The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-29 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

A young man named James Russell, who formerly
lived as a porter at Mr. Clark's, a draper in the
Blackfriars-road, was charged with uttering a forged
request for the delivery of a piece of silk value 371.,
with intent to defraud Messrs. Thompson, wholesale
mercers, 27, Wood-street.
Thomas Brewin, a warehouseman, stated that the
prisoner came in on Wednesday afternoon, and pre-
sented a note, purporting to be written by Mr. Clark,
of 62, Blackfriars-road, requesting a piece of black
silk according to pattern to be sent by the bearer.
He suspected it was a trick, because Mr. Clark would
not require so much as sixty yards of one pattern at
the same time, nor was the order in his usual hand-
writing ; and he knew Mr. Clark either came and
selected his goods or purchased of their travellers.
He asked the prisoner who gave him that note ? He
replied, a stranger at the top of the street, who spoke
to him while he was looking in at the music-shop,
and was to meet him there again in a quarter of an
hour. He immediately called in a policeman and
gave him into custody.
Skews, City policeman, 141, stated that he searched
the prisoner, and found an order in the same hand-
writing for some cloth, according to pattern, ad-
dressed to Messrs. Cash and Ledyard, woollen drapers
in Wood-street.
Mr. Alderman MusGitovE asked what was the
value of the cloth sought to be obtained by this forged
order ? The witness said about 45 yards, at 6s. 6d.
a yard. Prisoner gave his address in Maiden-lane,
King's Cross. He went there, and, finding the pri-
soner's wife had been confined only a week, he
thought it prudent to make as light of it as he could,
told her her husband had got into a little trouble, and
came away.
Mr. Clark, of the Blackfriars-road, proved that
both the orders were forged. He knew the prisoner
well. He hired him as a porter about eight years
ago, and he remained with him about a year and a
half. He then went away for a time, but he returned
and remained with him till last March, when witness
discharged him, he being detected in cutting a piece
of doeskin under suspicious circumstances.
Mr. Alderman MUSGROVE asked if he was in the
habit of sending the prisoner for goods with such
orders ? Mr. Clark said he was not, but the prisoner
knew with what houses he dealt by being sent with
returned goods.
Mr. Alderman MusmitovE asked if he knew the
writing on the forged orders? Mr. Clark said he
believed they were written by the prisoner's wife.
The policeman said, the prisoner lived at a chand-
ler's shop, and purchased a sheet of paper on Wed-
nesday morning. He had bought another sheet of
the same quire, to show that the two orders corre-
sponded with it in quality and colour.
Mr. Alderman MUSGROVE asked the prisoner if he
wished to say anything respecting this charge ?
The prisoner replied, " I am guilty. I am quite
satisfied to undefgo the punishment attached to this
crime."
Mr. Alderman MusGßovE said he should send him
for trial on that charge.
The prisoner was then charged with uttering a
forged request, purporting to be written by Mr. Col-
lins, of York-place, Kennington-road, for two sable
muffs, whereby he had defrauded Mr. Berncastel, a
furrier in Great Dover-street, of goods, value 81. 10s.
It appeared that the prisoner had lived at Mr. Bern-
castel's as an errand lad some years ago, and thus
became acquainted with his customers. About a
fortnight ago the prisoner presented the forged order.
Mr. Berncastel remarked, "I have seen you before."
'The prisoner replied, " Yes, I used to live with you,
but I am now at Mr. Collins's." Mr. Berncastel
asked how long he had been there, for he had never
seen him there. The prisoner replied he had lived at
Mr. Collins's for nine months past, and he had often
seen Mr. Berncastel there. This lulled Mr. Bern-
castel's doubts, and he sent the goods. The prisoner
said his master wanted them for a customer named
Ward. _ _ _

Mr. Collins proved the order was forged, but re-
marked that about a week before this transaction a
woman, in an advanced stage of pregnancy, called to
inquire, as she said, by the direction of Mrs. Ward, a
neighbour and customer, what the price of a good
sable muff would be, and he told her about 2/. 10s.
up to 61. He knew nothing of the prisoner.
The officer said he had confessed he had pledged
the two muffs, and had told him where, but he had
not had an opportunity of requiring the attendance
of the pawnbroker.
Mr. Alderman MUSGROVE said the prisoner was a
large dealer in his way, and perhaps some other cases
would transpire if time were given. He remanded
the prisoner till the next day.