The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-21 00:00:00

THE ROUPELL FORGERIES.

The proceedings in this case were resumed before
Mr. Baron Channel' and the special jury at Chelms-
ford yesterday. The court was crowded during the
whole of the day, the galleries'being almost exclu-
sively occupied by ladies. William Roupell was
again in attendance as on the previous days. The
case of the plaintiff was brought to a close before
the court rose, and the defendants' case will be com-
menced the first thing this (Tuesday) morning.
Mr. Francis Thompson, clerk at Mr. Glyn's, the
banker's, and who had been examined on Saturday
by Mr. Lush, was recalled and cross-examined by
Mr. Hawkins. It will be recollected that in his
evidence on Saturday the witness expressed his
opinion very strongly that the signatures to the
deed of gift, the letter of instructions to Mr. Whit-
taker, and 'the will, were all forgeries and imita-
tions of the handwriting of the late Mr. Richard
Palmer Roupell. In answer to questions put by
Mr, Hawkins yesterday, the witness repeated his
belief that the signatures to the three documents
mentioned were forgeries, and stated that when he
was first taken to see the signatures he did not
know that he was going to see some documents
which were alleged to be forged. He was merely told
that there was a document upon which he would have
to give evidence, and was asked if he would like to
see it ; he said that he should, and then he was
taken to an office by Mr. Linklater, where he had an
opportunity of inspecting the documents, upon the
genuineness of which he had now given his opinion.
In re-examination by Mr. Sergeant Shee, the
witness said he did not believe the signature of Mug-
geridge in the will was the writing of an aged man
in an infirm state of health.

Mr. Fred. Muggeridge, clerk to Messrs. Rees,
solicitors, was examined by Mr. Brown, and said
that the John Muggeridge whose name appeared in
the will was his grandfather, and that he used to
collect some of old Mr. Reupell's rents. He recol.

lected staying with his grandfather for about five
or six weeks before old Mr. Roupell died, and dur-
ing that time he was in the habit of going out with
him when he went to collect the rents. He went to
Lent-street with his grandfather every time the old
gentleman went while ho remained there. His grand-
father was at that time more. than eighty years of
age, and being very infirm did not like to go out
alone. He used to leave home between eleven and
twelve o'clock and return between three and four.
He never knew him to go out after he had come in
from collecting the rents. He did not recollect that
his grandfather ever went to old Mr. Roupell's place
in Cross-street on the same day as that on which he
collected the rents. He generally collected the rents
on Monday and Tuesday, and went to Cross-streat
with them on Friday. He used to take a little book
with him when collecting the rents, and make en-
tries in them. (The book was produced and identi-
fied by the witness.) There were four entries in
that day. They were all entries of recent received on
the 2d of September, 1856, and, to the best of wit-
ness's belief, his grandfather made those entries in
Lent-street. Witness recollected being with his
grandfather on that day. He could only recollect
that he did not go out on that day after getting home
from collecting his rents, from knowing that it was
his general habit not to go out. Witness did not
see either old Mr. Roupell or William Roupell
that day, and he should say that his grand-
father did not see either of those gentlemen. He
was sure he did not see them at his own house, and
he believed his grandfather would not have gone
to Cross-street without his knowing of it.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bovill—He always went
with his grandfather to Lant-street while he was
staying at the house. Ho was about 13 years old
at the time, and he went to help his grandfather
make up some of his books. Witness was occasion-
ally in the habit of going to Lant-street by himself,
but not very often. He sometimes went to Cross-
street with his grandfather, but he could not now
tell how many times. It might have been three or
four times, but he was not prepared to say positively
how many times it was. The entries of rent re-
ceived in the books produced were in his grand-
father's writing.
Mrs. Sophia Muegeridge (examined by Mr. Ser-
jean, Shee) said she was the widow of the late Mr.
John Muggeridge, who died in the year 1857, at
the age of 85. Her husband had for some time been
collector of some of the rents of old Mr. Roupell,
but towards the latter end of his life, as he was very
infirm and did not like going out by himself, eeitness
used to accompany him when he went to collect the
rents. He used to account to Mr. Roupell for the
rent on Fridays. They generally went in a cab,and
were sometimes kept about for some time in getting
the money, in consequence of some of the tenants
not being at home. She only went out with her
husband in this way for the last three or four years
of his life. She recollected the last witness staying
at their house, and that while he was there he ge-
nerally went out with his grandfather collecting the
rents. He used to make the entries in a small book
at the time he received the rents, and then copy
them into a larger book when he got home. The
tenants also kept a book each, which he signed as a
receipt for their rent. She could not say exactly what
time he went out on the 2d Sept., 1856, but his usual
time was between eleven and twelve o'clock. She
supposed, from the entries in the book, that he
must have been out on that day, but she
could not recollect that day particularly.
Mr. Roupell never came to their house. Mr. Wm.
Roupell never came before his father's death, but he
came just before the funeral and gave her husband
L 5 to buy some mourning with. The signature of
her husband as the attesting witness to the will was
not in the handwriting of her husband. (Several
signatures were produced, which the witness said
were in her husband's writing.)
Cross.examined by Mr. Bovill—She did not think
the signature was like her husband's writing at all.
His writing was much better than that was. She
did not know whether anybody who knew her hus-
band's writing could be taken in by the signature
or not. Her grandson used to do some writing for
her husband, but as she did not like him to write
all day she sometimes used to send him out for
run. but he was never away long. Her husband
very seldom went out in the afternoon, even ;Then he
had not been out in the morning. She sometimes
used to go with her husband to old Mr. Roupell's,
but as that was not far he generally went there by
himself. She did not think he was in the habit of
going there much, except ev hen he went on business,
but sometimes when he went he would have a long
chat with Mr. Roupell, and they would have some
refreshments and make themselves comfortable.
(Laughter.) Mr. Roupell was very partial to her
husband. Her husband was very moderate in what
he had, but she could always tell when he had been
to Mr. Roupell's and " made himself comfortable.