The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-17 00:00:00

THE WILLS FORGERIES.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
THE SLACK CASE.

At the sitting of the Court this morning the prisoners
Barber and Fletcher, Mrs. Dorey, William Saunders, and
Lydia Saunders, his wife, were placed in the dock to take
their trial upon the. indictment charging them with the
forgery of a will purporting to be the last will and testament
of one Anne Slack.

There were, as in the other case, a number of counts vary-
ing the description of the 'charge.
Mr. Wilkins, with Mr. Parry, again appeared for Barber,
and Mr. Greaves for Fletcher.

Mr. ERLE stated the case for the prosecution. It appeared
that the father of Miss Slack died about the year 1815, leav-
ing a Mr. Hulme as one of his executors. The affairs were
not wound up until 1829, when Mr. litilme invested certain
property in the public funds in the name.of Anne Slack,-of,:
Smith-street, Chelsea, spinster; namely, 6,6004 in the Three
per Cents. Reduced, and 3,500/. in the Three per Cent. Con-
sols. It appeared.that Miss Slack had the most unbounded
confidence in Mr.Hulme, who was her guardian, and she drew
from time to time just what money she wanted. On the death
of Mr. Hulme she had to receive the dividends herself.
She was unaware, however, that the 3,500/. Consols stood
in her name, and received the dividends on the
Three per Cents. Reduced only. The consequence waa,
that no dividends were received on the Three per
Cent. Consuls after 1832, and at the end of ten years both
the stock and the dividends -which had accrued due
thereon, but which she hid inadvertently passed over,
were transferred into the names of the Commissioners for the
Reduction of the National Debt, according to the ordinary
practice in such cases. On the 16th of March, 1843, a will
was produced at Doctors' Commons, purporting to be that of
Miss Slack. On the 24th or 25th of 'March probate was ob-
tained; and the stock and dividends subsequently transferred
back into the name of Misa Slack ; and this will would un-
doubtedly be proved to be a forged will. This part of
the charge he should be able to make peculiarly clear, be-
cause he should call before them Miss Slack herself, the
lady whose will this forged instrument purported to be.
After calling upon the jury to discharge from their minds all
that they might have heard before they entered the jury-
box in respect of this case, and to judge of its merits
only by the evidence which should be laid before them.
the Counsel proceeded to lay before the jury a
short narrative of the circumstances connected with the
transaction, which would be proved in evidence before
them, and then went on to read the letters which Barber
had written to Captain Foskett, for the purpose of procuring
particulars relating to the executors under the will of the late
father of Miss Slack, and as to whether Miss Slack spelt her
Christian name with.or without a final e. He next came to
the registry of the death of "Anne Slack, of South-terrace,
Pimlico," by the prisoner Fletcher, in the name of "Ro-
bert Hart, of James-street, Commercial-road East." In
the first place, there was no such place as South-terrace,
Pimlico; there was a South-place, but no such person as
Anne Slack had ever lived there; neither was there any
such street as -James-street, Commercial-road East, nor
could it be discovered that any such person as Robert Hart
had ever resided in that neighbourhood. It appeared, there-
fore, that a fictitious registry of a fictitious death had been
brought about by. the • prisoner Fletcher, in the manner
which he had mentioned. It had been said, in another case,
that the registei of a birth was no proof of birth—and cer-
tainly the registry of a death was no proof that the person
alleged to have died was deceased. Fletcher had been
identified by the registrar as the person. He should
also prove that the prisoner Lydia Saunders had lived in
lodgings in the name of Emma Slack; had been disguised
by a profusion of ringlets of very light coloured hair, and
constantly wore her bonnet and boa in the house. But
that, notwithstanding the lightnessof her ringlets, the hair-
brushes were found to, be filled with hair perfectly black.—
(Laughter.) While in these. lodgings she was visited, by
Fletcher, and by her sister, Mis. Dorey, and her identity would
be proved beyond a loubt. After the transfer, Mrs.
Saunders went lsack no more to the lodgings at which she
had been living as Emma Slack, but went to her sister,
Mrs. Dereyi and subsequently, after being seen with a large
sum of money in her possession, returned home to Bristol.
At the Bank she had passed as Emma Slack, the sister and
executrix of Anne Slack, represented as deceased. The
Learned Counsel then went through a history of the circum-
stances attending the examination of Barber at the Mansion-
house, and the subsequent implication. of Fletcher, after be
had been produced as the person wbo had introduced Emma
Slack ; and after some further observations, left it for the jury.
to say whether Barber had a guilty knowledge of, and was a
participator in, the acts of the other prisoners.
Mr. Seaton, from the Prerogative-office, produced a will
purporting to be that of Anne Slack; also the copy of an
affidavit, the original of which was at the Stamp-office.
Cross-examined by Mr. WILKINS—Was present at the
Mansion-house when Mr. Barber was first taken. Barber
expressed a wish to proceed with the case at-once without
counsel. Mr. Clarkson cautioned him, but he said he Would
rather go on, as he had nothing to fear, or words to that
effect.
Mr. W. G. Bennett produced the original affidavit filed at
the Stamp-office, from the Prerogative-office, and a copy of
the will.
Mr. Wm. Smee, Chief Accountant of the Bank of England
—ln 1829 there were standing in the Bank books, in the name
of-Anne Slack, of Smith street, Chelsea, the two sums of
6,629/. 17S. Three per Cents. Reduced, and 3,5001. Three per
-Cent. Consols. They were bought in on the 23d October,
1829. The dividends on the Three per Cents. Reduced were
paid to Ardern Hiilme, Esq., by virtue of a power of attor-
ney ; and the dividends on the Consols were paid to the same
party by a power of attorney. The dividends on both- stocks
were received by Mr. Hulme, up ,to 1832. I knew Mr.
Hulme. In consequence of the non-receipt of the dividends
I have spoken of; after 1832, on the Consols, the sum of
3,500?. Three per Cent. Consols was. on 6th July, 1842, trans-
erred into the names of the Commissioners for the reduction
of the national debt, that being after the lapse of the period
of ten years.
Cross-examined by Mr. WILKESM—Persons are ordinarily
called upon to identify others coming to transfer stock at the

