The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-23 00:00:00

BOW STREET.

EZTEKIIIIVE FOROERlEll.—Yestertlay folio fill fragthZ
who but a short time ago carried on an extensive trade as a mrpet-
dealer in Skinner-street, Snow-hill, was brought up in the custody
of Bishop, one of the principal officers, charged with forging and
uttering a forged check for 2601. wi:h intent to defraud.
Before the case wan gone into, Bishop produced to Sir Richard
Binsie a placard, which some months ago was very extensively cir-
culated throughout the metropolis and country, offering a reward
of BM. for the apprehension of the prisoner, for having committed
divers forgeries upon the London banking-houses, and also for
having incurred the penalty of outlawry, in not having surrendered
to a commission of bankruptcy. The present case, however, was
distinct from those alluded to in the placard.
It appeared from the testimony of several witnesses, that on
Friday night last the prisoner slept at the Old nommen', in Co-,
vent.garden, and on Saturday morning he desired the waiter to
procure him a ticket-porter. The waiter, however, sent up the
porter employed in the house, who offered his services, but the
prisoner said he preferred having a ticket-porter, and desired bim
to fetch one from the Temple. Ile did so, and one of that frater-
nity, named John Burt, waited upon the prisoner, who in the first
place desired him to fetch a 2s. 'bill stamp from a shop which he
named in Long Acre. When he returned, the prisoner gave him a
cheek fur 2501., drawn by William Ridley upon John Bond, Lions,
and Paulsen, hankers, in 'Change-alley, (.ornhill, together with
a piece of paper, on which were written directions for the porter to
go to the Bull Inn, in Aldgate, and secure an inside place for him
by the two o'clock coach that afternoon. At the request of the
porter, the prisoner immediately wrote on the back of the
check the sort of money in which he wished the check to be paid.
Mr. Ridley, the supposed drawer of the check, is at the head of
the Sun of Ridley and Co., carpet manufacturer'', in Castle-street,
Holborn, and in consequence of something which did not appear
yesterday, they some time ago thought it nicessary to warn their
bankers tMesen. Bonds and Pattisall) to look very cautiously at
cheeks bearing their names, and not to pay any unless they also
bore a certain private mark with which they furnished the bankers.
The duck in question, when pr.wented on Saturday by the porter,
was found not to have the private mark, and although the soma.
tux " Wm. Ridley" was an extremely close imitation of Mr. Rid.
leis handwriting, the cashier determined upon refusing to pay it ;
and he showed the check to Mr. l'attiaall, one of the partners, who
after questioning the porter,went immediately to the Old ll urmnums,
r and inquired for the person who employed the porter, but the pri.
saner hail gone out. An explanation took placebetoeen Mr. Patti.
sail and the proprietor of the hotel, and proper directions were of
course given throughout the house respecting the prisoner if he
should return. In the evening a hackney-coachman called at the
hotel, and asked if the porter, who was sent into the city in the
morning with a check, had retcrned, and if he bad brought an
answer? He was informed in the affirmative, and he asked if it
was a letter or parcel that tbe
_porter brought, but was told that it
was no matter which, the proprietor of the hotel bad it and should.
keep it until the gentleman same himself, to about half an hour
afterwards the prisoner drove up in a hackney coach to the door,
and as previously arranged, was shewn into a private room where
Bishop, the officer, was waiting. As soon as the prisoner enter.
j el, Bishop asked him his name, and he replied ~Samuel Thump.
/Union ;" and on being asked where he lived, he said, " Next door
to the White Hart, at Riegate." Bishop said, " You sent a check
into the City this morning, I believe ?" The prisoner answered, " I
did, and. I received it from Mr. Smith, in the Strand." Bishop :
then informed him that the check was a forgery, and that be was
an officer and would accompany him to Mr. Sulitles. The prisoner
however decfibed going, and said, in au undo: tone, " It's of no
consequence." Bishop secured him, and while searching his,
pockets, he saw him endeavouring to put something underneath
his glove, and on taking otthe glove, Bishop found a small parcel
of oxalic acid. in one of his pockets he found a phial filled with
a solution of the same destructive poison. Nothing else of conse-
quence was found upon him. When the search was finished, he
requested Bishop to give hint back the phial, hut the officer of
enurse refused to let his. have it. He was conveyed to St. Martin's
watch-house, where a man sat up with him on Saturday and Sun-
day nights.
When the above facts had been stated in evidence, Sir R. Maxie
asked the prisoner what hi. had tJ say, at the same time cautioning
him not to criminate himself. .

The prisoner mid, he had no remark to make, except to ask if
be should be permitted to have a solicitor to visit him in prison ?
Sir R. HisslE—Host undoubtedly.
Prisoner—And a friend, I presume ?
Sir R. dare say no objection will be made.
Prisoner—Shall I be allowed to see them in private, or in the pre-
Bence of an officer ? .

t:ir R. Brnwia—That will depend upon die Governor of the
plactoto which you are going. He has kis directions upon each
matters from the Committee of Magistrates.
The prisoner was remanded till Thursday next, when other
charges will be preferred against him.