The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-10 00:00:00

BO W-S TREE T.

A young man of very gentlemanly appearance, look-
ing about 20 years of age, and describing himself as
William GraLure, of the Tavistock Hotel, Covent-
garden, and residing at Walton house, iornersetshire,
was brought before Mr. Henry, shortly before the closing
of the court, charged with having altered a cheque upon
Coutts and Cu., from Si. to 801., with intention to defraud
the bankers.

Henry Burgess, a shopman in the employ of Messrs.
Fortnum and Mason, of Piccadilly, proved that. the pri-
soner ordered a ,quantity of goods at their shop a few
days ag.), for a lady in St. John's-wood, and then asked
to be favoured with a cheque for 81. upon the bankers of
the firm, in exchange for eight sovereigns, which he
threw upon the counter. He said that he wanted the
cheque to send into the country. Witness applied to
Mr. Keats, the principal, by whom the cheque was
then drawn for the amount requested and handed to the
prisoner, who gave the name of "J. H. Montgomery,
Esq." Shortly afterwards the prisoner returned to the
shop, and presenting the cheque partially torn, said he
had accidentally used it to light his cigar, and begged to
be favoured with another. Another of the principals,
after making some inquiry of the witness, then drew
out a second ch. que for the same amount, and it was
given to the prisoner. Witness identified a cheque pro•
duced as the same, with the alterations mentioned in the
charge, which had been made since.
Henry Ayling, an oyster-shop keeper, in St. Martin's-
court, stated that he knew the prisoner from his being in
the habit of taking oysters and stout at his shop. On
Tuesday last the prisoner called upon him, and requested
him to go out and obtain a cheque upon a London banker
for 61, and gave him six sovereigns for that purpose.
Witness went to several of his neighbours, hut could nut
procure one, the answer of the several tradesmen being,
that ‘• the party who wanted it could procure a post-
,ifiee order, if be wished to send that sum into the
country." lie conveyed this answer to the prisoner, who
gave him a sovereign for his trouble. On that day
(Friday) he called again, and said he wished to get a
cheque upon Coutts and Co. cashed, and witness said
that he would call at the bank for him. It was agreed
that the prisoner should call again at four o'clock for the
money, which 'Wtt3 to be 801.; the prisoner observing that
he would have two DM notes, ten 51. notes, and the re-
mainder in gold. Witness accordingly went to the
bank, but on presenting the cheque was himself given
into custody. lie related the circumstances at the bank,
and directed the officers to his house, where the young
man was taken, at four o'clock.
Mr. Keats and a constable in private clothes corrobo-
rated this evidence, and the latter deposed that the pri-
soner, on being taken into custody, said that Mr. Mont-
gomery had requested him to obtain the cash.
The prisoner aomitted the truth of the statements
made against him, and begged to retract what he said to
the constable, as to being requested by a Mr.
gomery to obtain the money. '1 he name of Montgomery
was false. His own name was Grabure. It was true
that he altered the cheque, but he had not made the
attempt on any other occasion. He destroyed the first
cheque because he failed in altering it satisfactorily to
himself.

In answer to an inquiry from Mr. HENRY, he said that
he was in his 18th year.
Mr. 'ENRY remarked upon the indiscretion of the
parties who gave the cheques upon a mere pretence that
the prisoner was going to send them into the country,
and also ketured the witness Ayling upon his want of
caution in thfi matter. His Worship remanded him for
further examination.

The prisoner appeared astonished to learn that he
was going to be detained in prison, and with great
simplicity urged that gentle men would " stand " bail
for him to any amount. He declared that imprison-
ment would ruin him, and, as he left the bar, he said
that they might hear of him at the Junior United
Service Club.
He was the removed from the dock.