The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-31 00:00:00

THE FORGERY AT COUTTS'S.

ARREST of CAP PAIN RICHARDSON, the CH AIR-
MAN of the WORCESTER, TEN BURY, and LUD-

LOW RAILWAY COMP/ANY.

At a late hour on Saturday, Captain Richardson, the
Chairmen of the Worcester, Tenbury, and Ludlow Rail-
way C.ilnpany, was brought to the Mansion-house, in
the custody of City Policeman Russell 34, of the detec-
tive force, before Alderman Musgrove, charged with
having altered a cheque upon Coutts's bank for the sum
of 10/. to the sum of 5,000/. The case, as may well be
imagined, excited the greatest interest.
Mr. Bush, of the firm of Bush and Mullins, solicitors
to the Committee of Bankers for the Prosecution of For-
geries and Frauds, appeared for the prosecution.
The prisoner having been taken by surprise, was un-
defended.

Mr. Bush stated that he was agent to Messrs. Fry and
Co., the agents to the Worcester, Tenbury, and Ludlow
Railway Company, of which the prisoner was the chair-
man, and he had to charge that prisoner with having
altered a cheque upon Coutts's bank, which was origi-
nally drawn for 101. to 5,0001., and with having received
the proceeds and appropriated them to his own purposes.
At present he would call only such witnesses as might
be necessary to prove that there was foundation for a
remand. At a future day he should produce some very
important and complicated evidence, calculated to esta-
blish the charge in the most effectual manner.
Alderman MusGstovE— At present, prisoner, there is
no evidence against you; there is merely the statement
of Mr. Bush, and I Wish to know whether you would
dasire to ask that gentleman any question? Prisoner—
I am so much surprised at the charge, that I had rather
say nothing until I have an opportunity of consulting
my solicitor upon the subject.
Mr. Bush said he held the cheque in his hand. The
prisoner had, he said, stated to him that he filled up and
signed a cheque for 101. on the 7th of July, which had
been drawn upon Coutts's bank; that the same had after-
wards been returned to him signed by two other
directors of the company; and that subsequently it had
been paid into Messrs. Coutts's bank, the sum of 10/.
being altered into the sum of 5,000/.
11er. Robert Hare, clerk at Messrs. Coutts and Co.'s
banking house, looked at the cheques produced by Mr.
Bush, and stated that be paid that cheque, which pur-
ported to be for 5,000/., on the 20th of July, to a person
at the counter. He did not know to whom he paid it
He paid the amount in five notes of 1,000/. each. The
witness here produced the notes as those which he had
paid.
Mr. Bush—Have you reason to believe now that the
cheque was forged ? Witness—The cheque bears the
proper signatures.
Mr. Bush—Have you heard what induces you to be-
lieve that it is in part forged ? Witness—l have.
Mr. Henry Jerningham, a clerk in the Bank of Eng-
land, stated that on the 20th of July he changed three
1,000/..bank notes, which were all dated Feb. 13, 1846.
The person who presented the notes gave the name of J.
Jones. They were paid in gold.
Mr. William Higman, of the Issue-office of the Bank
of England, stated that the three notes for 1,0001. each
having been sent for gold, were brought to him by the
last witness, who said that a gentleman required gold
for them. 'Witness perceiving on the notes only the
address of " Dublin," asked the gentleman, who he
had not the slightest doubt was the prisoner, what part
of Dublin he resided in. The prisoner replied, " The
Linen Hall." Witness asked him to write it on one of
the notes, and handed him a pen for that purpose. The
prisoner appeared to be very nervous, and requested
witness to write it, and he did accordingly write on one of
the notes the words " Linen Hall," and asked the prisoner
his address in London ; to which the answer was" Furni-
val's Inn Hotel." That address witness also wrote upon
the note. The sum being a large sum for gold, witness
went to Mr. Marshall, the chief cashier, to consult him
on the subject. Witness was sure he asked the prisoner
from whom he had had the notes, and the prisoner said
from Coutts's. When witness mentioned that circum-
stance to Mr. Marshall, that gentleman requested him to
trace to whom the notes had been first issued by the
bank, and he did trace the notes, and found they had
been issued to Coutts's. Oti leaving Mr. Marshall, wit-
ness found that the prisoner, to whom the gold had been
already paid, had left the bank, and he had him brought
back till the notes should be traced.

Mr. Thomas Ager; clerk in the Issue Department of
the Bank, stated that he was present while the prisoner
was receiving the gold, during the whole time. He had
not the slightest doubt as to the identity of the prisoner.
He had to call the prisoner back to re-weigh the gold, as
it was a large amount, and there was some suspicion at-
tached to the circumstance. Witness went to the cab in
which the prisoner was about to seat himself, and said he
was sorry he (the prisoner) must bring the money back
to be re- weighed. The prisoner said, " Oh, it's all
right," and he came back. At last Mr. Higman told
witness to let the prisoner go, and he did so.
Alderman MUSGROVE said the experience of the pri-
soner must inform him that there was evidence enough
given upon which to remand him for further examination
The prisoner wished to have time to consult with his
legal adviser.
Alderman MUSGROVE—The case is a very serious one,
and you shall have a full opportunity of consulting your
solicitor. Do you wish to say anything now ? Prisoner—
Mr. Bush can bear witness to the fact, that I took con-
sidtrable trouble to ascertain who committed this for-
gery in my capacity as chairman of the company.
Mr. Bush—l have to say that the prisoner and others
consulted me on the subject of this forgery, and what
took place upon that consultation led to this result.
Prisoner—He knows that I went to Coutts's Bank
upon the subject, accompanied by the solicitor, and un-
accompanied by any of the other members.
The prisoner was then remanded till Tuesday.

