The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-24 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIG ENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—YORK, DEC. 22.
(Before Mr. Justice Hill.)
FORGERY AT SADDLEWOITEI.
Moses Ashworth Wilkinson, 34, was charged with
forging and uttering a receipt for £1 155., with
intent to defraud James Lawton, at Saddleworth,
on the 16th of February last.
Mr. Blanshard prosecuted; Mr. Price defended
the prisoner.
It appeared that a man of the name of Dickinson,
in August, 1859, took the benefit of the Insolvent
Act, and a person named Dyson was appointed his
trade assignee. The prosecutor, Mr. James Lawton,
a grocer and provision dealer at Delph, was in-
debted to the estate of Dickinson in the sum of £3
10s. Dyson employed an accountant of the name
of Scott to get in the accounts. Scott issued cir-
culars amongst Dickinson's creditors, and one was
sent to Lawton requesting payment of his account.
Lawton at the commencement of the present year
became involved in pecuniary difficulties, and made
a composition with his creditors. He employed the
prisoner to carry out the arrangements and to col-
lect the debts dee to him. On the 16th of February
last the prisoner called upon the prosecutor, James
Lawton, and said that he had been at Manchester,
where he had met with an attorney's clerk, who
represented himself as an agent of Mr. Scott, and
that he was authorised to accept 10s. in the poand
in liquidation of the debt of £3 15s. The prisoner
then told the prosecutor that he had paid this at-
torney's clerk £1 15s. on his account, and produced
a receipt, which he gave to the prosecutor. This
receipt was to the effect that a full release from the
debt of £3 10s. owing by the prosecutor to the
estate of John Kershaw Dickinson, insolvent, was
given on payment of £1 15s. The document was
signed " For John Sale, M. S. Peacock." The re-
ceipt was a forgery, for there were no such persons
in existence as Sale and Peacock who had any con-
cern whatever in Dickinson's estate, and neither
Mr. Dyson nor Mr. Scott had given authority to
persons of that name to collect in the accounts.
In defence it was contended that the prisoner was
innocent of the charge against him, and that it was
a malicious prosecution on the part of Lawton.
Not guilty.
ATTEMPT TO SET FIRE TO A HOUSE.
George Franklin was charged with having, at
Heckmondwike, on the 14th of July last, mall
ciously attempted to sot fire to a house inhabited by
William Whitfield and others.
Mr. Foster prosecuted ; Mr. Middleton defended
the prisoner.
The prosecutor and the prisoner are carpet-
weavers at Heckmondwike, and some ill-feeling
existed between them. About 10 o'clock on the
night of July 13 the prosecutor and his wife and
family, and a lodger, in all five persons, retired to
rest. About 2 o'clock next morning the prosecutor
was woke by the barking of his dog, and believing
that something was wrong he came downstairs, and
saw a strong light above the front door, on opening
which he found a large barrel filled with joiner's
shavings, which were in a blaze. The prosecutor
kicked the tub over, and by the light produced from
the burning shavings he saw the prisoner,
to whom he shouted, " I knew thee, George, that's
enough for me." The prisoner was in the act of
making off. Information was given to the police,
and the prisoner was apprehended. Fortunately
the prosecutor made the discovery in time, other-
wise his house would undoubtedly have taken fire,
and the lives of the inmates been placed in danger.
The identity of the prisoner was not clearly
proved, and the jury gave him the benefit of the
doubt, and acquitted him.
The Yorkshire Winter Gaol Delivery was brought
to a termination on Saturday afternoon.