The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-06 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
(Before Chief Justice TINDAL. )
Eliza Harris was indicted for forging and uttering a certi-
ficate and order for the payment of the pension of Richard
Stocking, he being at the time dead, with intent to defraud
his Majesty's revenue.
John Smith Graham, the Paymaster of the Out-pensions
of Greenwich—His office was on Tower-hill, City. Saw
the prisoner at his office first about two years-and-a-half ago.
She then received Stocking's pension, and continued to do
so. In October last she came and produced a paper and re-
ceived the pension, which amounted to 81. is. for one quarter.
Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIPS—He had understood that
the pensioner resided with, and was taken care of, by the pri-
soner ; and she had always received the pension.
Mr. Bellamy, of Bridge-house-place, Surrey. Knew the
pensioner Stocking about six years ago. He thought he was
then about 70, and was confined to his bed with the rheumatic
gout. He gave a certificate of his bad health, in order to be
presented at the Pension-office. The prisoner was introduced,
and she came regularly every quarter-day for the certificate.
In October he inquired why Stocking had not been got into
the hospital, and she said they had not been able to do so yet.
James Franklin, a shoemaker, knew the prisoner, who came
to reside in his neighbourhood about a year ago. She told
him that a pensioner called Stocking resided with her. In
July last she asked him to pledge a bed, in order to purchase
a coffin to bury Stockings. He saw the funeral leave the house
on the 14th July.
Cross-examined.—The prisoner was much distressed at the
death of Stocking.
Thomas Duncan, undertaker, of the London-road. In July
last she came to him with a parish order for the funeral of
Stocking. He provided a coffin, and carried the body to the
grave. The prisoner gave 12s. additional, in order that he
might provide an elm in place of a deal coffin. There were
such evident marks of poverty about the house, that it was dis-
tressing to enter it. About a month after he met her in the
street, and she asked him for a certificate of the burial, but
asked him to date it either forward or backward, so that she
might obtain the pension. Formal proof of the services and
pension of Stocking was then given by various clerks from
different offices.

Mr. PHILLIPS addressed the Jury for the prisoner, and
pleaded merely for a recommendation to mercy, as it was evi-
dent that the prisoner had been steeped in poverty, and had
gone beyond her means, even to the pledging of her bed, in
o:dar to give the poor old man a more respectable funeral.
The LORD CHIEF JU?.I"ICE summed up very shortly, and
the Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty, but accom-
panied with a recommendation to mercy.
Air. ADOLPHUS said as the law at present stood, it was
imperative upon the Court to pass sentence of transportation
for life, but if the case was brought before Government, it
would be leniently considered.

John Charles Todd was indicted for stealing a money-letter
which enclosed an order for the payment of 11. 19s. i Id.,
while in the employment of the Post-office.
The prisoner when arraigned, pleaded Not Guilty; but on
being put to the bar, he withdrew that plea, and pleaded
guilty. Ills wife was indicted along with him for receiving
the order, but the Grand Jury threw out the Bill and she was
ordered to be discharged.