The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-30 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR.

TOWN-HALL, BRIG I-1T 'N. —MARCH 26
A person, very iespectahly dressed, of dark curnplexiiin,
possessing the air, language, and manners of a gentleman,
was placed at the bar on suspicion of forgery. The pri-
soner said that his name was Charles Nichols ; that he
was connected with persans of the first rank and conse-
quence ; that he had one brother who went the Western
circuit ; that he had another ordained at Chichester, and
who had an estate on the borders of this county ; that he
was known io the present Bishop of Worceater, Dr. Carr;
that h s unt was worth 3,0001. or 4,0001. a year, re-
sided in Surrey ; that Mr. Sergisson, once a candidate for
this county, was his uncle, &c. &c. &c.
Mr. Hargraves, surgeon, on the King's-road, preferred
the charge against him, and stated, in substance, that some
months ago, Mrs. Rutter, the wife of a German banker
residing in Preston House, used to come to him for va-
rious m.dicines. Mr. Rutter's firm had since, as he un-
derstood, become bankrupt. On one occasion Mrs. Rutter
came with Nichols to his shop; when Nichols had some me-
, dicine and paid for it. Mrs. Rutter owed him money for
medicine; and on one occasion she came with Nichols, and
told him he should be paid, but wished him to give her a
receipt for the bill, and Nichols would see that he should
be paid. Nichols, accordingly, undertook to pay him.
Nichols afterwards owed tim on his own account 41. Gd.
Mr. Hargraves, from time to time, continued to press him
for Mrs. Rutter's bill; and to-day he said that he believed
Nichols bad received, hut kept hack the amount. On the
13th (we suppose of March) Nichols came to him, and
asked the loan of I/., which he said he wanted for Airs.
Ashhurst, West-street, with whom Nichols lodged. Mr.
H. told him he had not a soveriege, but offered harms check
for '71., or a Si. note. Nichols said the check would be
of no use to him, and took the 51. note, saying he would
return it in an hour, as he was going to have a check of
his own changed He did not, however, return within
the hour ; and Mr. H. has not yet got back his 51. Mr.
IL then premed him fur the money ; and, after some
further overtures, Nichols called upon Mr. Hargraves,
and gave him a bill drawn for 451. on John Dick, by way
of security.
Mr. Hargraves took the note ; but a suspicion arose in
his mind that the signature of " John Dick" was written
in the same hand as the rest of the note, anti that it was a
f rgery. This note was given to him on Friday last. Mr.
H. had also, in the meantime, heard terrain reports, which
caused him to become more uneasy about his money ; and
the next tidings he heard of Nichias were, that he was in
custody of Mr. Coop, the Sheriff's officer.
Tile prisoner, addressing the Benda, apologized for any
warmth or anxiety he might spew; but really it was in-
talerable that a gentleman like himself, moving in the first
c rcles, should be deprived of his liberty on the mere sus-
picion of Mr Hargraves He admitted that he owed Mr.
Hargraves mooey ; and that lie hail borrowed the sove-
reign and kept the Si., but it Mr. Hargraves had waited
only day longer, he would have teen p iid ; for he re-
ceived mo .ey on Sunday, as Mr. Ashurst know.—(Mr.
Ashhurst said he hail received a packet containing money.)
He had received 401., a sum quite auffici-nt to satisfy
every claim upon him. As to the bill, it was a good one,
as he should prove. The reason that he had not endorsed
it was, because lie would Hardly deposit in Mr. Hargraves's
hands 451 for a 101. debt. As to the objection of Sir
James Lloyd that the bill was no security unless endorsed,
he contended, on the contrary, that it was, inasmuch as
he was kept out of the money till he redeemed it. The
history, he said, of the bill was this: Mr. John Dick was
the son of Sir -- Dick, Bart. Mr. Milliard here asked how
long Dirac had been created a Baronet, apprising the prisoner
that he had a list of Baronets in his hand. Nichols said that
Dick bad made his fortune in the East Indies ; and that on
till return to England he had revived a Scotch Baronetcy,
hhafelrenoubsow
which belonged to his family. It was the son of Sir
set-garden=, Dick who had accepted the bill. Dr. Anderson, of Dor
but was rejected. on
atst.ashehisladr
lwegriitehrnatotetshoen
E;
abstutltntideiaaccocemptpoarnoyf
;the Billth
illegi-
timate sun, of half caste. This son was to have been a
nr.vedNthicahtollsierekpnieiseva a Sir Dick;
considerable loss. He (Nichols) had,. however, assisted
account of the above circumstances, and thereby incur' ed
again objected that the Bill was dated, " London, 16th
him with money ; and Dick gave him this bill. It was
March, 1832 ;" and Mr. Hargraves said he knew that
Nichols was in Brighton at that. time. Nichols replied to
this that the bill was complete in every respect except the
filing-in of the date, which had been le:t for him to do
whenever he thought proper.
The Magistrates retired into the private room for a short
time, when, having returned, Mr. Iklilfold said that under
all the circumstances of the case, the Magistrates felt it
their duty to remand Nichols for seven days.
Mt Prisoner said that within tlrat time be could get

lown persons to swear to Mr. Dick's hand-writing ; and,
in reply to an observation of Mr. Seymour, be said hs
could endeavour to obtain the attendance of Mr. Dirk
iinoself. lie hoped, in the me,intime, they would enable
him to be as comfult ible 49 possible.
The Magi.trates r.plied that he should be sent to Hor-
sham.—.Brighton Gazette.