The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-10-11 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Mary Williams mad Ann Dodd, charged with rubbing
Mr. Keruott of four sovereigns, in Skiuset-street, were
yeet•rdaj committed to Newgate for trial.

COUNTERFEIT COIN.

Mary Dunn was charged with uttering • counterfeit
half crown ; when put to the bar, she had • child about 111
months old i• her arms, which cried very much, and ap-
peared very restks., •nd upon inquiry it turned out that the
mother of the child was a companion of the Prisoner, and
was waiting at the door of the office; the child was, there-
fore, instantly given bark to its mother.
It appeared that the Prisoner. in the tourse of the morn-
ing, went to the shop of Messrs. Wemwood and Co. drag.
gists, in Newgate. eeeee I, with the child is bee arms, and
asked for a pennyworth of magnesia, which was given to
her, and she put down half • crown to pay for it. The sus-
picions of the shopman were excited by the circumstance of
the Prisoner scolding the child for being cross, as abe came
into the shop, when it appeared to him to be uncommonly
lively and playful. He also observed that in taking out the
money she seemed to turn it over and select the half crown
piece which she put down, and no less tha• three counter-
feit half crown pieces having been hike° in the shop of
. Westwood during the preempt week, he communica-
ted his suspicions to Mr. Westwood, who, on examining the
piece, found it to be a bad one, and immediately sent for a
constable and gave charge of the Prisoner.
Remanded till Friday, when notice will be given to the
Solicitor of the Mint to attend.
MARLBOROUGR-lITREICTe
IMPORTANT TO PAWNBROKERS, ke.

Yesterday John Lawrence, a young man, a carver and
gilder, was brought up on a warrant in the custody of Wales
and Jefferies, two officers, charged with having obtained
from the possession of Mr. Rotchard, an eminent artist, of
131, New Bond-street, a valuable portrait of Napoleon Bo-
naparte, the painting of Reuben, and his Wife, and • valua-
ble copy of an original painting of Sir Joshua Reynolds,
which he (the Prisoner) uulawfully pawned.
Mr. Rutchard being sworn, deposed, that on the 9th of
September the Prisoner called at his house in New Bond-
street, and requested an interview with witness, un gaining
which the Prisoner said, that he was employed in the house
of Lady Smith. at Richmond, and bee Ladyship having seen
the pictiste of Reitheos, in St. James's-street, she expressed
• desire of purchasing the pair, and he asked witness who.
they he 'rosin p' ion of ouch paintings. Being answered
in the affirmative, he requested to be allowed to take tin
pictures with him in order that her Ladyship might inspect
them. Witness had no uhjectios, and gave him the two
portraits, which were copies of the originals now 111 the pos-
session of his Majesty at Carlton Palace; and thinking that
her Ladyship might probably take • fancy to another ele-
gant paiutiug from Sr Joshu• Reynolds's original picture,
In gave him that also, in order to shew to her Ladyship, but
prior to his leaving be suggested that the Prisoner should
procure an order from Mr. Coluselii. of Cockspur-skeet.
The Prisoner said he had no doubt but be could dispose of
them, as her Ladyship was about to furnish a house, and be
quitted the place.
Mr. Rotchard shortly afterwards received • letter, par-
porting to be seat by the Prisoner from Richmond, saying
he could dispose of the pictures, and that if be (Mr.
Rotehard) had a correct likeness of Bonaparte, it would also
be purchased of him. Mr. R. sent back an answer, in
which lie abstained from parting with the large portrait of
Bonaparte, winch would come very expensive, in coolie-
queried of the correctness of the resemblance and superior
style of elegance that it was got up in, but hr had • smaller
one. He tired received another letter from the Prisoner,
which was delivered by a boy, saying that her Ladyship wall
very sorry, and was anxious to have • correct portrait of
Napoleon Bonaparte, and if he sent it by the boy, he need
not be afraid that the glass would h~ broken. He suffered
the boy to have the portrait, with which he quitted the
place, and he hail since ascertained that the whole of them
had been pawned.
Mr. Conant, the Magistrate, said, as the Prisoner did not
receive the picturrs Mille, • representation that Lady Smith
ordered hint, they were ink obtained fraudulently, they there-
fore had no other mode of proceeding than under the Pawn-
brokers' Act, for unlawfully pawuing.
Mr. Rutchard valued the portrait of Bonaparte at sixty
guineas. Reopens and Wife twelve guiuess, and tlie cupyof,
Sir Joshua Reynolds eight pounds.
Mr. Harrison, pawnbroker, of Wardour-street, proved
that he was in his parlour when the Prisoner came to his
shop on the bib of September, sod offered the property in
pledge, and he gave 11. for (lee copy of Sir J. Reynolds and
11.01. for Reubeus and his Wife; be said they Were his own
property.
Mr. Bouchard said, that be gave the Prisoner no authority
to pledge them.
On Mr. Harrison hems/ asked hew be could take such pro- '
petty is pledge, he answered, that be knew weals* as artist i■
Lukerria sob tinaeilinith ire?" neeesigiatr:d to part 'stir lbeii

properly touch move valuable than the articles in question;
althongh the pictures were very superb. yet in Italy ihry
were tot up so very cheap in dist•'mper, and there were such
■ambers of theist instiorted to this rummy, that the value of
pictures hid fallen at the rate of 100 per cent.

Mr. Dubree, pawnbroker, of Charlotte-street, Fat aroy.square,
produced the portrait of Bonaparte. which was finished in a
moat perfect style, the likeness being very striking, sod
taken from au original in the possession of Lord Douglas.
Mr. Dobrre deposed, that he reserved the portrait, which
was painted on ivory, from the Prisoner, who pledged it nu
the 15th of September for V. which lie asked for it. He
said it was his own property.
The Prisoner said nothing in his defence, but
Mr. Ruichard inquired whether the property would be
restored to bus possession ?
Mr. Conant said, the pawnbroker was entitled to keep
the property well redeemed. He could convict the Prisoner
in the penalty of 51 for tsulawfully pawning, and the value
of the property pledged, according to the Statute of the
30th of George 11. cap. 24, see. 3, which he resit so follows :
‘` If sny person shall, knowingly and deslgnisilq pawn,
pledge, ur exchange, ur uolawfully dispose of the goods of
any other person, nut being employed or aothorised by the
owner so to ilo, any Justice may grant his warrant in appre-
hend such offender, and if he shall be then convicted by the
oath of one witness, or confession before any Justice for the
county, ice. Oral forfeit nut more than 51 nor less than
20s. and also the value of the goods, and if slot foithwith
paid, the Justice convicting stall commit him to the House
of Correction, or some other public prison of the county or
place where the offender .Call reside, or be convicted there
to remain, sod be kept In hard labour fur nut more than
three calendar month•;' and It goes un to rate that the oG
fender may be publicly whipped, &r. &c.
The Magistrate convict. d she Prisoner in the highest pe-
nalty, sod the taine of the goods, SOL ; but Mr. Ron-hard,
out of mercy to the Prisoner, minted li.ns the indulgence of
paying the fiat of 51 nod the amount fur whirl, the pictures
were pledged, until lie paid which he was committed.

QUZ:EN-15QUARE.