The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-19 00:00:00

POLICE.

CHARGE OF FORGERY;
Gi I I.DUALL.—A very respectable looking middle aged man,
a Mr. Hobert Foster, well known some years ago as an unicr-
writer at Lloyd's, was brought up yesterday before the sitting Ma-
gistrate, Mr. Alderman Christopher Smith, charged with uttering
a check for the sum of 3001. on Messrs. Barclay, Tritton, and'
Co. the bankers in Lomuard-street, 'mowing the saute to be
forged.
Mr. John Mitchell, one of the clerks in the banking-house,
stated, that about four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the prisoner
presented the check, now produced, to hint at the counter, re-
questing to have it cashed in three notes of 1001. each. The signa-
ture to the check, namely, " Arthur Shakespeare and Son," being
that of a firm which no longer existed, he sent 'the check in for
examination to Mr. ritnith, another clerk in the house.
111 r. George Smith said, that on returning front his dinner on
Saturday the check alluded to was handed to hint for examination.
The firm of Shakespeare and Sun hail ceased to be in existence
from the death of Mr. Shaltespeare, the elder, which occurred many
year* ago, but the present Mr. Shakespeare, the son, kept cash at
their house, and he (Mr. Smith) hid at first conjectured that the
draught might have been signed in the old way by mistake, there
being a tolerable similarity in the signature to the usual hands/fit-
ingot Mr. Shakespeare, On showing the check to Mr. Tritton,
one of the partners, he was desired to question the person who pre-
sented it, and he accordingly asked the prisoner from whom he had
the check 7 " A friend of mine upon 'Change," he replied, !
" What, Good God is there any thing wrong about it ?' lie'!
next inquired the name and address of that friend. This
the prisoner said he was not able to give, but he would
give his own, and ha did so accordingly correctly. They then
pro:Teded together to the Royal Exchange, to find the person from
whom the prisoner alleged he had received the check, and
on reachirg the gate, Foster said, " If you will wait here I will go
and find hint." lie replied that he thought they had better go to-
gether. After some time, the prisoner not beingable to fix upon
any person, he (Mr. Smith) asked him if he was himself known to
anybody there. The prisoner replied, " 0 yes, to plenty of peo-
ple--here is Lavers,' pointing to a gentleman who was passing at
that instant, and whom he (Mr. S.) knew as one of their custom-
ers. Mr. Lavers acknowledged knowing the prisoner, but upon be.
ing questioned by the witness, said his knowledge of him was 20
years ago, and he was wholly unacquainted with his pursuits lat-
terly. 'f he prisoner then pointed out a Mr. Walker, or Winter, a
gentleman who was not known to hien (Mr. Smith); but his answers
to his inquiries were perfectly similar to those of Mr. Lavers. Un-
der these circumstances, there appearing no likelihood of finding
the individual of whom the prisoner said he had received the chxk,
the latter was given into the custody of an cfficer.
On inquiry at Mr. Shakespeare's house in the Albany, Mr.
. Smith had learnt that that gentleman left town on the 9:h instant,
the day subsequent to the date of the check, and he was gone on a
tour round the coast, it was not known where to address a letter to
him ; and he was not expected to return in less than a fortnight.
lie, therefore, requested that the prisoner might be remanded, to
give time for the production of the necessary witnesses, as well as
for other proper inquiries.
Mr. Payne, the clerk, reminded the Alderman that Mr. Shake-
speare might not ultimately be allowed to be a witness; us certainly
he could not be considered as the best evidence as to the signature
to the check not being in his hand-writing.
Mr. Alderman Sal IT seid, he was aware of that, and asked if
either of the clerks could swear that the signature was not in Mr.
bliakespeare'snand.writing.
Mr. Smith replied he could, and he accordingly examined the
check, and deposed to that effect.
The prisoner, who showed no symptoms of alarm, but appeared
with the most perfect self-possession, declined entering into any
defence at that stage of the business, bserving, that at the proper
time tie hail no doubt he should he able to explain satisfactorily all
' the circumstances. Ile wished, however, to ask Mr. Smith whether
' he had not paid draughts with the signature "Arthur Shakespeare
! and Son." . _

.Ir. Smith—Some years ago, perhaps, but I cannot speak posi-
tively even to that.
The prisoner then applied to have a pocket-book, which was un.
derstood to contain several pawnbrokers' duplicates, and which had
been taken from hint when searched by the officer, restored to hint,
and his request, af:er the book had been examined by the Alder.
man, was complied with.
3lr. Wright, of No. 13, London.road, Southwark, now offered to
become answerable for the prisoner's appearance on a future day.
He had lodged with hint he said now for about four years, and was
supported by an allowance be received front his brother, a gentle-
wan of fortune residing at Berwick.upon.Tweed.
Mr. Alderman Sart Tlt replied, that front the very serious nature
of the charge it was quite impossible for him to admit the prisoner
to bail, and he was accordingly remanded until Saturday next, to
be then re-examined at the ➢lansion•house.