The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-24 00:00:00

On Monday came on before the Court the trial
or 'boo mu, late innkeeper, iu Ballantrae, ac-
cused of needing from a cart belonging to J. end D.
Smith. carrier'', a box, cositaittiog bank notes
amounting to 1,682/. on the night of the 7th, or
morning of the Bth of February, 1812.
It will be remembered that this teufortunate
man. shortly after 'receiving his indictment, made a
desperate attempt to commit suicide, by cutting
his throat, on whiclviccount his trial was postponed
till Monday. The Primmer being still nimble to
speik from the wound in his throat, wrote down his
plea, which was read by his Counsel—Not Ghihy.
The following witnesses were called:—
John M,Kie, Agent at Steamier for the Paisley
Rink in the year 1812, was in the practice-of send-
ing weekly by the carrier,* sins!l tin box, eucTosed
in int iron our, about the site of p stn*ll tea-chest,
and put into a hag. Oli the 7th of February, I H 1.1,
the box was. as usual, sent a porter, and deli-
vered to David Smith, the carrier; it contained
notes in the mount of 1.682/. chiefly of the British
Listen Company, Bonk of Scotland, Ayr Bank, soil
untie notes of the Galloway Bank. They were
fram IL to 20/. each, and not tome torn than Otiose
generally in circulation. The notes were walked
with a privet. mask by Robert M•Kie. now io the
AVest Indies; the mark was the letters f m, Pt
smell letter., written in led ink, on the left band
corner on the beck of the note. Minas 'hewn I
5L note of the Galloway Banking Company, mud
after looking at it minutely. said be saw n srain on
the part of the note where the private mark had
been; and again narrowly inspecting it through a
magnifying-glass. baid, he thurglit he saw soneethiv
like the Mil of the"
Charles Moreland, formerly accountant at Straw.
raer to the Paisley Bank, know; that parcels of
notes were sent weekly. from Strummer to Ayr.
Being hewn a 54 note, recognised the private mink
on the note; part of the at. is obliterated, but
enough remains to convince Inns it is une of the
notes put into the box which wee stolen (the note
was handed to the Jury) three days after the box
was sent di in February 181.2. Notice was Peat
the Bank it had not arrived. I. acquainted with
the Prisoner's hand-wnting, and idttittifter it on the
letters and papers now *been him, though in one
of the letters it appears to be considerably disguised.
Bring +hewn a SI. note, says it is one he received
from George Furness, hatter in Wigton, on 4th
September, 1817, at which time the private mark
was more distinct than now. Sheaved the 'Kite int-
when he got it to Robert M`Kie, the ver-
sion who marked the notes. A number of other notes
,hewn witness, but cannot recognise the mark on
any of them, they are So much wore and soiled.
Witness said that they appeared to him to lime
undergone some process in order to take the private
mark out.
John Walker, who was porter to the Paisley
Bank at Simmer in 1812, proved the delivery of
the box to David Smith.

David Smith was employed to carry the box be-
longing to the Paisley Batik. Got it from Welker
on the 7th February 1112, and put it into his cart.
Swot at Hugh Ross's, at BoHamra,. Did not see
him that night when he arrived. Witness bought
some dried fish at Bollaiitroe, which he packed into
the front of the cart on one side. He thus put the
Batik box in the middle of the cart, and a large
box on the other title; mid in tins situation witness
sheeted the Cart and fastriad it down. Next fllO,ll
ing he went oft to Ayr. the cart being under his
own eye all the way, and on his arrival at Ayr he
immediately unpacked the cart to take out the
box, and discovered it was missing. Ills brother
and Thomas Orr were then present. Witness im-
mediately took a horse aid rude back to Ballantrae
in search of the box. Witness being in use to carry
the Bank box to Prisoner's house, had frequent
conversstions with him about it. Roos silted wit.
ness if he thought the notes in the box were sum.
bored—said lw supposed they were. Ross said the
big notes might be numbered, but did tint suppose
the small were so. Witness had **watch dog *lnch
went with the cart. Tbe dog went with him that
day to Bat!Mime. Roesilesired he would not loosen
tlw dog. as lie was su 6eive that he was afraid of
him. The dog took ill soon after witness left Bid.
lantrae, and thinking he would die, left him at a
house by the way. The carts were usually left
without doors all night. under charge of the dog.
Upon witness's return to Bollantrae in search of the
box. he gut nu account of it. He saw Ross, and
told hint lie had missed it ; Ross asked him if lie
had lost the box, or if lie thought it had been
stolen ? Witness replied that it must have been
stolen. Ross being told that witness had bought
fish from one Coulter, said that it might have been
taken by him, but of this witness never suspected
Coulter. Witness stopt at several places on his
way to Ballantrae, but his cart was never opened,
rod is sure the box could ma drop oot.

