The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

MANSION-HOUSE.

A JUVENILE BUT EXPERT FORGER.—John Abbot,
a boy of about 12 years old, but of very precocious
appearance, was charged with forging upon, and
obtaining the proceeds from, the National Bank,
Old Broad-street, of a cheque for £lO. It appeared
that Messrs. Rees, Cree, and Co. kept an account
at the National Bank, New Broad-street. Accord-
ing to the, evidence of Mr. Cooper, the cashier, a
cheque purporting to be signed by Messrs. Rees,
Cree, and Co. was presented and cashed by him on
Saturday last. It was found that it was a forgery.
Mr. Rees said that he was a partner in the firm
of Recs, Cree, and Co., commission agents, Alder-
manbury, and that the prisoner was in his service.
The cheque produced was not signori by them,
although the handwriting was an imitation of his
handwriting. It had been torn out of their cheque
book. The prisoner had been in their employ 18
months.

A City detective officer said that ho went to the
offices of Messrs. Rees and Co., where he saw the
prisoner, and told him that he was an officer, and
that he was come to search him, as he was accused
of forging a cheque. He searched him, but found
nothing. He then told him that he should have to
take him into custody ; the prisoner then said that
he was very sorry that he had done it. lie
had picked the lock of the desk by means of
a skewer which he had got from borne. He had
taken out the cheque book, torn out a cheque, and
then replaced the cheque book and relocked the door.
He then filled up the cheque for £10; it was cashed,
and he had spent the money. He said that on the Sa-
turday he had gone to High Beach with a boy named
Robt. Mayland, that he had not given him a farthing.
He had bought a watch from a Mr. Kemp, for
twelve shillings and sixpence, and exchanged it
by paying £2 for one, which the officer stated .was
worth £3. He had been to the Grecian on Mon-
day. The father of the boy was then examined,
and stated that he could never make any im-
pression upon him. He would keep out late at
night, and he was continually having rows with
him and correcting him. His mother frequently
brought him home.

The worthy Alderman said he was sorry that so
respectable a father should have such an incorrigible
son, but he must commit him to the Middlesex Ses-
sions for trial.

Hyppolytte was charged with having stolen a
dress coat and vest, the property of a person named
Hick, a dining-room keeper at 88, Minories. It
appeared that the prisoner is a well-known
hanger about houses in the City for the purpose
of walking away with any property that was lying
about.

Sarah Hick, the daughter of the com-
plainant, said that about half-past four
o'clock yesterday the prisoner came into the
eatinghouse, accompanied by another man, and
ordered two dinners. Shortly afterwards he was
seen by the witness from her room going into an-
other one on the first floor, and going towards the
cupboard. She went and told her mother, but
when they got there they found he was
gone. She followed him, and overtook the
other man, when he said it was not he
who had taken anything, and ran away. She
then followed the other man into Swan-street,
and from that into Adam-street, where she over-
took him. She found he had got an alpaca dress
of her mother's, and a jacket of her own. He
spoke in excellent English, and begged her not to
say anything, but she took him to her mother, who
sent for a constable and gave him into custody.
The prisoner, who pretended to have not the remotest
knowledge of English, obstinately refused to open
his mouth. Police-constable Grey stated that he
took the prisoner into custody, who stated that
he had questioned the prisoner, but he said he had
only been going about from one lodging-house to
another for some time past. He spoke English well.
The witness then searched him, and found upon him
the stolen property, and also ten shillings in silver
and fourpence in copper, four brass medals, a brooch
and chain, with the watch, a lawn-ticket, and a
prayer-book.
Partridge, the gaoler, said that he had been in
the habit of doing this sort of thing, and had last
been brought up at Guildhall.

lie was sentenced to three months' hard labour.

BO IV-STREET.

MISTAKEN INTERFERENCE.—An elderly man,
named Charles Butcher, was brought before Mr.
Flowers, in custody of William Woodup, a mendi-
city officer, for begging in the Strand, and a young
man, named Brown, a carpenter, for interrupting
the officer in the execution of his duty.
Woodup stated that he was on duty in the Strand
yesterday, at about half•past two o'clock, when he
saw the prisoner, Butcher, begging of several per-
sons. He heard one gentleman say, " I won't give
you anything ; go away." He also went into a
cook shop, and apparently was asking for something.
Knowing the prisoner, who had only just served a
month's imprisonment, he took him in custody. As
he was conveying hint to the station-house Brown
interfered, and wanted witness to let the prisoner
go. 1% itness told him to mind his own business. lie
persisted in his interference, and in a few minutes a
crowd assembled, who began to hollow and shout at him,
and some mud and stones were thrown, and struck
his hat. Brown did not strike him ; but as he was
the cause of the disturbance witness took him in
custody too. At the station-house Brown said he
was sorry for what he had done. Witness had
made some inquiries, and found that Brown was a
very respectable young man.

Butcher addressed the magistrate in a prolix and
vociferous harangue, abusing Woodup as a
" villain," denying that he had begged at all, and
disputing the slightest details of the evidence. lie
denied that he went in and out of the cookshop as
Woodup had described, but said he was there more
nlaan n,e,
than half an hour, and eat a fourpenny steak
pudding and some plum pudding. lie had been
and had laid out
i formerly
a nth in
a wealthy Ala
rk
and had contributed
large amounts yearly to the charities of his nptive
town of Arlington, where his brother was now
month
churchwarden. He therefore felt that if ever he had
been in distress, and had asked a gentleman to assist
him, it would have been excusable.
Mr. Flowers said he did not believe a word of all
this (which if true could easily be proved), except
that the prisoner had made a very good dinner, as
no doubt beggars were generally able to do. For
the rest, it might be as well for Brown and many
others to know that a profesional beggar was never
good for anything.

It was here mentioned that the prisoner was well
known to one of the constables of the F division,
who was acquainted with his family. They had
several times set him up in business—once at a cost
of £3OO---but it was quite useless, as he spent all
his money, and was soon as badly off as ever.
Bro tvn said he would not have interfered if he had
known Woodup was an officer, but as he was in
private clothes witness thought he was an ordinary
civilian taking upon himself to convey the prisoner
to the station for begging of him. lie was now
sorry for what he had done.

Mr. Flowers said he would be more sorry if he
knew as much of the prisoner as he (Mr. Flowers)
did. His experience of the prisoner, who had been
several times before him, was peculiarly unfavour-
able. lie should commit him for one month. The
conviction would be returned, and if he were brought
up again he would be imprisouel for a long time.
Believing Brown to be a respectable man, but mis-
taken, he :should remand him.