The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-13 00:00:00

810
796

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—Just before the rising of the court
Mr. Wm. Guy, surveyor and accountant, 9, Essex-street,
Strand, was placed at the bar before Mr. Jardine,
charged with uttering a forged bill of exchange for 1001.,
with inteat to defraud the Royal British Bank.
A solicitor who attended to prosecute, and whose
name did not transpire, stated that the bill of exchange
was impounded by order of the Insolvent Commissioner,
in consequence of what had occurred respecting it in
the course of some proceedings before his Honour. The
prisoner Guy, while under examination as a witness
in the Insolvent Debtors' Court, admitted that he had
received the whole amount of the bill, on presenting it
at the bank ; and the bill itself would be forthcoming at
a future day, if his worship would grant a remand.
A Mr. Golding, 82, Chiswell-street, who stated that he
was clerk to Mr. R. Hare, solicitor and prosecutor in this
case, deposed that he was present when the prisoner
made the above admissions, and saw the bill of exchange.
It purported to be drawn by Mr. Geo. Stephens, and ac-
cepted by Mr. London, of Hung,erford-market. The pri-
soner was asked by the commissioner himself if he pre-
sented the bill, and he replied in the affirmative, stating
that he received the money in nine 10/. notes, and the
balance in cash. He refused to answer the question as to
whether the endorsement was in his handwriting. The
commissioner ordered the bill to be impounded, and it
was at present in the hands of Mr. Inkpen, the regis-
trar of the Insolvent Court, who stated that he would
attend with it before a magistrate if required to do so.
Mr. Jardine—You must give me some evidence that
he knew the bill to be a forgery. The mere fact of his
receiving the money does not establish the charge of
wilfully uttering.
The Prisoner—l admit receiving the money.
Thomas Murray, ironmonger, of 13, High-street, St.
Giles, stated that he was the plaintiff in an action
brought upon the bill of exchange. He knew Stephens,
and could swear that the endorsement was not in his
handwriting. He knew the defendant's writing very
well, although he had not seen him write for 12 months.
The endorsement was evidently written in a disguised
hand, but to the best of his belief it was in the hand-
writing of the prisoner, being altered from his usual
style.
The prisoner said if the magistrate considered there
was any ground whatever for' this charge, he would
cross-ea amine the witnesses. The whole thing was the
result of a conspiracy against him, at the head of which
was that gentleman (pointing to Mr. Hare) who had just
left the Insolvent Court, and had been forbidden to prac-
tise there again by the Commissioner.
Mr. Hare assured his worship that he had been the
victim of the prisoner Guy, and that accounted for his
being the insolvent.
A general interchange of calumnies then commenced
among the persons present who appeared to be interested
in the case, after which

Mr. Jardine stated his intention to remand the pri-
soner till Saturday— the evidence of Murray having
placed the matter in a different light altogether. But
for this there would have been no criminal charge
against him.
The prisoner hoped he should be admitted to bail.
The bill of exchange was a year old, and yet the parties
had thought fit to take no steps in the matter till now,
which showed their real motives in the matter.
Mr. Jardine declined to accept bail.

CLERKENWELL.—Mr. Francis Coltman 'Soper,
the secretary of the Working Man's Emigration Society,
Bedford-street, Red Lion-square, was placed at the bar,
charged by Mrs. Eliza Skinner, a young woman, with
having violently and indecently assaulted her.
The complainant having been sworn said— I live at
No. 18, Bedford-street, Red Lion-square, where the
Working Man's Emigration Society is held. I lodge
with my husband and family in the top part of
the house. The defendant is the landlord of the
house. On Friday last I was in the wash-house,
when Mr. Soper came in and took hold of me.
I pushed him away. He wanted me to kiss him, and
he asked me to kiss him. I told him of his brutal con-
duct towards me, and said it was cruel. I asked him
whether ho had forgotten his cruelty towards me on the
Monday before. He said he did not remember. I told
him his conduct had been cruel to me all the week. He
said, " What dirty petticoats you have got on," and he
pulled me about and broke my stay bone and bruised
me. He then went away into his office. My child,
three years of age, was in the yard when he ill-used me,
and screamed. On Monday he pulled me into his office,
and shut me in. I saw no more of him until Friday.
My husband was up stairs and heard the screams of the
child, and saw defendant ill-using me. My husband
spoke to him and he denied it, and said it was an attempt
to extort money from him. I had complained to the
neighbourhood of the defendant's conduct towards me.
Mr. Tyrwhitt asked the defendant what he had to say
to the charge ?
Defendant—l deny it in toto. It is a trumped-up
charge to extort money from me. (To complainant)—
Will you swear you did not follow me into my office ?
Complainant—l will, you bad man. I have five chil-
dren.

By Soper—My husband was never jealous of me.
Defendant—l solemnly declare that I know nothing
of what she charges me with.
James Stockeld said he is a clerk employed at the
" Working Man's Emigration Society," and gave evi-
dence with a view to show that the defendant was
absent from the house at the time of the alleged
assault.
William Jeffs said that he is one of the directors of the
" Working Man's Emigration Society," residing in
Gough-street, Bryanstone-square.
Defendant—Have you ever observed any levity on the
part of Mrs. Skinner.
Witness—l must say I have witnessed familiarity
between Mr. Soper and complainant. I saw Mr. Soper
kiss Mrs. Skinner in the drawing-room. 1 was there at
the time. She did not resist him ; she begged of him
not to repeat it, as her husband might hear of it.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—Did you not think it odd that she
should select a time to kiss Mr. Soper in the drawing-
room when you were present ?
Witness (with sang froid)—Why, yes.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—And I suppose you thought it rather
odd too that Mr. Soper, the secretary of the " Working
Man's Emigration Society," should kiss Mrs. Skinner in
the presence of ono of the directors of the society ? (To
Jeffs) :—Pray, how did he kiss her ?
Jeff—He kissed her with jocularity. (A laugh.)
Mr. Tyr vihitt—Did he ever kiss her in the board-
room ?
Witness—l never saw him.
Mrs. Skinner assured the court that the defendant
and his witnesses had stated nothing but falsehoods.
Defendant said he could produce witnesses to prove
an alibi.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said he would not shut him out from
that. The evidence of his two witnesses availed him
nothing. He must say that the evidence of Jeffs, the
director, was most extraordinary, and that IMrs. Skin-
ner was entitled to every credit from the manner in
which she gave her evidence. He would remand the
case for further evidence.