The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-04 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
MID-LAND ClRCUlT.—Cocentry, Aug. 3.
The Hen. Mr. Justice Patter,,)n arrived at half-past
ten o'clock-yesterday morning, and, having opened with
the usual formalities the commission for this division of
the county of Warwick, proceeded to attend divine ser-
vice at St. Mary's, and immediately afterwards took his
seat in the County-hall.
The Eight Hon. Lord Denman came at a little before
one, and there being no civil business whatever, at once
sat in St. Mary's-hall, and assisted in the trial of pri-
soners.
The calendar presented the names of 35 prisoners for
trial and 36 cases, among which were 11 against seven
prisoners (all belonging to one gang) for forging and
uttering on the 22d of March last here and at Kenil-
worth forged notes purporting to be 51. notes of the
Warwickshire and Leamington Banking Company. In
addition to those, there appeared one case of child-
murder, one of manslaughter (bill ignored by grand
jury, and acquitted on the coroners inquisition, no evi-
dence being offered), one of cutting and wounding
(found guilty of a common assault, and sentenced to one
month's imprisonment, with hard labour), three light
cases of burglary, one of rick-burning (transported for
12 years), and one of abusing a female child between the
age of ten and twelve years.
(Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.)
Francis Thacheloy, aged 28, and John Walker, aged
23, were indicted for feloniously uttering, ou the 22d of
March last, at Coventry, a certain promissory note or
paper writing, purporting to be a genuine note of the
Warwickshire and Leamington Banking Company, for
the payment of 5/. to one Thomas Bostock, well knowing
the same to be forged.
Mr. Mellor conducted the prosecution ; Mr. O'Brien
appeared on behalf of the prisoners.
Mr. MELLOR stated that it was upon the counts for
uttering with intent to defraud the prosecutor, Mr. Bos
Lock, that he should ask She jury for their verdict, and
observed that the circumstances of the case were of a
very extraordinary character. It appeared that on the
22d of March last there was a steeple chase at Warwick.
In the evening of that day, at about seven o'clock, the
prisoner Walker went into a boot and shoe shop in this
town, kept by Mr. Bostock, and having purchased a pair
of boots for 18s. 6d., tendered this paper in question as a
51. note of the bank. The other prisoner entered two
minutes afterwards and joined Walker. Information
had reached Coventry by this time, and Mr. Bostock sent
for a constable and gave the prisoners into custody.
They appeared to have passed two other notes of the
like kind at an earlier hour of the same day, at Kenil-
worth, which is five miles equidistant between Coventry
and Warwick.
All three notes were now proved beyond doubt to be
forgeries, but described as fair imitations, and well exe-
cuted, and in such a manner as to deceive many persons,
and they were all dated the Ist of January, IS4B. The
evidence was perfectly satisfactory to show that they
were together, passing one of the notes, at Kenilworth,
and very cogent to show, also, that they were together
passing the other there. The notes were lithographed,
including a close imitation of the signature of the officer
in the service of the bank, whose name was written
upon all the notes issued by the company. The only
question in the present case was as to whether or not
the prisoners were acting in concert in the passing off
of the note to Mr. Bostcck, which formed the subject of
the present indictment, well knowing it to be forged.
The jury:presently returned a verdict of Guilty against
both.
There wero two other indictments for uttering at
Kenilworth the two notes above referred to, with which
the Learned Judge did not deem it at all necessary to
proceed.
Sentence deferred till the conclusion of all the cases.
William Thomas was then indicted for having, on the
same day, at Coventry, feloniously effered, disposed of,
uttered, and put off a like forged note, purporting to
be of the same banking company, with intent to de-
fraud one Samuel Harding, well knowing the same to
be forged.
Mr. Mellor again prosecuted. The prisoner was un-
defended.
The case was like the last, except as to the prisoners
being in this indicted alone. It appeared that on the same
day at between one and two o'clock, he went into Mr.
Harding's shop, and addressed himself to Mr. Harvey,
the shopman, purchased a waistcoat for 75., giving in
payment to him a forged note of the same company
lithographed like and precisely in every respect corre-
sponding with those produced in the preceding case, and
receiveS4/. 13s. in change, which, with the waistcoat, he
took away with him. On being asked his name, he
gave that of William Thomas, which Mr. Harding wrote
upon the note with the word " vest" opposite to it.
Evidence was, as in the last case, adduced of two other
like utterings of corresponding notes on the same day
at Coventry, to persons of the names of Coleman and
Court, of whom he purchased a small quantity of sarsa-
parilla and some stockings.
The jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty.
There were two other indictments not proceeded with.
Sentence deferred..

