it is probable that at
least one third of the arrested are agents of the secret
police."
Joins. BRIGHT'S FUTURE RENOWN.--If John B.iv.ht
had been less true to his convictions, less independent in
his judgment, less honest in his utterances, he would have
been more caressed by his cotemporaries, He has
chosen a nobler destiny : he will receive a higher
prize. When the jealousies, the meannesses, the petty
ambitions and resentments of the passing time have ceased
to becloud the judgment of his countrymen, the name of
John Bright will be cherished with reverential gratitude.
Oar sons' sons will place it high in the muster roll of
England's worthies—and perhaps Manchester, in some
future day, burning to wipe away the shame entailed upon
her citizens by their forefathers, will build a monument to
the memory of the patriot whom those forefathers scrupled
not to banish into retirement. So, of old, the fathers
killed the prophets, and the children built their sepulchres.
'Tis a marvellously unchanging world after all ! —The
Nonconformist.