The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-31 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

him to Cornhill, and he Mated that be wished me to purchase 101.
in French money at Thomas's bullion office, and to go to Clerken-
well to fetch his watch it oln his watchmaker's, and 1 was to return
with it and the money to Guildhall, and meet him under Pitt's too-
nument. I did as the prisoner directed me; I offered two of the M.
note', which the prisoner gave to me, in pnyment for the bullion,
to .Mr. Thomas ; and one of the notes being objected to, I took it
to the Hank of England, and got it changed. I wrote my name and
address on the note at the Beek. I went back to Thomas's. and
received the French money. It consisted of napoleons and sonic
silver. I gave the prisoner the French money at Guildhall. and told
him that 1 had been at the Bank to change one of the IL notes,
which had been objected to by Mr. Thumas. He asked me if I had
put my name on the note? I said yes. He appeared rather
flurried, and I said we never can be too open and candid with a
public body like the Batik of England, and I had therefore written
nay 'rime upon it in the regular way of business. I said it was
probable he would hear no more of the note. I told him that the
watchmaker refused to deliver up the watch, and I coffered him the
sovereign which he had previously given to me to pay for it. and
he told me that I might keep it. 1 surd it was too 'ouch for any
services, and lie said I might work it out. He told me that he
wan going out of town for a few days. I saw him again afterwards
and he asked me if I had heard any thing about the note ? I said
that I had not. Ile desired me, if I should, to let him know im-
mediately. He told me 1 might find him any day at the Brewers'
Arms, Isingsland-mad. I received a letter respecting the Hank of
England note from 111 r. Freeling, desiring me to call upon ham. I
saw the prisoner, anal showed hint the letter. Ile told me that he
did not know from a bom he received the note, and 1 said I am
afraid there is something wrong, and it so stop it. He said that he
did not wish his name to appear, as there had been several em-
bezzlements in the Post-office by taking money out of letters. He
desired me to say, I had taken it In the regular way of business,
and I could not recollect from whom." He asked me if any rent
was paid ? and I said it was not. He gave me two sovereigns ;
we parted, and I went home and wrote to 3lr. Feeding to that
effect. I heard nothing further for some days. Some person called
while I was from home, and I saw the prisoner again. Ile said he
wished his name not to spasm in the business, and I promised him
not to mention it if I could avoid it. He said if 1 saw the party
who had called at my house to inform him what passed. I ex.
petted the parry to call again on the Monday, and I appointed to
meet the prisoner on the following day on IVeterloo-bridge. I was
taken into custody on the Tuesday morning, before the time 1 was
to have met the prisoner. he letter of Mr. Erecting, de-
siring the witness to inform him front whom he received a five
pound bank-note, No. 7,955. which he paid into the Bank of
England on the 9th of July, and had written his name and address
upon, was read.]
On his cross.examination the witness said he was in custody
several hours before he gave up the prisoner's name, and disclosed
the whole of the transaction.
Mr. Mercer, clerk in the Bank of England, produtl'ed the note,
No. 7,955, which was paid into the Bank on the 19th of July.
" Charles Wallis, No. 3, Bermondsey Nett/4.0'd," was indorsed
on it. 31r. Gardiner identified the note produced as one of those
sent by him from Wimhourne on the 7th of July. Wallis proved
it was the note he received from the prisoner, and paid into the
Bank on the 9th of July.
Mr. Thomas and the watchmaker corroborated Wallis 's evidence
as it respected his transactions with them.
A clerk of Messrs. Fry and Chapman produced a Wincanton
bank-note for 5/. which was paid by them on the 9th of July.
3lr. Gardiner identified it as one of those enclosed in the letter in
quest ion.
The prisoner was called upon for his defence, but declined say-
ing any thing.
Mr. BRODERICK proposed to ask Mr. Watts if depredations
had not been committed on the Post-office since the present
offence ? -

The Judges decided that the question was illegal.
A number of gentlemen of respectability were called, and they
gave the prisoner the highest character for honour and integrity up
to the present transaction.
111 r. Justice PARK summed up the case, and the Jury found the
prisoner Guilty—Death.
The Jury strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy on ac-
count of his excellent character.

Mr. Justice PARE said he would make a note of it ; and ob-
served, that Mr. Attorney-General heard it.
[Before the RECORDF.U.)
Robert alias Richard Wiltshire, aged FM, and Maria, his wife.
aged 35, persons of very respectable appearance, were indicted for
stealing a quilt, and divers other articles, the property of IVilliam
Brenton, from a lodging-room.
The wife of the prosecutor stated, that her husband lives in
Castle-street, liolborn. The prisoner at the bar applied last Nov.
for lodgings et her house, when she let them the tirst floor. The
male prisoner represented that he was about to sell an estate which
would bring him upwards of 8,000/. They continued there until
last September, when being 29 weeks in arrear, witness gave them
notice to quit. The male prisoner went away immediately, and
his wife was about to follow, but she prevented her, and then pro.
ceeded to search the room, when she found, among other things,
that a quilt and sheet were missing.
Christian George Matthews stated, that on the 30th Sept. he re-
ceived the prisoners.
A pawnbroker stated that the articles in question were pledged
by the female prisoner in the tame of Williams, on the 19th Sept.
last.

The female prisoner put In a well written defence, declarative of
their great distress, which was the cause of the act she had com-
mitted, for which she expressed her Ver. She entirely excul-
pated the husband from any knowledge of the offence. It also ad-
verted to the happy circumstances in which they had been placed.
to which AIL Newman, the City Solicitor, and other respectable
persons could testify.
They called no witnesses to speak to character.
The RECORDER summed op, and the Jury returned a verdict
of Guilty against the male, and acquitted the female prisoner.
Before the verdict was recorded, one of the jurymen informed
the foreman that he did not understand that to he the verdict, but
after a short conference he concurred with his brethren in the ver-
dict as delivered.

The RECORDER' in severe terms, reprehended the pawnbroker
for his negligence in not filling up the duplicate according to the
Act of Parliament. Instead of setting down the christian name of
the party, there was an initial, and the address was Holborn. Who,
in case of necessity, could find a person named Williams in a
long street like that? In order to check this culpable negligence,
the Court would in every instance, as in this case, refuse the pawn.
broker his expenses.