. -
John Smith, brother of the last witness, remem-
bers the Bank box bring missed by hie brother at
opening his cart on his arrival at Ayr. The week
before the lota was lost, witness was in Ross's house,
when he asked witness particularly about the Batik
box: what be bad a-year for it ? ‘Vitiless said
71. 7s. Rosa said he wondered he ran such a risk
for so little money; witness said he considered it
no greater risk than carrying goods; in which Ross
seemed to concur, saying that the notes would be
all numbered. Witness on one occasion left the
Bank box by mistake at a house, where Mr. More
land, of the Bank, went and got it.

Thomas Orr was present with the Smiths when
their cast arrived, and raw David Smith go into
the c.irt for the Batik box, when lie exclaimed►
" Good God, tl►r box is not here!" and seemed
much cotiluard. Hia brother was in a great piliblUll
at Iritn.
Jean Alexander was servant to the Primmer in
Mt. Knows the two Salida. corners. came to

his house. Recollects D. Smith bring tffere the
night before the Blink box wis Inst ; her roaster
came hone that night at eleven o'clock, while
Smith was in the I ttttt or. and lwTore lie had gotie to
bed. Ross was very drunk when hr came home;
he went nitro a small Elmo off the kitchen, and
witness does not recollect seeing him again that
night. The closet Ro‘is went into was sivt his
sleeping place, dud be must have left it, as•witness
slept in the closet that alight. Tlie;..Prisosier
usually slept its the liar, oppo.ite the street door.
William WC° t •k, (sinner*, Writer and Mrs-
genff" in now Ayeknows the ,Pri-
owner's affairs were in cut es arras-ed stale, as he
executed several diligesic gainsr him in the
years 1811-12.
Mathew Stott lived in smote neighbourhood
with the Poisoner about a. 34:irvirter the Dusk box
was stolen. %Vent with a- letter from Ross to
Robert Hill. iii Cairn; it contained a 5/. note.—
When Mr. !fill opened the lesser and took it out,
he remarked it was very frail; witness looked at
the note in his hand ut the lime, and subscribed his
name on it two months afterwards. Shewn the note
and identified it. Mr. hill threw the cover from
him, which witness piel.ol up and gave to the !oil-
man to write his tickets on. Skean the piece of
paper .and identified it.
Robert HAL horse-dealer, got a letter from the
Prisoner with a .5/. note in it, which he gave to the
tollinatrat Cairn-Ryan, about ass hour niter he re-
ceived it, fur small notes; shears the note, says it
bears his name in his own hand-writing; witness
threw the cover from him when lie opened it ; Pri-
soner owed Nut money, and the 51. were put to his
account.

