The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-19 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS,
WED N ESDAY, Tee. 18.

These Sessions were opened this morning, before Lotd Chief
Baron Alexander, Mr. Baron Graham, Mr. Justice Best, the Lord
Mayor, the Common Sergeant (the Recorder still being confined
to his house by a severe ht of the gout), Mr. Alderman Venable',
Mr. Alderman Thompson, lice.
The Juries having been imparielled, and the prisoners arraigned,
their Lordships entered the Court a little after ten o'clock.
William Bill, a stout man of inmosing appearanc..., formerly a
police-otlicer, was put to the bar, charged with uttering a forged
flank of England note.
. .

Abigail Levy deposed to the prisoner coming, in company with
a female, to her husband's shop in liolywell-street, and there pur-
chasing cloth to the amount of 21.9 a.. for which he tendered a five-
pound note, and gave his address •• William Stevens, 218, Totten-
ham-court-road.' Suspecting it might be forged, witness sent her
son with it to the Bank. In the mean time the prisoner became
impatient, said he could not wait, and that he would leave the fe-
male to wait for the change. Witness's son shortly afterwards
returned and stated the note to be a bad one, and witness therefore
detained the female.

Lyon Levy, the husband of the former witness, deposed to fol-
lowirg.the prisoner when he left the shop. He went to a public-
house in the Strand, from whence he came out in the company of
another man, with whom he walked over to the gateway of Sower-
bet-house, and there stood talking. Witness returned home, and
there learnt from his son that the note was forged. He then went
over to where the prisoner was standing, and took hint into cus-
tody : the woman was afterwards discharged.
John Ward, of the Horse-shoe, Wellcluse.square, had received a
51. note from the prisoner last November, which proved a forgery.
Joel Cox, law-stationer, had also received a 5L note front the pri-
soner, which proved to be a forged one. He gave his address,
"John Price, 27, St. John's-square, Clerkenwcll.
John Lee, a Bank-inspector, proved the whole of the above notes
to be forgeries in every particular.
Mr. Lisahnbe Price, of St. Jahn 's-square, proved there was no
person of the name ofJohn Price living in St. John's-square
Thomas Johnson, of No. 218, Tottenham Court.ruud, proved
that no person of the name of Stevens lived in that house.
The prisoner called two witnesses to character, who said they
knew nothing unfavourable of hint before these traavactions.
Mr. Justice liasT summed up, leaving it to the Jury to deter-
mine whether he had uttered the notes with a guilty knowledge of
their being forged.
The Jury, after a short deliberation, found the prisoner Guilty.
ROBBERY OF THE BIRMINGHAM COACH.

Charles ('reader was indicted for feloniously receiving fifty 31.
bank notes and other notes, to the amount of 4,0001., the property
of Messrs. Taylor and Lloyd, of Birmingham, bankers, he well
knowing the same to be stolen. Charles Tumley stood indicted
for scaling the said notes, but he is still at large.
Messrs. Alley and Law conducted the prosecution, and Messrs.
Adolphus, Broderitk, and Platt appeared for the prisoner.
The first witness called was Hobert Brown, clerk to Banbury
and Co., Bankers, in Lonabard.atreet, who deposed that the notes

of Messrs. Tayloi and Lloyd, at Birmingham, were payable at
their house, and when they had received a certain quantity, it was
their custom to send them to Birmingham. In Dec. 1822, he packed
a parcel containing 4,0001. and having directed it to Taylor and
Lloyd, he gave it to the guard of the Balloon stage coach. The
witness described the notes.

William Serjeant, guard of the Balloon coach to Birmingham,
swore to having received the parcel in question from Mr. Brown,
about twelve or one o'clock in the day. Ile took it to the .Magpie,
in Wood-street, where he usually lodged, and gave it to 111 r.
Greaves, the landlord, while be took his usual rest. He got up
about five o'clock, and received back the parcel, as he believed, in
the Saille state, from Mr. Greens. He took it to the Swan with
two Necks, Lad-lane, whence the Balloon starts, and when the
coach was nearly ready he put it in the scat of the coach, and put
his coat over it. In about five minutes after he went again to the
coach, and the parcel was then gone. He immediately gave an
alarm, and pursuit and inquiry took place, bet in vain.
Creese-exaniined.—Witness knew the I contained very va-
luable property, as he bad often taken similar ones. He consi-
dend it safe in the seat, as the horse-keeper was by.
Mr. (heaves proved that he preserved the parcel safe, and gave
it hack to Serjeant in the precise state in which he received it.
Daniel Gray sworn.-1 am by trade a brass-founder, and live
at Norwich, but formerly lived at Birmingham. In September
last I saw the prisoner and Turnley at 'Walton Fair, in Essex,
and got into conversation with them ; in the course of which
they asked me if I knew Taylor and Lloyd's house, at Birming-
ham, and I said I did well- Turnley then said, "We have some
owe of Taylor and lAoyd's to sell. We 'tooted' (wanted) the
guard of the rattler (meaning the Balloon coach) to the yard with
the panel from Banbury's, and prigged it from the coach meat.
We got nearly 11,0001. (It was here staled by the Counsel that
two parcels were stolen.) And we fenced (trimmed of them to a
receiver) for 2,0001. We aftermath tried to fence them back to
the owners; but Taylur and Lloyd would not give us a meg."
He then asked me if I would buy any, for they were good
things, and 1 might very ugly get rid or them. I said I had
DO maney ; and they asked me if I knew any one who had any
=hi madam alma I said I thought I did, and would in-
a lkienit of mine who would buy some. It was then
aired ant Meet at the three Crimp. *lb.
man antarlines Waite to Din g=liele
that , and informed. him of my discovery,
and e sentmeamee sossey, with instruetions what to do. When
I had got Hie inolley, I went to the Three Crowns, and intro.
duced George Ward, a friend of mine, to the prisoner and
Turnley, amtit was agreed that he should have nine 51. notes
for 101., and I was to bare six at the same • rare. The prisoner
said the notes were net then ready, but they would be at 6 o'clock
in the evening. We then had some dinner, and among other
things a crab, and were to meet again in the evening. We did
eo, and Turnley then produced some of Taylor and Lloyd's
notes, which be landed to the prisoner, who woe than to ord,
bat there turned out to be eight only, instead of nine. A great
squabble (which witness minutely, end in regular flash tams, de-
scribed) took plate, but finally the notes were purchased--These
notes were marked " D. G." by me, and scut to Mr. Payne, at
Birmingham.
The witness, 141 s crom-maminalion, said he became acquaint.
ed with Mr. Ps in his (Mr. P.'s) capacity as head of the Police
at Birmingham. Re was employed to detect persons in uttering
forged bank notes. He was introduced to Mr. Payne because he
was a cleaver chap, and knew what he was about. He was down
to a thing or two, was always fly, and not to be had even by an old
un. He received about 1001. from the Bank for services. The wit.
pees then underwent a very long and minute cross-examination, as
to what refreshments they had at the Three Crowns, what time
they met, what conversation passed, and who waited upon them ;
all of which he spoke to quite unhesitatingly, and conducted him.
self with a degree of confidence not often met with in a Court of
Justice.