John Edwards, James Fisher, and William Warlters,
were then indicted, Fisher being charged with a like
uttering of a like note on the same day at Coventry,
with intent to defraud George Dixon, well knowing the
same to be forged, and the other two prisoners with
inciting him thereto, &c.
The same Learned Counsel prosecuted, Mr. Miller
defended Warltors, and Mr. O'Brien defended Fisher,
the other being undefended.
Thu case slightly differed from the preceding. There
had been two like notes previously uttered by one or
other of them on the same day in payment for some gro-
ceries. Then Edwards called at a hatter's shop, and
tried, without success, to pass another of the notes to
Maria Marston, who refused it because there were upon
it stains, by which she now, upon its being produced by
the policeman, identified it. The three prisoners were
seen together immediately after this, and Warlters was
then carrying the bundle which contained the grocery.
The constable afterwards found them all three together,
and Warlters, on seeing him tried to remove something
from one of his breeches pockets, which on being
searched was found to contain five other of these forged
notes. Under Fisher, on the chair where he was sitting,was
found another, and upon his person six sovereigns and
some silver. All the notes were of the same date, and
of the number .1,690. Fisher alone passed to George
Dixon the note, upon the uttering of which this indict-
ment was founded, and on being told to put his name on
it, wrote thereon, " John Smith." The other two utter-
ings in this town on this day by the prisoners, or one or
other of them, were severally with intent to defraud
Thomas Pratt and Charles Bearstey.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against all, and
as in the preceding cases, it was not deemed necessary
to proceed with the other two indictments.
Sentence deferred.

August 3
John Harris was indicted, and stood charged with
having, on the same day as in the former cases (March
22), at Coventry, feloniously offered, uttered, disposed
of, and put off One of the like notes, with intent to de-
fraud one Thomas Barfoot, well knowing the same to
have been forged,
Mr. Mellor again appeared as counsel fur the Crown.
This was similar to the preceding cases, except that
herein there was only one charge.

The uttering of the note in question, well knowing it
to have been forged, was satista,Aorily proved, and the
jury returniql a verdict of Guilty against him also.
No doubt could exist but that they all belonged to one
gang, land were acting in concert, and they were now re-
pectively sentenced to transportation beyond the seas fur
the term of 10 years.
His LORDSHIP highly complimented Prosser, the chief
superintendent of police, for the activity and vigilance
he had exhibited, and added that he should have ordered
a reward to be paid to him if he had had the power so
to do.
Jane Beasley, aged 27, a yormg woman of gocd educa-
tion, was indicted for the wilful murder, at Coventry, on
the 30th of May last, of a new-born female bastard
child, of which she had then recently been delivered.
Mr. Mellor conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Miller
the defence.
She was convicted of a misdemeanour in having un-
lawfully endeavoured to conceal the birth, and sen-
tenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 18 calendar
months.
John Chattaway, aged 43, a person of good education,
was convicted of the misdemeanour of having, at Foles-
bill, unlawfully and carnally known and abused one
Julia Amelia Sprason, a girl of pretty and agreeable
appearance, seemingly older, she being then above the
age of 10 and under the age of 12 years.
The offence was very:clearly proved, and appeared 'to
have been many times repeated. There was some doubt
as to whether or not, in the first instance, coercion had
been practised. She was now advanced in pregnancy,
and quick with child by the prisoner, who was sentenced
to be imprisoned in the common gaol of this county, and
there kept to hard labour for the space of two years.
(Before Lord Chief Justice DENMAN.)
Owen Hester, aged eighteen, a youth of good educa-
tion, was convicted of having, at Coventry, on the 27th
of April last, unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously
set fire to a stack of hay, the property of Henry Phillips.
He had made a confession of his guilt.
Sentenced to transportation for the term of 12 years.
His Lordship rose at one, and the business of the as-
sizes for this division of the county was brought to a
conclusion shortly before two o'clock in the other court.
Their Lordships almost immediately proceeded to open
the
commission at Warwick, and, it is said, will there
attend divine service this afternoon, in order to be able
to proceed with the business at an earlier hour than
usual to-morrow.

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POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
Thomas nobotham, formerly in the service of Messrs.
Chaplin and Borne, the well known railway carriers,
was placed at the bar on a charge of appropriating up-
wards of 40/. to his own use instead of using it for the
purposes for which it was given to him.
Alderman LAWRENCE asked the prisoner it he wished
to put any questions to the witnesses or to make any
statement.
Ile declined doing so, and was remanded until next
Thursday.
Mr. Alderman JonNsorr mentioned that he had re-
ceived the direction of Mr. I'. Allen to place in the poor-
box the 51. which he originally generously contributed
for the relief of John Ballad