The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-16 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT-THIS DAY.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice PATTESON. )
FORGERY OF A POWER OF ATTOUNEY.-71ion1as
PU-
grid aged 22, gated in the; calendar to be a cabinet-
maker, was charged with feloniously forging and uttering
two powers of attorney, with intent to defraud the Go-
vernor and Company of the Bank of England. There
was another count charging him with intent to def; slid one
Matthew Dick.

Sir F. PoLLocK and Mr. BULLOCK appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. BALLANTINE defended the prisoner.
Sir F. POLLOCE, who stated that the prosecution was
instituted by the Bank of Et,gland, opened the case, and
called the following witnesses ;

Drinkwater exa,nined by Mr. BULLOCK —ls a
clerk in the Three-and-a. Half per Cent. office at the
Bank ; produces one of the ledgers of the office.
Mr. 13t.i.ocK—Look at the 21st of September last, and
see if any st,ck stands in the name of Dick.
Mr. BALLANTINS objected to the question, inasmuch as
there was no evidence to shuw that the witness was its a
condition to know anything on the subject.
By Sir F. Put.Locx—The book is a public book of the
hank of England, containing the names of persons holding
stock under the letter D. The entry was not in witness's
handwriting.
By Mr. BALLANTINS—The book was taken this morn-
ing from the safe. The clerk who made the entry is now
at the Bask.

Mr. BALLANTINE objected to the witness stating
anything from the book, which he apprehended was
given hint to refresh his memory.
Sir F. PoLtocic said the book was put in in evidence
as a substantive record of the Bank of England.
Mr. BALLANTINE could not then object to its reception.
Witness.—There stands, on the 21st of September,
100/. New 3i per Cent. Stock, in the name of Matthew
Dick. I produce a power of attorney for th• transfer of
the said stock, given to William Pilgrim ; it concludes
with a demand, signed by the said \V. Pilgrim, to act
thereon. I witnessed the signature. There was a trans-
fcr made upon that demand to act at the same time. I
produce the transfer-book. The transfer was made on
the 21st of September, at the same time with the demand
to account. I attested the transfer—it purports to be
made by J. W. Pilgrim, as attorney. The paper now
produced contains the instructions for that power of at-
torney
Cross-examined—The Bank requires that the person
producing a power of attorney should be identified as the
person in whose favour the power is made. This is ordi-
narily done by the stock-broker, wit° is, generally speaking,
known at the Bank.

James Railton examined by Sir F. Pont-lex-1 am a
stock-broker, carrying on business in Threadneedle-street.
I know the prisoner ; became acquainted with him in July
last. The prisoner was sent to me by Mr. M. Dick and
a friend of his. I bad ne previous acquaintance with him.
He came to me at my office. He came alone. He
said he came from Mr. Shed, of Manchester-square, a
friend of Mr. Dick's. I had known Mr. Dick for two or
three years. Prisoner told me his name was \Villtam Pit-
g, ire. I afterwards transacted business for him as William
Pilgrim. lie came again in September last, and produced
a flute purportieg to be written by Mr. Dick. The note is
now produced. (The note was then put in and read ; it
purported to be from Mr. Dick, and requested Mr. Rail-
tan to effect a sale of Long Annuities to raise 1001 , or if
they should be closed, asking a loan of 100/, at 5 per
cent., to be repaid on the writer's return from Scotland,
where he was about to proceed).
Thomas E:ilin Tomlies—l am clerk to Messrs. Fresh-
fiel r, the solicitors to the Bank. I served the notice pro-
duced on the prisoner on the 14th of this month.
Matthew Dick—The prisoner at the bar never brought
me any letter in the month of September last, purporting
to come from Mr. Railton, the stock-broker.
Mr. Railton recalled —The substance of the note was
that Mr. Dick must get his money in the regular way by
the sale of stock. On the following day, 18th Septem-
ber, the prisoner brought another letter. The letter was
real, stating that the writer entrusted the whole to Nit-.
Pilgrim, and did nut think there would be much berm in
his personating him; but if so a power must be procured.
This was signed M. Dick.) The first note related to the
Long Annuities ; that Stock was closed at the thrive
In consequence of the last note I prepared in.
structions for a power of attorney for the trans-
fer of the stock. The inetructions produced are those
I prepared. On sending them into the bank, I procured
the power produced, and delivered it to the prisoner in
an unexecuted state. Oe the following day, the 19th, he
came again, bringing it back with the name of Matthew
Dick written opposite the seal, and the names of two
persons as witnesses. I told hire it appeared to be right,
and if it was passed at the Bank. I would transfer the stock on
the Monday. I took it to the bank and placed it in the proper
box. I wen: on the Monday to inquire at the bank. It was
not allowed at first. I produced those two notes as to the
handwriting of Mr. Dick, and the power was allowed.
I was present when the prisoner claimed to act, and saw
him write the signature, William Pilgrim, to the de-
mand to act. On the power being passed I effected a
sale of the stock to Mr. Clement Smith. The transfer
is now produced. I saw the prisoner sign the name of
Win. Pilgrim to it. I was the witness to his iden-
tity. I effected the transfer, and paid over to the
prisoner 961. Bs. 6d., the net proceeds thereof.
Some time after that Mr. Dick called upon me in De-
cember. Some explanation then took place, which led to
a discovery. We went to the Bank. Prisoner eama to
me on 7th December to effect a sale of 10/. Long Annui-
ties in the name of Mr. Dick. I gave him into custody
of Forrester the officer.

Cross.exarained.—l have acted as stockbroker in Mr.
Dick's affairs. I knew pretty well what stock Mr. Dick
posEessed previously to Pilgrim coming to nee. Mr. Dick
lived in Trafalgar square ; I live at Islington. I acted for
Mr. Dick in the month cf August last. lam not certain
whether I had seen his handwriting before prisoner came
to me ; certainly not a dozen times ; perhaps half a dozen ;
I may have seen it; I certainly have seen it. I have been
in business since M.. 1 last. lam not a member of the
Stock Exchange. I was not licensed when I effected
those transfers, nor was I aware it was necessary. I be-
lieve it was optional.
Mr. BALLANTINE—DO you know any respectable man
who acts without a license?

Mr. Justice PATTKSON—I do several.
Sir F. P, LLOCK—There is no doubt in the profession
that the stock-broker need not take cu! a licence from tha
city, as the public fuf di are slot goods, wares, or mer-
chandise, over which the city hes control.
Witness re-examined.—l never correTonded with Mr.
Dick, or received letters front him. I was thought suffi-
ciently acquainted with Mr. Dick's handwriting to know
those notes to be genuine, and I tack them to be so.
Matthew Dick—l live at 19, Catherine-street, Pimli-
e?. I hai some money in the per Cent. Annuities pro-
v:ous to Sept. last. I
never authorised the sale of it
I know notnirg of the power of attorney produced. I
never signed it. Neithe of the notes produced are in my
handwriting. I know the prisoner—his name is Thomas
Pilgrim. I know his handwriting. The name of Mathew
Dick in the power I swear is his handwriting. Both the
loiters are in his writing. I never had any conversation
with him about them. I know nothing of the persons who
have signed as witnesses to that power. The prisoner told
me he executed the whole himself. He told me at the
Mansion-house previous to the examination.
By Mr. BALLANTINE—He said this before the officers
in the room.
Mr. BALLANTINE—Did sou threaten to punch him ?
Witness—To be sure I did.