Thomas Hunter kept Cairnsilyan toll-bar in
1813 ; got a 5/. note from Mr. Hill. horse-dealer,
in tise summer of that year ; gave small :Mies for
st ; witness paid the mite to Mr. 0011011; got also
pirct. of paper from Mathew Scott, to write
accounts ou, which he now sees and identifies.
This note was traced to have been paid to
tleorke Furness, hat-manufacturer. in Wigton,
Cumberland, who said he got it about five years
ago ; it was much worse, and was dated in October
1811 ; shunt two hours alter he got it, witness paid
it to Mr. Modem], at the Batik, and put his name
on it at his request.
Thomas Carruthers got some notes from the Pri-
soner at Ballintrea, in January last ; there ware six
51. notes. The stoles HWY thews' him are the same.
Cuwau, partner of Messrs. Rower and
Co. bankers, Air, set elvell a letter cositaining two
51. notes, signed I'. W. Christian, requesting other
notes for them to he scot to that address; the letter
was answered two days thereafter, enclosing a Bank
of England note for the same ; winless cannot
swear this letter is the Prisoner's hand-writing ;
witness received another letter, signed G. Jas.
Crollicra. enclosing two 5/. and four et. es. notes,
rather in a worse state than those in she letter signed
Christians ; three days alter receipt, this letter was
answered, enclosing other 'lofts; witness knows
'he last-mentsusted letter to be written by the Pri-
ironer, though the writing is disguised ; witness
suspected so at the time it wits received, but dues
not recollect having said so, unless. perhaps, to
Mr. Johnston. who was Procurator Fiscal for the
County, is. 1813.

The following is a literal copy of the first letter
received by Messrs. Hunter and Co. (and the letters
to the other bankers are of similar import) :
" Broomielaw, ilith Oct. 1317 —Gentlemen, having been
in the north upon the fisiiing station, I got most of my
money spoiled with brink; 1 enclose you two of your notes,
which I will thank you change and address to me, T. W.
Christian, Post Onice, Belfast, to ly till call'd for; 1 have
paid the post adge of this, and expects your answer in
course, as I sail today fur Belfast."
M. Sloane, teller to Messrs. Hunter and Co.
corroborated the evidence of the preceding witness.
R. Forrester, of the Bank of Scotland, received
a letter (of which the following is a copy) enclosing
notes, which he gave to NI,. Bennet
Copy Letter—T. W. Christian to the Govereor sad Com-
pany of the Bank of Scotism* dated Sammy Inked,
13th Fehreary 1111 A :
To the Governor and Company of the
Bank of Scotland.
Ste—Seme time back was unfortunately shipwrecked On
the coast of Irelaud, and lost my all but what I had no my
bacl4 is the Hurry to save of our lives. I lost my pocket-
book on the wreck, which got in to some bole of the vessel,
and till such time as ve.sel broke up I rave up all hopes of
our getting it; it contained valuable papers and wk." to a
considerable "amonnt. I beg to enclose you a number of
yo•tn much spoiled, but came to me fur value; may request
the favour of your etchanging all of them or any part you
may think, as they are so use to me, sod they are only
thing ktt me; your goods. in doing so will ever *bads
your Humble Set.
(signed) T. W. CHRISTIAN.
same. To T. W. Christian, Post Office, Belfast, to ly till
called fur.

A. Bennet, of the Accountant's Office in the
Batik of Scotlatid, received the letter and notes
front Mr. Force-ter. The letter and contents were
laid before the Directors, awl the amount was or-
dered to he paid. Tht times contained in the letter
appeared to have hero wet, and the dates mostly
obliiensted. The 111.4111 weie ordered to be de-
sitoyed, and witness kiwis, some of them were:
TI!.. amount of them was 241. 1,14. Tile answer
to the letter was sent off next post.
Thomas Whilinery, postmaster, Belfast, examin-
ed. The Prisoner came to his office is Belfast,
ingitirisag for !suers addressed to Ross or Christian,
shout the end of lost year. Does not know how
many he gut, bait that lie did get some.
Andrew Sivewright remembers getting a letter
containing 01. t.ir a lottery ticket, signed " G.
Roes:" and being Phew!' a letter, says it is the
same, said shioks the note i 4 the same also. He
allowed it to rentals' tat his 17s-sk for a day, and next
day took it to the British Linen C puny, where
hr got a note fair it, and was desired to waiver the
letter, which he did.

The evidence fur the protects:ion being closed,
sud no etidence wigwamd for the Prisoner,
the Jury were cliArued on the !ut of the !prosecu-
tion by the Loot► AnTocATii, •ad for the Pitnuel,