The Sun.
London, England, 1833-10-19 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.--(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.

Preen, a young man of respectable appearam e,
Vrat indicted for forging the mark of the Goldsmiths' Company
(the King's head) upon two silver spoons.

Mr. ALLEY stated the case for the prosecution, which was
founded upon the several Acts of the Nth Geo. 111., lath
Geo. 11., and 55th Geo. 111.

John Cook deposed that he was a silver spoon polisher. He
had been employed by the prisoner. He lived at No. 3, Essex_
street, Battle-bridge. He went to live there before April last,
and took the house for Mr. Hawkins. Hawkins lived in the
house from January until May, and then went away. Hawkins
was a silver spoon maker. A person named Bates lodged
with Hawkins, and continued afterwards to lodge with
the prisoner. He was employed by the prisoner, on the
27th of July, to pawn two gravy-spoons, with Mr. Wood,
of St. John-street, for 21. 10s. The prisoner came with wit-
ness near the pawnbroker's shop. He gave the money to the
prisoner. Mr. Wood gave witness the money. In August
witness pawned some more plate for the prisoner. Did not
recollect pawning any in May. Had only pawned plate for
the prisoner twice, but had pledged things for Hawkins.
Hawkins left in May, but did not know that he was abroad
now. Witness's son went with Hawkins. Never pawned at
Mr. Wood's any plate but for Hawkins and the prisoner.
Could not tell whether his son was in the kingdom or not.
Cross examined by Mr. CLARKSON—The prisoner was a spoon
polisher in Hawkins's employment ; Hawkins was a maker,
and supplied Mr. Savory. Could not say exactly when
Hawkins absconded, but he did abscond, and left witness
and prisoner to do as they could. BelieVes his son and Hawkins
had gone to New York. The " variable" letters of the Gold-
smiths' stamp for this year was "S." "R" was the last
year, and "Q" was the preceding letter. Any fool who had
made a silver spoon last year with the letter R, would have
reason to know that this year it would be S. The prisoner
gave witness the spoons to pawn at Wood's, because he (wit-
ness) was known there.

Re-examineol—The form and shape of the letter depended
on the order bf the Governors of the Hall Company. Had
seen the prisoner help Hawkins to make spoons.
By Mr. Baron VAUGHAN--After Hawkins left, the prisoner
had made a little plate. The prisoner had no name over his
door to denote that lie was a manufacturer. He thought that
while Hawkins had the house some plate was made with the
letter S on it, but could not swear whether there was or not ;
Hawkins might have put any letter on the plate he pleased,
without the witness knowing anything about it.
Mr. Samuel James Wood, a pawnbroker, living in St. John's-
street, stated that on the 27th of July last, the preceding wit-
ness brought two gravy-spoons to him, and he lent a 10s. on
them ; believed that Cook had pledged plate there before in
the same month ; those two spoons were afterwards put into
the prisoner's hands at Bow-street to see the marks; witness
had kept them ever since.
Robert Linwood, shopman to the last witness, said, he took
in two parcels of plate in may last; he took some of Cook,
but he could not swear that he took any of the prisoner. On
the 25th May, six table spoons were pledged by Cook for the
prisoner, but in his own name.

Mr. CLARKSON objected to this evidence, but the objection
was overruled.

Witness—On the 29th May, Cook pawned six more spoons.
Cook was recalled and said, he believed he only pledged one
six spoons in May, and those were for the prisoner.

The witness Linwood stated, that he knew those pawned on
the 25th were by Cook, but he could not swear whether those
pawned on the 29th were by Cook or the prisoner.
The witness Cook was recalled, and stated that those he
pawned on the 25th, were pawned for the prisoner ; Hawkins
had left the house at that time.

Cross.examined—When Hawkins went away witness be-
lieved he left all those spoons behind him, he left some spoons
behind him, but witness could not swear they were the spoons
pawned by witness.

Mr. Jeremiah Fuller, Deputy Assay Master of the Gold-
smiths' Company, stated that when a person set up as a manu-
facturer of plate, he was obliged to leave his name, place of
abode, and his initials with witness. The initials are thus left :
the maker brings a punch with which the impression of the
initials are put on a piece of plate, and he signs a book, but does
not leave the punch ; it is by that means witness is able to
know to whom the plate which is sent belongs. Witness
produced the book, in which was entered, " Wm. Treen, spoon_
maker, No. 3, Essex-street, Battle-bridge," and dated January
11, 1833." Witness put his name as having witnessed the pri-
soner's signature. On the 28th of May in each year, when the
wardens are elected, the " variable" letter is chosen ; 1' S,"
was the letter for this year ; the letter was always of one size.
Last year R was the letter, Q the preceding year, and r tht
year before that ; the letters go on consecutively; the Sis put
on in a shield, which is always the same.
Cross-examined--Witness recollected it was the prisoner
who signed the book.
Cook was recalled, and to a question by Mr. CLARKSON, said
that Hawkins was the master until hq absconded. Hawkins
passed by the name of Wilson from January until May. It
was in consequence of some difficulty Hawkins got into that
the prisoner's name was used, .but Hawkins was, in fact,
master of the business until May.

Mr. Fuller was recalled, and to a question by Mr. ALLEY,
said, that between January and May the prisoner sent plate to
the Company's Hall in his own name.
Mr. John Smith, an engraver, idoked at the spoons pro-
duced by Mr. Wood, as having -been-'pawned on the Oils of
July. The King's head, which denoted the payment of the
duty, was a counterfeit impression. The duty was Is. 6d. an
ounce. The duty on those six spoons was about 12s.
Robert Linwood, Mr. Wood's shopman, produced the plate
pawned with him on the 25th and 29th of May.
Mr. Baron VAUGHAN said he did not think this testimony
important to the case, because it was not necessary to treat
the case as one of uttering, knowing to be forged. This case
was charged as the offence of forging, and not of uttering. The
Act of Parliament stated that the party should be guilty of
forging, or selling, knowing the plate to be forged, and not of
pawning or uttering.

Mr. ALLEY said that was his case.
Mr. CLARKSON submitted that the offence laid in the indict•
ment had not been sustained in the way required by the Ac,
of Parliament.

Mr. Baron VAUGHAN briefly addressed the jury, and ex.
pressed his opinion that the case had not been made out. His
Lordship was of opinion that the witness, Cooke, had done
himself no credit; for, according to his own evidence, he had
conducted himself more disgracefully than otherwise.
The Jury found a verdict of Not Guilty.
There was another case against the prisoner, for a misde-
meanor, in forging the leopard's head on six silver spoons, but
Mr. Alley declined proceeding with it, and the prisoner was
acquitted.