The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-17 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

In the course of yesterday afternoon Mr. Woolfe at-
tended at this Court, and, addressing Mr. Burrell, the
presiding magistrate, said—" You will remember, Sir,
that on the 4th instant I made an application to you on
behalf of a young woman, for a summons against the
Hon. Mr. Grautley Berkeley. as the putative father of
a male bastard child, and which application you were
pleased to grant. In the information then exhibited
the summons is made returnable on Wednesday next.
Upon reference to the Bastardy Act, I find that the
complaint must bo made and determined within forty
days, and that six days must intervene between the ser-
vice of the summons and the hearing of the complaint.
Now, Sir, in consequence of the continued absence of
the defendant from town, the course of proceeding has
been materially obstructed, as the frienda of the woman
who is my client, though very respectable persons, are
not in the most affluent circumstances, and some diffi-
culties have therefore necessarily arisen in the execution
of the process. Since I made my original application to
you in this case some very extraordinary proceedings
have taken place. A few days after the granting of the
summons I accidentally met a gentleman, who is, as I
believe, the managing clerk of Mr. Raw, a solicitor of
Furnival's Inn, who is acting as the agent, as I under-
stand, to the private solicitor of Mr. Grantley Berkeley.
That gentleman said he wished to speak with me upon
the subject-matter of this case, and, after a few words,
appointed to see me at eleven the next morning, at the
office in Hatton-garden, but never kept the appointment.
On the 10th instant, however, my client, without any
intimation having been made to me previously, received
the following letter:—

" 5, Furnival's Inn, Nov. 10.
" Mr. Raw will thank Miss Lait to call at his office to-
morrow, or some other early day."
Mr. Woolfe continued—My client went as requested,
when the clerk to Mr. Raw, after endeavouring to
traduce me by means of an, anonymous letter, made her
an offer of 20/., and the law charges, if she would effect
an arrangement ; which offer she indignantly declined.
I must confess, that, considering the position Mr.
Grantley Berkeley holds in society, I cannot but express
my:surprise, that if be be not guilty of this imputation
he does not at once come forward and repudiate it. I
have been induced to wait upon you to-day to explain
the difficulties under which I am labouring ; and, as the
time within which the summons should have been
served has expired, you will, I apprehend, have no ob-
jection to grant me another. I also beg to hand you,
Sir, this extraordinary epistle upon the subject, which I
found on my desk late on Saturday last :
(Confidential.)
"Dear Sir,—l am requested to inquire whether the
father of Matilda Lait would bring an action for seduc-
tion provided that sufficient funds were furnished for that
purpose. Of courie I cannot say, at present, who would
be retained as solicitor in the action, as I am not in-
structed on that point, but I must beg the favour of your
immediate reply.

" Yours, &c.,
To which I sent the following reply :
" Miss Lait and Mr. Grantley Berkeley.
" Sir,—l must confess I was very much surprised at a
stranger writing me such a letter as that which I hare
just received from you. I presume that you aro not
aware that an insidious and unprofessional interview has
been had by Mr. Raw, of Furnival's Inn, or, with his
authority, by one of his clerks, with the complainant on
this subject. I have but too much reason to believe that
an unfair attempt is being made to subvert the true
course of justice, and, therefore, without meaning any
personal offence to you, you will see how necessary it is
to be cautious. It is not because it happens that the
defendant is the Hon. Mr. Grantley Berkeley, and the
complainant is a most unfortunate and almost friendless
young girl, that therefore her reputation is to be de-
stro) ed, and herself and child left unprotected and un-
provided for. It is not fair of you, under the circum
stances, to make the inquiry you do of me, in your letter,
as to ulterior proceedings, and I must therefore decline
to answer. I shall take a course which, to a certain ex-
tent at least, will show what it is my intention to do in
this matter. I remain, Sir, yours respectfully,
" (for Mr. A. Haynes)
"To Mr. EDWARD P. WOOLFE,
47, Hatton-garden."
Mr.Woolfe said, he was desirous for the present to avoid
mention of the name of the gentleman from whom the letter
appeared to come, although that was given with the ad-.
dress. The letter was couched in such ambiguous terms
that he hardly knew how to interpret its true meaning.
Mr. Woolfe continued—l don't please that either my
character or the character and interests of my client
should be impaired by the machinations of either the
defendant or those connected either professionally or
otherwise with him. I felt it to be my duty to Mr.
Raw, beliesing him to be a respectable member of the
profession, and notwithstanding what had occurred at
his office wish reference to myself, to call upon him this
morning, and, in an interview which I had with him, to
tell him that I should come to this court and acquaint
you, Sir, with what has transpired. I invited him to
meet me here, and hope he is here.

Mr. BURRELL—It (ion% appear that he is present. I
do nut conceive that I ought to feel any difficulty,under
the circumstances, in granting you a fresh summons
whenever you may apply for it. I cannot promise
beforehand, because I cannot say what may be alleged
on the othtr side.

Mr. WooHe repeated that he pledged his professional
reputation for the truth of his asskrtion.
Mr. BUIUiELL-I have not the slightest inclination, I
assure you, for a moment to question your veracity.

EXTENSIVE FORGERIES BY
POST-OFFICE ORDERS.

From the advertisements in the daily papers the public
are fully aware that Mr. John Morse, chemist and
druggist of Barnet, and the deputy-postmaster, has
:absconded, and a reward of fifty guineas has been
offered for his apprehension by the Post-office autho-
eities on the charge of forgery. The case is one of
a most extraordinary description arising from the
'extent of forgeries committed, amounting, it is un-
ders:ood, to some thousands. From the particulars which
have transpired it appears that Morse, who is highly
connected, carried on a most extensive business as a
chemist and druggist, and, from his supposed respect-
ability, was appointed one of the deputy-postmasters
of the county. In consequence of the traffic carried
on at Barnet, especially during the great cattle fair (Barnet
possesses the privilege of issuing and paying money-
orders) the whole of this department came under
the control of the accused. As soon as this depart-
ment came into operation, Morse commenced his sys•
tern of forgery by drawing from the chief office, St.
Martin's-le-Grand, from 151. to 201. a week on Post-
cffice orders, alleging that he had taken bills at short
dates for the money. his supposed respectability and
extensive business allayed all suspicion, and if any doubt
was created it was allayed by the money paid on the
Post-office orders being duly transmitted. As the new
system of money-orders increased, so did it appear that
the business of the post-office of Barnet multiplied, for,
from pounds, the orders increased to hundreds; and, as
the sums due were regidarly transmitted, unlimited
Confidence was placed in Morse. This course of busi-
ness went on until some thousands were due from Morse,
who, at first, allayed the suspicions of the Post-office
authorities, by saying that the great pressure which had
been occasioned by the extraordinary speculations of
'ast year, coupled with the state of the agricultural in-
terest, had caused a slight temporary suspension, but
within a week or two, at furthest, all would be made
right. The period thus stated was granted, but on the
expiration of it, and the money not forthcoming, some
of the Post-office authorities went down to Barnet, when
it was found that Morse had drawn out the whole of his
money from his bankers, and that he had decamped with
a female. It is understood that he was traced as far as
Liverpool, and that he had embarked for America, but
whether any steps have been taken for the American
Government to deliver him up is not known. The
amount obtained by the Post-office orders, and which,
upon inquiry, have all proved to be forgeries, is some
3,000/. or 4,0001.