The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-13 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE FORGERIES.

On Friday afternoon Mr. William Threlfsll, cot-
ton-spinner, of the Addington Low Mills, near Bol-
ton Abbey, was apprehended at the George Hotel in
this town, on a charge of forgery, which he is Sup-
posed to have committed to the extent of several
thousand pounds. When the prisoner was searched
at the bridewell, 3,000/. was found on his person, and
in a carpet bag, which was found in his bedroom,
3,0001. more were discovered. It is stated that a
subsequent inspection of his pocket-book disclosed a
further sum of 5,000/., and bills, apparently available
at any moment, to the amount of 12,0001. Some of
these are certainly forgeries, but several appear to be
genuine. Along with the bills were found numerous
letters on business and relating to private affairs.
Both, we are told, betray the condition of Mr. Threl.
fall's circumstances. His private letters relate to
some domestic matters which leave little doubt that
he was fully aware of impending consequences. He
had directed how his plate was to be disposed of, and
given hints on other matters indicative of a contem-
plated arrangement. The business letters tend to the
same inference. Bankers urged him to repair his
overdrawn accounts, and merchants and manufac-
turers reminded him of obligations demanding settle-
ment.

Shortly after his apprehension the prisoner was
placed in the dock before Mr. Rushton, and Mr.
Harvey, of the firm of Messrs. Harvey and Falcon,
appeared to prosecute. It appeared from the state-
ment of Mr. Harvey, that, on the 13th February
last, Mr. Timothy B. Bourne, cotton-broker, of this
town, received a letter from the prisoner, enclosing a
bill for the sum of 2,0001., drawn by Mr. Threlfall, upon
the Hull Flax and Cotton-mill Company, and pur-
porting to be accepted by Mr. Joseph Rylands,
manager of the said company. The writer requested
Mr. Bourne to get the bill discounted, and to apply
the money for his (the prisoner's) advantage. The
bill was discounted by the bank of Liverpool ; but,
on Thursday, in consequence of information be bad
received, Mr. Langton, the manager of the bank,
went to Hull, f,nd there discovered that the acceptance
was a forgery. Word to that effect was instantly
sent by electric telegraph to Liverpool, and the priso-
ner was in consequence arrested here. Mr. Harvey,
at the conclusion of his statement, prayed the magic
trate for a remand, which was granted.
On Saturday afternoon the prisoner was again
placed in the dock, and the court was crowded by
merchants and brokers, many of whom were person-
ally acquainted with the prisoner, and recently had
had transactions with him. Mr. Harvey again ap-
peared on behalf of the prosecution, and Mr. Aspinall,
barrister, assisted by lilr. Bremner, of this town, and
Mr. Barret, solicitor, of Leeds, for the prisoner. The
latter gentleman was informed on Friday, by a tele..
graphic message, of the prisoner's position.
Mr. T. Bourne produced a bill drawn by William
Threlfall, dated the 10th of March, 1850, for 2,0001.,
upon the Hull Flax and Cotton-mill Company. He
also produced a letter which he received enclosing the
bill. In pursuance of the instructions contained in
that letter, he got the bill discounted at the Bank of
Liverpool, and transmitted the money. In answer
to Mr. Aspinall, witness stated that he did not know
prisoner to he a partner in the Hull Flax and Cotton-
mill Company,
Mr. Layton, manager of the Borough Bank,
proved the discounting of the bill at the bank, and
said that he had been assured by the acceptor that it
w“s not genuine.

Mr. gui,erintendent Towerson, examined by Mr.
Rushton, stated that he had examined the carpet bag,
and in it he found a small lock and leather bag. In
the small bag were the bond stamps which he pro-
duced. He also found some red ink and paint. One
of the stamps contained the words, " Old Flax and
Cotton Mill Company," and the other " Chief mana-
ger." He had looked at the bill of exchange pro-
duced, and he believed it was stamped with the
instruments produced.
Mr. Rushton then intimated that there was suf-
ficient evidence to justify the detention of the pri-
soner, who was remanded until three o'clock this
afternoon.

We understand that Mr. M‘Manus, the high con-
stable of Hull, received a warrant in that town, on
Friday, for the apprehension of the prisoner, on a
charge of committing this and other forgeries, but
on the arrival of the officer in this town he found
Mr. Threlfall already in custody.
Mr. Threlfall was, we are informed, always highly
respected in his business transactions, and was con-
sidered an opulent manufacturer. Amongst other
mills, the prisoner owned one at Rochdale, recently
in the possession of Mr. Heyworth, of savings-bank
notoriety.