The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-17 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

A very respectable looking young man, named Tames Ilan-
nem, was charged before Mr. Alderman Humphery with frau-
dulently obtaining money under the following rather singular
circuu.stances:—

Mr. Edward Hockley, a conveyancer, residing in Doctors'-
Commons, stated that the prisoner produced some title-d eds
relating to a freehold estate in Hotherhithe, the property of his
(prisoner's) aunt, an old lady residing in Blandford, Hereford-
fordshire, and a letter purporting to be signed by her, autho-
rising the advance of certain sums of money on it. To the
best of witness's belief the signature is a forgery.
Cross-examined by Mr. Humphries, the solicitor for the de-
fence—Had seen the prisoner's aunt, whose name was Sharpies,
write once. Had had dealings with the prisoner before ; at
present had a bill of his for 5001. in his possession, and another
for 3401. was placed in his banker's hands.
David Strong said he was a saddler in New Bond-street, and
had been long acqainted with Mrs. Sharpies and her
family. About four years ago she made a will, to
which he was appointed executor, which was since destroyed.
She lived with the prisoner, who was married to her niece,
and from a letter which he (witness) received, relative to some
papers being abstracted, he was induced to go down to have
her removeeelsewhere. Had advanced 71. 10s. for her ex-
penses. She had since executed another will, by which the
whole of her property was left to him, subject to the payment
of her debts. Thought the signature to the letter of authority
was a forgery, as she seemed usually to lean heavier on her pen.
Cross-examined by Mr. Humphries—Whenever the old lady
signed her name latterly, she was so feeble as to be obliged to
get a person to guide her hand. Did not think this would
cause much difference in the style of writing.
Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY observed that the property had
been all left to the last witness, Strong, subject to the payment
of her debts ; he had a great interest in proving the present
charge of forgery. He had advanced her only 71. 10s., and it
struck him (Sir. Ald. Humphery) that if the present case ware
established, the money, which now appeared due under the
letter of authority from the testator's estate, would be wiped
away to the benefit of the legatee.
Sir. Strong here interrupted the Worthy Alderman, and
said he had large claims against the prisoner at the bar, and
could have transported him long ago if he chose, and he did not
expect that the Court would .have entered into any of these
details.

Mr. Alderman HUMPHERS said except Strong was prepared
to establish his assertions they were highly improper. It was
often necessary to go into such cases very minutely, to discover
the motives influencing the parties. He should admit the pri-
soner to bail.

Roe, the officer, said he arrested the prisoner at the Belle
Sauvage Inn, and found in his carpet-bag 50/. in notes, three
cheque-books, with London bankers, with whom he had ac-
counts, and a quantity of plate, some of which bore hisinitials.
The prisoner offered him a five-pound note, for the purpose of
allowing him to escape. When he brought him to the Compter
he ran away, but was overtaken within a few doors of the Belle
Savauge.
In reply to Mr. Humphries, Roe said that the prisoner, in
offering him the five-pound note, did not say it was to allow
him to escape; and his reason for running away from him, out
of the Compter, might be try and see some friends who were
stopping at the Belle Sauvage, as he had begged hard to see
them before he was conveyed to prison.