SUICIDE OF COL. THORNTON,
CHARGED WITH UTTERING FORGED NOTES.

On Saturday, during the early part of the day, In-
spector Tedman, of the D division, entered the Mary-
lebone police-court, and communicated to the magistrate
the fact of a prisoner having committed suicide in the
station-house of that district. It appeared that a person,
who gave his name and address " Charles Walter
Thornton, 3, Hartland-terrace, Kentish Town," was
taken into charge for having offered at the shop of Mr.
Bennett, watchmaker, of Oxford-street, a 51. note, sup-
posed to be a forged one. Inquiries were at the same
time made, and Mrs. Harding, jeweller, of Holles-street,
Cavendish-square, and Mr. Bishop, bootandier, of Con-
naught-terrace, identified the prisoner as having passed
101. and 51. forged notes upon them. Two other similar
charges were established, and these were found to form
portions of an extensive system of fraud which has been
for some time in practice. On the prisoner being
searched when he was taken into custody, a forged 51. note
and two genuine 51. Bank of England notes were found
upon him, and 91. in gold. At his lodgings a quantity
of valuable jewellery was discovered. Shortly before
one in the mornnig, on a police constable entering the
cell, he was found quite dead, having strangled himself
with his pocket-handkerchief. The deceased was about
forty years of age, and had at one time held a com-
mission in the East Indian army.
On Saturday an inquest was held on the body at two
o'clock, before Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the Marylebone
workhouse.
Police constable George Henry Maclarell, 110 D, was
first called. He saia he was on duty on Friday night
at the police station in Marylebone-lane. About one
o'clock yesterday morning he was directed by Sergeant
Brown to go round the cells. On arriving at that one in
which deceased was confined, he saw that a silk hand-
kerchief had been passed through the bars of the little
opening in the cell door, and hitched on to the belt on the
outside. On opening the door the deceased was found
banging with the silk handkerchief round his neck, and
quite dead.
Thomas llooper, police constable 213 D, stated that
he took the deceased into custody at eight o'clock on
Friday evening for endeavouring to pass a forged Si.
Bank of England note at the shop of Mr. Bennett, in
Oxford-street. On his arrival at the station, lie said he
could easily account for the possession of the note, and
a person who had received one, residing in Princes-street,
having been sent for, came and identified the deceased,
who had purchased some jewellery and given her a forged
note. He was locked up in the cell at nine o'clock. He
was then in a perfectly sound state of mind and quite
sober. He gave his name as Charles Walter Thornton,
of 3, Ilartland-terrace, Kentish-town.
Mr. Inspector Tedman here produced the property,
which was found on the deceased's person at the
station, and that subsequently found at his residence,
most of which had been proved to have been obtained by
means of forged notes corresponding with that on his per-
son when taken into custody. On his person were
found a forged 51. note (in addition to the one he had at
tempted to pass with Mr. Bennett), two good Si. notes,
eight sovereigns, one half.sovereign, eight half-crowns,
two sixpences, two gold brequet chains and seals, a small
box, containing two purse slides and rings, and a bead
purse. There was also a diamond ring on his finger.
At his lodgings, found in a jewel case, were one 10/.
note, good, four brooches, five coins, some gold Indian
coins, one gold eye-glass, nine seals, one silver pencil-
case, one silver toothpick, two gold union pins, three
rings, and one eardrop. On these articles being pro-
' duced to the coroner, many of the tradesmen present
stepped forward and identified the various articles which
they had sold to the deceased and given the change for
the forged 5/. notes, and which they also produced.
The notes in question are anything but good imitations,
being apparently lithographed. They all bore date the
3d of March, and, were backed by the deceased with the
name " Woodman, Roinford."
Mrs. Mary Thornton, the widow of the deceased, was
next examined. The unfortunate lady was supported
into the room by several of her friends and accom-
modated with a chair. She appeared deeply affected.
She said she had been married to the deceased six years,
and resided at 3, Ilartland-terrace, Kentish-town. He
was a colonel in the East India Company's service, but
had only recently returned from Egypt, where she had
been with him. She knew nothing of his affairs, but
always understood that he was a gentleman of inde-
pendent property. He was at home all day yesterday
up to five o'clock, when he went out, saying that he
should.. go to billiards. He was then in excellent health
and si irits. Ile had never complained of pain in the
head, or threatened or attempted to destroy himself.
He was: a very temperate man. Ile had no relatives
living. They had all died in India. She could not ac-
count Oar his possession of the forged notes.
Mr. Thomas Warren, of 3, Commercial-place, Kent-
ish-town, said he had known deceased for several years.
About dame months ago he returned from Egypt, and
;inc.e., tin a time he had resided in Grove street, Camden-
towel,_znd his present residence.
There being no further evidence, the Coroner at some
length dwelt upon the melancholy circumstances of the
case, and ~.:aplained the law as related to cases of in-
sanity and '-de-se.
The mom ha,ving been cleared of strangers, the jury
for so me time ci,aliberated, and ultimately returned a
verdict,, " That thus deceased hung himself, but in what