The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-12 00:00:00

BOIV-STREET.

EXTENSIVE FORGERIES ON THE IMPERIAL BANK
OF Russin.—Gcorge Ramuz and Paul Iliazeaux, two
Frenchmen, were brought up for examination, charged
under the Ist Wm. IV., sec..l9, c. 66, with having, in
their possession certain forged notes of a foreign bank,
with intent to circulate the same.

Mr. Bush, the solicitor to the Association of Bankers,
attended on the part of the prosecution ; and Mr. Chad-
wick Jones as counsel for the prisoners. The Russian
and French Consuls were also in attendance, and ap-
peared to take great interest in the proceedings. The
examination of the prisoners lasted several hours.
Mr. Henry Salt, an engraver residing in Leicester-
street, Leicester-square, stated that in the early part of
last August the prisoner Mazeaux (of whom he had
some previous knowledge) called upon him, and, after
showing him two papers, inquired if he could engrave
copies of them ? Witness, after exin►ining them,
said he could, but that he could not get paper
with a water-mark like that produced. Upon which
Mazeaux said that the person by whom he was em-
ployed would furnish the paper. The writing on the
paper which the prisoner showed witness, was in a
foreign language, and he did not understand what it
was. The witness, after sonic conversation, agreed to
copy one of the notes, which had the figures 25 in the
corner. The other had a figure of 5. He had no
idea at that time that they were the notes of a foreign
bank. The prisoner Mazeaux asked what witness
would charge. at the same time telling him that money
was no abject. Witness agreed to engrave one of the
plates required for 111., and on the following day the
prisoners came to his shop together, and paid 3/. Si.
us a deposit. There was something in their manner
that excited his suspicion, and he at length, having
found out that the note was a Russian bank note,
waited upon the Russian Consul, and informed him of
what had happened. During the time the plate was
in progress, the prisoners repeatedly culled ttp know
when it would be finished. When the plate was finished
witness took it and some impressions he had taken from
it to the prisoner Mazeaux, at his house in Church-
street, Soho. The other prisoner was there at the
time. While witness was there the officers entered and
took the prisoners into custody. Witness had seen a
third for&gner with the prisoners when ho went to the
house in Church-rareet.

Tortillas Gould stated that he was in the service of
the last witness. After confirming a part of his evi-
dence he added, that on one occasion when he was at
work on the plate in question, the prisoner Mazeaux
called at his master's -hop, and on seeing what he was
about, told him that if any person came into the shop
while he was at work upon that plate he was to put it
aside, Witness informed his master of that circum-
stance. His master then. got somebody to translate
what was on the note, and ha consequence went to the
Russian Consul.
Daniel Forrester, at .active City officer, stated• that
in consequence of information he received he went on
Tnursday last to the house of the prisoner Mazeaux,
in Church-street, Soho. On'entering the back parlour
ha found both the prisoners and Mr. Salt there. He
took from Mazeaux the copper-plate produced, and on
searching the room he found another copper-plate (co-
pies of Russian bank notes).
John Forrester, a brother of the last witness, stated
that ho accompan:ed the last witness on the occasion
in question, and took Ramuz into custody. On search-
ing him he found several notes of the Russian bank ;
they were all forged, and l.ad been struck from the
plate found in the possession of the other prisoner.
Wm. Ballard, an old Bow-street officer, confirmed the
evidence of the City officers.
Louis Russell, a Russian merchant, residing in Broad-
street, City, stated that he had frequently seen the
paper money of the empire of Russia. The papers pro-
duced (and which were taken from the plate found in
the possession of the prisoners) were forgeries. The fol-
lowing is a translation of one of them :
" The Commercial Bank of the Empire will pay on
this note immediately on presentation the sum of twenty-
five roubles in silver money.
(Signed)

Director.

•
" Manager.
" —, Cashier?'
—lt is signed by three persons, who hold the above si-
tuations.
Mr. Bush—What are their names? Witness—The
first is, 80-ro-lan-no-ski
The witness was about to finish the name, of which
the above is only about half, when Mr. Bush interrupted
him, and said, " That's enough."—(Roars of laughter.)

_ .
Witness continued—He had seen such notes in even-
lation at St. Pctersburgh.
Mr. Bush said that was all the evidence he was pre-
pared with at present, and he therefore wished that the
prisoners should be remanded until he could procure fur-
ther evidence from St. Peter-burgh.
Mr. HALL said he should grant the application.
Mr. C. Jones said that he hoped, under the circum-
stances, the prisoners would be admitted to bail.
Mr. HALL said he did not consider the case was one
in which bail ought to be taken.
The prisoners were then remanded for seven weeks.

Jules Rauh was next placed at the bar, charged with
being concerned with the other prisoners in the above
off-ore. The only evidence against him was to the
effect tha,•. Johli Forrester apprehended him conse-
quence of some information he received, and that on
searching him he found in his pocket-book three forged
notes of the Russian Bank, which had evidently been
struck from the plate found in the possession of the other
prisoners, and that he had frequently been seen in their
company, . . .

•
Phis prisoner, in defence, said the notes were given
to him by a strange man, when► he accidentally met in
L eicester-wquare._

He was remanded also for seven weeks.

The greatest credit is due to the officers, for the tact
they displayed in the case. Had it been left to the new
police, the result would have been very different. The
prisoners, with the exception of Ramuz, were of rather
a shabby genteel appearance.