By Mr. GREAvEs—Books are published by the authority of
an Act of Parliament of unclaimed dividends, and the date
when the first unclaimed dividend became due.
Re-examined by Mr. Eiu.a—But not of the amount of
stock upon which they are duo.
Mr. John Slack—l reside at Abbot's Langley, iu Herts. I
knew the late Mr. Ardern Hu'me. My father's name was:
George Slack, and he left property. Mr. Hulam acted as exe-
cutor under my father's will, and guardian to my sister and
myself. He died in 1832, up towhich time he had continued
to act as guardian to my sister. The document produced is
in the hand-writing of Mr. Hulme.
Cross-examined by Mr. Witic.ixis--My sister had an income
besides the funded property. Her income was handsome.
She had more than 300/., 400/., or 5004 a yea,. independent of
the 3,500/. Consols which lay dormant. I cannot answer the
question whether she is an intelligent person or not.
By ihe.Coußr—She was not accustomed to business.
Mr. George Beaman, surgeon, of King-street, Covent-
garden—l was executor to the late Mr. Hulme, and produce
a book relating to the affairs of the Slacks, which had been
kept by Mr. Hulme. There appeared a settlement of ac•
counts, balanced and signed by Miss Slack.
Miss Slack was then called, and was accommodated with a
chair. She appeared exceedingly nervous. She stated—
Mr. Hulme was my executor and guardian. After his
death I received my own dividends. I was not aware that
I had 3,5001. •Three per Cent. Consols. I did not
receive any dividends on that stock until after this
inquiry began. In 1827 I was living in Smith-street,
Chelsea, in the family of Mrs. Leek. I paid for my board
and lodging there. In 1830 I left Mrs. Leek, and went to re-
side with my sister's husband, Captain ioskett, and have
lived with him from that time to the present. The signature
of Anne Slack to the will produced is not in my handwriting.
I did not give any person authority to make this will or to
sign the-name.
cross examined by Mr. WlL.Rms—Mv age is thirty-
Seven. I never had an interview with 'Mr. Barber at all.
I was taken in a cab to the office door, and Captain Foskett
went in and left me in the carriage. That occurred
only once. Captain Foskett informed me, when he came
out, that some moneys had been discovered belonging-
to a Miss Slack, of Chelsea. This writing has been shown
1 to me several times, and does' Rot resemble mine in the
slightest degree.. My. writing 'is aneat running hand, and
this is a stiff upright hand,
Mr. William Chriqmas-,-I- am clerk in the Bank
England. I tilled the situation of Librarian at the Bank.
My position enabled me to become aevainted with facts
relating to unclaimed dividends. 1 am at present under sue-
tzinxiaaien: I kni acquainted with Fletcher. I recollect giving
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