The National Register.
London, England, 1822-09-29 00:00:00

POLICE.

BOW STREET.
On Thursday night Sir Richard Minns was engaged until a
very late hour, in an investigation eif as extraordinary a nature,
perhaps, as ever came before a magistrate. A very respectable
looking middle-aged man, named Samuel Bedlow Sweetman,
was brou,bt to the onion in the moody of Bishop, one of the
principal officers, on a charge of stealing a bill of exchange for
3,501.11.,tbe property of Richard Thornhill.
Mr. F. Pollock attended for the prosesution, and Mr. Platt
appeared on behalf of the accused.
When the defendant was placed at the table in front of the
bench, be was asked by Sir Richard Birnie if be was aware of
the nature of the charge against him, and be said he believed
be was.
Sir R. Birnie.—What is your name ?
Defendant.—Samuel Bellow Sweetman.
Sir It. Birnie.--.You are charged in the warrant now before
me, and upon which you are brought here, with feloniously
stealing, taking, and carrying away a bill of eznhange fur
11,5001. the property of Richard Thornhill. The defeedant
bowed.
Richard Thornhill, a man of respectable exterior, whose ac-
cent bespoke him to be of the sister country, was called and
examined by Mr. Pollock. He stated himself to be an officer
in the army. The bill of exchange in question was his property,
he having given a valuable consideration for it. It was drawn
by Thomas Claugliton upon Thomas Legh, and accepted by the
latter fur 3,5001. dated Nov.s, 1821, and would be due on the
Bth of May nest, being 18 months. He received the bill from
Messrs. Knight and 2, son, solicitors, for a valuable consider-
ation. It was not endorsed by them. He took it without an
endorsement, giving them an undertaking for it. (The ander
taking was produced.) He had no personal interest in the bill
except what arose from this undertaking. Last Tuesday,
about half-past one o'clock, witness delivered the bill to Capt.
Buford, in Bedford-street, Strand. Captain Buford was to
present it at Coatts'a banking-house in the presence of the de-
fendant to satisfy him that it was a good acceptance ; and if he
was satisfied that it was the genuine acceptance of Mr. Leigh,
witness was to receive the sum of 3,0001. immediately. The
defendant told witness he bad discounted several bills for both
Cloughton and Legh ; that the former was not worth a farthing;
but Legh he knew to be a man of 40,0001. a year, and lie would
certainly discount the bill if it was his (Legh) acceptance, The
defendant represented himself to be a merchant in the city, and
said to was iu the habit of discounting bills to a great amount. I
lie had, he said, often discounted bills at Coutts's. The de-
fendant was introduced to witness by Mr. Walker, who said
be was a man of property—a monied man—and witness thought
him a man of great fortune. He did not know that the defen•
dant was clerk to Mr. Walker the attorney. He had heard se
since, but did not know the fact.
Mr. Walker, who was instructing Mr. Platt for the defence,
said the defendant was not his clerk.
Captain Edmund Berthed, residing at No. 19, Carlisle-place,
Lambeth, sworn--I received the bill in question from Mr.
Thornhill about half-past one o'clock on Tuesday last in the
Strand. I was to go with the defendant to Coutts's to prove the
band writing of Mr. Legh, in order to the discounting the bill
by the defendant. I inquired for Mr. Antrobus, the chief clerk,
esti was directed into a back office. where I saw him. I held
oat the bill to him, and asked bins if that was the acceptance of
Mr. Legh. The defendant was then standing beside me. Mr.
Autrobus had a letter in his band which he handed to the de-
fendant saying, .. I believe this is for you, Sir." The defen-
dant at this moment, and before Mr. Antrobus could look at the
endorsement, said, .. I believe there are some endorsements
upon that bill, will you allow me to look at it." The bill was
given to him by Mr. Antrobus, and he immediately squeezed it
up in his hand, and proceeded to read the letter which Mr. An
;robes had given him. I asked him for the bill, saying, It is
as well in my possession as yours," but he replied when be bad
read tie letter, that he would not give the bill op to me or any
one else. I said, .. II you don't give it op I shall take you to
Bow streeet," and without replying he walked out of the house.
I followed him to the door, where Mr. Thornhill was waiting.—
Before the presentation of the bill, the defendant said that Mr.
Thornhill had offered him very handsomely ; lie was to have
3001. and he certainly would discount the hill.
Cross-examined by Mr. Platt.—The defendant said he would
go to Bow-street or anywhere else we chose. He said he had
received a letter from Mr. Cloogliton to stop the bill, and be
therefore should keep it. He was positively to get it discounted
that afternoon or the next morning. He said before be went to
Coutt's, I don't want the bill at all ; only convince me that it
is the acceptance of Mr. Legh. and I will get the money."
Mr. Antrobus, clerk to Messrs. Coutts, sworn. The letter
was addressed to S. B. Sweetman, and left with me to give to
Lim when he came. He would nut take the letter when I first
offered it to him, and looked angry, I thought, when I asked if
it was fur him. The letter was produced and read—