The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-14 00:00:00

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY

FRAUDS.

CAPTURE AND EXAMINATION OF THE
PRISONER THIS DAY.
Mr. Richard Williams, an inspector connected with
the Great Northern Railway, this morning succeeded in
capturing Redpath at No. 4, Ulster-place, near the Re-
gent's-park gates, at the house of a personal friend.
When he was captured he gave himself up easily, said he
WAS sorry for what had occurred, and conducted himself
with perfect calmness and composure. It appears pro-
bable that Redpath heard of Mr. Williams's arrival in
Paris, as ho left without his luggage.
At one o'clock this afternoon the prisoner Redpath
was placed at the bar. He was dressed in a chocolate.
coloured coat, and waistcoat of a similar character. In
his hand he held a travelling cap. Mr. Humphreys ap-
peared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Wontner for the
defence. Mr. Mowatt, the secretary, Mr. Leach, the
solicitor, and other officers of the company were pre-
sent.

Mr. Humphreys, in stating the case for the prosecu-
tion, said, the magistrate (Mr. Tyrwhitt) would recollect
that he appeared befora him on Tuesday in connectioa
with a charge against a young man named Kent, who
was accused of frauds and forgeries on the Great Northern
Railway. In thoie fraucis and forgeries it was stated that
Kent and Redpath were concerned. He appeared to-day
in consequence of Redpath having been taken into cus-
tody this morning upon the same charge. Mr.
Redpath was an officer in the Great Northern Rail-
way Company, and his occupation was that of registrar,
having a distinct office, and having under him clerks
who managed the details of his business. Ho had alsii
under his management and control books in which
were entered the transfers of the stock and shares
belonging to the company. On Tuesday an application
was made at that Court to Mr. Corrie, the magistrate,
then sitting, and upon information then given, Mr. Corrie
was pleased to grant a warrant for the apprehension of
Mr. Redpath. It was supposed that Mr. Redpath had
gone to Paris, and the warrant was put in force for the
purpose of Being executed there in the event of his being
found there. But in consequence of information that
reached the railway authorities, Mr. Redpath was this
morning traced to No. 4, Ulster-terrace or place, or a
recess in the New-road, opposite to the gates leading to
Portland-place. He was there taken into custody, and
brought to that court for the purpose ef answering the
charges that would be made against him. lie should to-day
show sufficient evidence to induce the magistrate to remand
the prisoner until a future day. The apprehension of
Mr. Redpath was made only this morning, and
_Abe
prosecutors had consequently no time to get up the
necessary evidence to complete the case against him.
As he before remarked, he should only therefore adduce
sufficient evidence to justify a remand. Oh any future
day he (tlr. Humphreys) should proceed against the
prisoner in conjunction with Mr. Kent, the clerk.
The circumstances of the case were briefly these :
Mr. Redpath was the registrar of the company, and
he kept the book called the Register of Shares. Thai
book would be produced to the Court, and it would
be found that an entry was there made of stock ie
1853, amounting to 1,2501., and in the same year
another entry of 1,5001. He believed these were
the sums, but be was not quite sure. The mat
ter would, however, come out correctly in the evidence.
The shares Earned there purported to have been trans
fetred from two persons whose names would be men
tioned to the prisoner Redpath, and it would be shown
that the sums originally were 2501. and 500/., so that by
the fraud he had committed he had pocketed 1,0001. Or
each transaction. He should prove by tLe production
of the transfer documents and the register books the
manner in which these frauds were perpetrated, an"
that the sums which were originally 2501. stud 5001
had been made 1,2501. and 1,5001., by prefixing a 1-
to each of those numbers. It appeared that when
Mr. Redpath was taken into custody this morning,
be expressed hie sorrow for what he had done ; and
from subsequent conversations which the officer bad
had with him, it would be made clear that hi
admitted it. was entirely his own fault that he was in le.
present position. These were the principal circumstances
which he thought it was necessary should be stated in
evidence to-day, and then it would be his duty on a
future day to lay before the Court some documents
which had already been in evidence when the other pri
soner, Kent, was under examination. In the examina-
tion of Kent some letters were produced which had been
sent to Kent by the prisoner Redpath, and which were
of a very unportant character. It would be proved that
they were in the handwriting of Redpath. They were
in pencil, and were in peeeersion of the inepecteir of the
line. That officer was row in Pails, whither be had
gone for the purpose of capturing Mr. Redpath. It
would not be possible for him, therefore, to produce
these letters until the day to which Redpath was
remanded.
The.evidence was then proceeded with.

