The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-07 00:00:00

GUILDHALL

A young man, who refused to give his name at the sta-
tion-house, but whose name is believed to be Henry
Bushell, was brought before Mr. Alderman Moon,
charged with uttering a forged cheque, purporting to be
drawn by Lord Ducie, for 3751., on Messrs. Child, Tem-
ple-bar.
David Cross, a porter, stated that, between one and
two o'clock on Monday afternoon; the prisoner came to
him at the Castle, in Portugal-street, and asked him to
carry a letter, addressed to Mr. Biggs, or Briggs, of No.
39 A, Wigmore-street. When he reached the house he
asked if Mr. Briggs was within. The servant said he
was, and took the letter up stairs to the gentleman. In
about five minutes she returned with the answer, ad-
dressed to Messrs. Child and Co., with directions to give
it to the gentleman from whom he brought the letter.
Witness returned to the Castle, and after waiting a short
time the prisoner arrived. Witness gave him the letter,
and he, without opening it, returned it to witness, and
asked him to take it to Messrs. Child's. Witness asked
him if it contained a cheque. The prisoner said it did.
Witness asked him what kind of cash he should bring for
it. The prisoner made a memorandum for him on paper,
and witness went to the banking-house. Ho was de-
tained there nearly an hour, and then a letter, addressed
to the Right Hon. Lord Ducie, was delivered to him to be
given to the gentleman from whom he had the cheque. He
returned to the Castle, but the prisoner was not there.
He waited about an hour, and then found one of Messrs.
Child's clerks was also waiting, by whose direction he
went again to Wigmore-street, and left a message
that he bad got the money, and had been waiting some
time at the Castle, and was uneasy at having the money
in his care. He also said if Mr. Briggs would come to
the Castle at ten the next morning, he would give up the
money to him. Witness then returned to the Castle,
and between nine and ten o'clock in the evening the pri-
soner came there, and he gave him into custody, accord-
ing to the instructions be had received.
Mr. Alderman MOON asked if the cheque was forged ?
The solicitor to Messrs. Child said it was. It was a
resemb:anee to Lord Ducie's handwriting, and some cor-
respondence was found on the prisoner relative to rent
due from his sister, showing that he was acquainted with
his Lordship's hand.
The ALDERMAN asked if there was any evidence from
the house in Wigrnore-street?
The solicitor said inquiry had been made there, and it
appeared that a person who it was thought would prove
to be the prisoner, had taken a lodging at that house on
Monday, and was there at the time the porter arrived
with the letter, so that he must have managed to travel
at a speedier rate than the porter, but did not hurry to
get back at the Castle before him.
Alfred Mortimer, clerk at Messrs. Child's, produced
the cheque, which ran as follows:
" London, Jan. 1, 1846.
" Messrs. Child and Co., _ _

" Please to pay Mr. Briggs or bearer the sum of three
hundred and seventy five pounds. " DUCIE."
This cheque was offered by the porter to another
clerk, who passed it to him for his opinion of the hand-
writing. Witness also doubted it, and desired that it
should be compared with his Lordship's last cheque, his
Lordship keeping an account there. The comparison
satisfied them the cheque was forged, and witness having
entered into conversation with the porter, a clerk was
dispatched to reconnoitre the Castle. A fictitious parcel
was then made up as if containing the money, and a
messenger was directed to watch the porter, for it was
not then certain that he was not a party implicated. Wit-
ness went to the Castle, and afterwards to the house in
Wigmore-street.
The prisoner declined making any answer to the
charge at present.
Mr. Alderman MOON remanded the prisonor ti
Saturday.