I The servant girl at the Three Crowns, in the City-read, and
other witnesses, were then called to corroborate the evidence of
Gray, in its minor points.
The prisoner, in -his defence, contented himself with a simple
denial of the crime imputed ta him, and with a declaration of con-
fidence that the Jury would net believe such a man as Gray.
Mr. B• 1011 ONlAlliAll 111.1111010 d up at great length, observing,
that Gray, taken by himself, undoubtedly was unworthy of credit,
but they would look at the whole of the use, and ask themselves
whether his story had not received such confirmation from other
whnessea as to render it next to impoarible not to believe that his
whole statement was true. If they believed that it was, the cam
was completely brott.;ht home to the prisoner, and they could
only come to one decision ; but if they bad any doubt, he need not
tell them that the accused was entitled to the full benefit of such
doubt.

The Jury consulted a little mom iisa five minutes, and the
Foreman, then addressing the Comet, mid, " My Lords, consi-
dering the whole of the evidence, we have so much doubt, from
the want of coiroboratioa in the important points of Gray's tes-
limany, that we feel ourselves bound le acquit the prieoner--Ver-
diet, Nat Grin,.
There was a second ledictment against the prisoner for a similar
offence ; but no evidence was offered, and he Wig of Mane ac-
quitted. lie left the Court with a smile upon his countenance.

LONDON SESSIONSLWEDNE•DAY,FEn. 18.
22 ---..m...---
CASIBINWELL v. ST. *OTOLTI4, ALbalkT*..-.1 IttCE POTW+.
From the statement of lit. Bou.sitsr, who attended to support
the order of removal, it appeared that the pauper, Daniell guilt-
van, bed, been usher seam school kept by the late Doctor Wanes-
Wight, of CambetwelL There was no question but that he had
been engaged at a yearly salary, and that he had continued in his
situation about two years : but the Doctor being dead, and the
pauper in a state of mental derangement, no direct evidence could
be given of the exact nature of the verbal engagement between the
parties, no written agreement having. been entered Into.
In the absence, therefore, of this proof, Camberwell ',pealed
against the order of removal, on the ground that as the ppawuper was
always away from the school during the holiday', ukisoagh there
might have been a hiring for a year, at a yearly salary there was no
sufficient service under tt at any time for a year together, ao as to
gain a settletnent. The pauper was to all intents and purposes his
own master during the holidays, ..nd had he been called upon to
attend the school during the usual vacations, would have been paid
extra for that attendance.

The ('ot•a•r were of opinion, in which the ( ossmow-Sra-
UE T declared his concurrence. that the pauper waste all time
of the year liable to the calls of his master for his Ildrvices under
his engagement ; and this was therefore a clear ease of hiring and
service for a year—Order confirmed.

On Tuesday night, between the Horns at Kennington
and Lambeth-31arsh, as Lady Ann Becket was returning to town
from Brighton, a trunk, oontatniug a number of valuable articles,
was cut from the chain behind the carriage, with which the thieves
got clear off.. .

- A IhMk`kliATL THIEr.-011 Monday night, a daring
attempt was made to break into Wt cstall vi la, tlieltenham, the
residence of Captain Pethericke, who, hearingro a noise, opened a
window and fired twice at a ruffian com wily descending from
the veranda, but without effect. After t second pistol was eis-
charged, he turned round with the utmost nonehalance, and growled
out in a gruff yoke, " lire away and be d—d." A rattle was
then sprung, and the fellow ran off:
. .

On Thursday Light last (12th inst.) a peter-boat, on its
way to London, laden with fruit, belonging to Mr. Thomas Elry,
of Faversham, fruiterer, going withinside the Isle of Sheppy,
nine in a gale of wind In the Swale, and the crew, consisting of
Thomas Bennett and Thomas Berry, two fine young men although
expert swimmers, met a watery grave. The best exertions have
been used to find the bodies, but st pretest without success.—
Acnlwit