The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-17 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, THURSDAY, !rms. 16.

The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE tried CRUSH ICI-day at Nib! Prim',
but they were all of them matters of accounts, possessing no pubic
interest.

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS, Tm:II6DAY, Fin. 16.

The Sessions commenced before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder,
the Common Sergeant, Mr. Sergeant Arahh, the Sheriffs. and
several Aldermen. Judges—Mr. Baron urnham and Mr. Justice
fiatelee. The prisoners to be tried during the present Sessions are
222 in number.

Francis Jw. Rigour], aged 30, and Eliza Doker,l6, were indicted
for forging, and utterit.g as true, a power of attorney, in the name
of Eliza Foster; and the indictment contained three counts. The
first was to the effect that it was done with the intention of defraud.
ing the Bank of England; the second to defraud Peter Bacon ;
and the third that it was to defraud some person or persons nn.
known. The prisoners pleaded not guilty. One of the Jurors
withdrew, as being connected with the Bank of England ; and the
witnesses on both rides were ordered to withdraw till called.

Mr. Servant Bosawntrnr opened the case for the prosecution.
The object of the forgery was to obtain a yearly sum of 3/. to the
Long Annuities, which stood among the unclaimed dividends in
the name of Mary Poster, and had been transferred to the Commis-
sioners of the National Debt. Rigaud was formerly a Lieutenant
in the army, and subsequently a clerk in the South Sea House, and
Eliza Baker had lived in the same house with him. Rigaud ap-
plied to a proctor In Doctors' Common, to get letters of administra-
tion, describing Eliza Baker as Eliza Foster. and as niece and
next of kin to Mary Foster, of Brook-street, Holborn. It is ex-
ceedingly unfortunate that letters of administration are procured
with so much facility as they were in thin case. Rigaud, not wish.
ing to take out the letters of administration in Loudon. induced a
!lir. Green to go down to Margate with himself and Eliza Baker.
They went to a Mr. Armstrong, a clergyman at Dove., to sign a
commission, and next day the prisoners set out fur France. At
Calais Rigaud called ea a Mrs. Collins, and introduced Eliza
Baker to her as Mrs. Ilieaud. This fact proved in the sequel
to be of importance. In the administration bon.l, Rigaud
described (himself as being of Fir Tree Cottage, Saucers-town,
wl; his residence was at Lisson-green. It was necessary
to have some other documents to induce the Bank to re-transfer
the stock from the Commissioners, and fur Otis purpose, a let-
ter was fabricated, purporting to be from Mrs. (4-Was, stating
that Mary Foster, her servant, died at sea, on her voyage from
Philadelphia to Bordeaux, and advising Eliza Foster to look after
the property of her aunt in the funds. An affidavit was also framed
and signed Ji,hn Green, but really in the handwriting of Rigaud,
affirming that he had no doubt of the validity of Eliza Forster's
Claims. Eliza Baker, under the name of Foster, gave her power of
attmney to Mr. Everett, who received the amount without knowing
that he did any thing wrong. A note was found in possession of
Rigaud, desiring a Mr. Curtis to call on Everett for the amiunt,
The male prisoner had thought proper to keep a regular account
of a twisty of simike transactions, among which this business%
found. The letter, of administration had also been found in his
desk.

_
John Green examined.—Formerly held a Omaha?' in the Cus-
toms; has now retired on a pension. Has known Rigaud some
time. Knew the female since May last, when he went with entre
letters to her. Frequently went to Mood's when she lived in the
same house with torn. Went to Margate with Rigaud on the
Thumley before Nanday the 10th of July. When at Dover
Rigout, showed him a letter, which lie said he had received from a
3I r. Collins, and told the female that he had a commission which
must be excepted before they went to France. He said he must
find a clergymen, and went out. On returning he said he had
found two. Ent w the female prisoner by the name of Rigaud, and
also by that of Eliza Foster. Knew that her name was Eliza Foster,
but was told ►y Rigaud that she was entitled to some property from
a deceased relation, and wished to drop the name of Itigaud.
because she was of age, and Fad been kept by Lord Oxford, and
his wife having left him they should live very comfortably together.
Itigaud had told hint at first that her name was Foster. They then
went to a clergyman of the name of Amistrong. Wfiere the female
prisoner was sworn as mixt of kin to Mary F 4 lAre. Next day the
prisoners went to France. The affidavit shown him is not his.
Saw Rigaud at Lisson.green in August. Prisoner on one occasion
made witness sign a power of attorney, The attestation signed
Eliza Foster was signed in his presence. Saw Rigaud sign it.
The object of signing it was to prevent her from having to go for-
ward io a crowd,

Francis Fletcher is in his brother's office, who is a proctor is
Doctor,' Commons. Ile produced the letters of atintinisiratioo,
lied an act ',took. These letters of adininistraticn am still in force.
Mr. °repo recalled, and clots-examined by Mr. Boone 'tics.—
IVas formerly Comptrulki of the Customs of the port of Eamon h.
Has been employed since in attempting to recover a large property.
Is nephew of Mrs. Margaret Farmer. flits tint succeeded in reco-
vering her property ; hut the cause is in pipgresis in the Court of
Chancery. Entrusted the management of his Akira to Rigattd, till
he found hint undeserving. Upon his oath sever wean to nee if
John Scudsmore Oldham lived at No. 9, Illanos-terrace, Chelsea.
Ind not know if he ever lived there or, not. Recalled on a jr.
Day at lilanor.place, but did not know Alrs..Day. Might have
gone there *lose. Weft once with Bigaad, red, on his sayt ig that
he could not call because lie had rot a vearstcoat on, he watt and
delivered a message to a female " that Ilk. J chit Scudamore Old.
hart was not in town, and to inform any pereqi that called that
ouch was this ems." Did not soy "If any pction called art Mr.
John deudamorsOldham to say duttlW lived there, but that he was
oat et town." if he said hetisited at Ur. Day', he never tueaut