Mr. Francis Mowatt sail be was the secretary of the
Great Northein Railway Company, and knew the pri-
soner, who was the registrar of the shires and stock of
the company. It appeared by the books that he war
A proprietor of stock. The company bad a book in
which the transfers of shares and stock are registered,
and he produced it. On looking to that book hr
saw the transfer A, 8,518, which purported to be a
transfer from Mr. Henry Baker, of Upper Gower-
street, of 5001. A stock in the Great Northern Rail-
way, for a consideration of 2351. paid to him by Mr.
Leopold Redpath. On turning to No. 8,519, it pur-
-1 ported to be a transfer, in April, 1853, by Mr. Wil-
liam hitching, of Wakefield, to Mr. Leopold Redpath,
of 2501. Consolidated A Stock. Oa referring to the re-
gister he found the Stock in Mr. Redpath's name. Op-
posite the transfer number of 8,518, and in the column
of A Deferred Stock, he found 1,5001. Opposite 8,519,
in the column of A Stock, was 1,250/. The name " Leo-
pold R,edpath, 2, Park Villas," was in the handwriting
of Mr. Redpath ; that address bad been altered, and 27
Chester-terrace, was substituted. That was in the hand
writing of some one else. The numbers in the transfer
column were generally the figures of Mr. Redpath. There
were some exceptions, evidently in the handwriting of
some other person. With regard to the figures 8,518
and 8,519, and the other figures denoting the various
amounts he had mentioned, he believed to be in the
handwriting of Mr. Redpath. The books he produced
were in the custody of Mr. Redpath, as registrar. At
the time to which these alterations referred (1853) he
was registrar's clerk, and he bad then to keep the books.
He (witness) was at the Court on Wednesday, on the
examination of Kent, and then gave evidence. Mr.
Brown, the inspector of the line, was also present, and
showed some pencil letters which he believed to be in
the handwriting of Mr. Redpath. He was now in Paris.
Cross-examined by Mr. Wontner—lf any question
arose that would render a reference to the books neces
sary, the accountants would have access to them, but,
not otherwise. The prisoner had been in the company's
service nine or ten years.

Re-examined by Mr. Humphreys—ln consequence
of information he received, he went to 27, Ulster-terrace,
or place, in the New-road, with an officer, who found
Mr. Redpath in the dining-room. There was a little
conversation. Redpath said, "I am sorry for this, Mr.
Mowatt—l am very sorry." Witness said he was sorry
also, and directed Mr. Williams, the officer alluded to,
to take him into custody. Witness then left Rodpath
and the officer together. This occurred this morning.

Mr. Richard Williams said he was an officer connected
with the Great Northern Railway. He accompanid Mr.
Mowatt this morning to No. 4, Ulster-place, Regent's-
park, where he found Mr. Redpath in the front room.
He told ,Mr. Redpath that he held a warrant against
him, and that it MO his duty to take him into
custody upon a charge of forgery and fraud. That
was after the prisoner had seen Mr. Mowatt. Witness
then took Redpath away in custody. Iu the course of
their journey to the Clerkenwell Police-court in a cab,
prisoner said to witness, whom he had known before as
an officer of the company—" I am very sorry," then
there was a pause, and afterwards he said, " they have
my place in Chester-terrace, and if they sell it, well it
will fetch 30,0001." Witness said, " I hope they will."
He requested that Mr. Wontner, the solicitor, should be
sent for, and witness Promised that he should have every
facility. Prisoner again said—" lam very sorry for it,
it is all my own fault I an. here."

Mr. Humphreys, upon the..evidence asked for a re-
mand until this day week. It would take considerable
time and trouble to get together the necessary evidence,
as above 200 books of all sorts would have to be exa-
mined. It was right that the prisoner should know
that a large number of other charges would be brought
against him on his next examination.
After some conversation,
Mr. \Vontner said that, as Mr. Redpath's legal ad-
viser, he bad no objection to a remand. Mr. Redpath
was very anxious that the charges should be fully inves-
tigated.
Mr. Wontner shortly afterwards asked the magistrate
to order the restoration to the prisoner of bia watch,
which had been taken from him on his apprehension. _
Mr. Humphrey said he had no objection to thewa
being restored, but there were attached to it some sealstch
requested
might
that on which were certain impressions. These be eth eeyqu
might not be given up. He did not say
necessary that at pre-
be ultimately detained, but it was
sent they should remain in the bands of the police.
The prisoner was then remanded.