The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-08 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE BILL FORGERIES.
CAPTURE AND CONFESSION.
SHEFFIELD, FRIDAY.
The police authorities of this town have in custody
an accomplished and hitherto highly successful bill forger
and swindler, who was captured on Wednesday, and has
since made a confession of no fewer than seven extensive
forgeries. His name is Ernest Grapel, and it has been as-
certained that he is an extensive manufacturer of gutta
percha wares at Birmingham. His arrest was brought
about in the following manner:— Wednesday after-
noon he went to the warehouse of Messrs. Thomas Ellin
and Co., on Sheffield-moor, and stated that he wanted to
purchase some expensive table cutlery. He stated in
conversation that the goods were intended for the Bishop
of Omaburg, and that he was purchasing for Messrs. J.
C. Flack and Co., of that plane. He selected goods to the
amount of 75/, 103., less an allowance of 2i per cent. for
himself, and got the invoice made out to Messrs. Flack.
He then presented in payment a draft for 177/. 3s. Bd.
on Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith, of London,
dated May 22, 1852, and purporting to be drawn by
the Manchester and Liverpool Bank at Stafford. He de-
mandedrefusing a letter of credit on
London
was going immediately to
theo n balance
a plea in gold,
he
France. This circumstance excited suspicion. Mr. G.
Barbur.(of the firm of Messrs. Ellin sod Co.) said he
would send the draft to the bank to be cashed. He in-
dorsed it accordingly, and the stranger countersigned it
A. W. Simont." The instrument was presented im-
mediately afterwards to the cashier at the Sheffield
Banking Company, with a request that he would pass it
to Messrs. Eilin'e credit and give the bearer 1001. in
cash. The cashier did not like th© appearance of the
draft, so he referred to Mr. Wild, the sub-manager, and
it was submitted to Messrs. J. H. Barber, the manager.
They all agreed that it had a suspicious appearance, and
so thought Messrs. Parkin and Bacon, the engravers, to
whom Mr. Barber submitted it for scrutiny. The mana-
ger thereupon procured the aid of two police officers,
who went forthwith to Messrs. : Ellin's establish-
ment, where the payer was waiting, and had some con-
versation with him, which ultimately induced him to give
the individual into custody. The bank manager next
proceeded to the establishment of Messrs. Josh. Rodgers
and Sone, upon whom he knew a forged draft had been
palmed last autumn. Mr. Robert Newbold, a partner in
the fiem, after hearing from Mr. Barber what had
transpired, accompanied him to the police-office, and
recognised the man in custody as the very per-
son who in September last paid him a forged banker's
draft for 1981. 11s. 2d., in payment for 801. 185. 9d.
worth of cutlery, giving as a reference Messrs.
Zwelchenhart and Co., merchants, Liverpool. The
draft, it appears, purported to be drawn on the Co-
ventry and Warwickshire Banking Company, in favour
of J. J. .Elder, and by the latter specially endorsed
to R. A. Lambert, the name by which the prisoner then
passed. He got the balance in cash, and a few days
afterwards the draft was discovered to be a forgery. So
complete was the deception that the discovery was not
made till the instrument reached the banking-house of
Messrs. Jones Loyd and Co., who found it out because
they had not received any advice of it.
The prisoner, finding himself completely caught, made
a full confession of his guilt, and avowed his connexion
with five or six other forgeries. Ile has since been
very communicative, and has explained with great
minuteness the modus operandi which he has found so
very successful in deceiving both commercial men and
baukers. These revelations are likely to prove of great
value in the detection of future forgeries.
The prisoner was brought up before the mayor this
day, on the two charges named above, and further ac-
cused (on his own confession) of another fraud of the
same nature. On Saturday last he purchased goods to
the amount of 901., of Messrs. Bloomer and Co., iron
merchants, Westbromwich, tendering in payment a
draft for 1871. 7s. 3d., purporting to be drawn by the
Manchester and Liverpool Bank. The Westbromwich
bank cashed the draft, endorsed by the prisoner, "A.
W. Simont," and he received the change against the pur-
chase. This forged draft, singularly enough, passed
through three banks, and reached Messrs. Smith, Payne,
and Smiths', without having been detected. Some
evidence having been taken, the case was remanded to
Wednesday next.