The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-11 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.

OLD COURT.
Mary Ann Brown, a rather interesting looking female,
about 26 years of age, and John Francis Skinner, a fashion-
ably dressed young man, wearing meustachios, were indicted
for forging a cheque for 1901., with intent to defraud Messrs.
Smith, Payne, and Smith the bankers, on the 9th of January
last. The name forged was, as may be remembered -from our
recent police reports, that of Lady Margaret Nettlethorpe.
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Doane conducted the prosecution,
while Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner Brown, and Mr. M.
Chambers appeared for Skinner.
Mr. BODKIN having stated the particulars of the case to
the jury,
Mr. Evyson, clerk to Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith,
deposed to the fact of a cheque having been cashed on the
day named in the indictment, alleged to be drawn by. Lady
Net tlethqrpe.,
Lady Margaret Nettlethorpe stated that
_she was the
widow of Sir Henry Nettlethorpe, and resided at River Hill,
in Kent. She met the prisoner Brown in London, who made
application to her for an engagement as a companion, but
this was only accepted for a short time, during which Miss
Brown had had frequent opportunities of seeing her (Lady
Nettlethorpe) write. Witness never gave her authority to
sign any cheque in her name. Was aware that Miss Brown
belonged to a most respectable family, but had latterly been
in rather distressed circumstances, when she lent her some
money.
Cross-examined—The opportunities which the prisoner
Brown bad of seeing her write, was when she was writing
letters._ Used printed cheques, and seldom wrote more than
two or three during the year. Miss Brown was aware that
she banked with Smith, Payne, and Smith.
1 The, next witness was Mrs. Mason, who deposed that the
1 prisoner resided some time at her house at Kingston, and in
payment of her rent, &c.. gave her a 51. note.
The note was identified as one of those which had been
paid away upon Lady Nettlethorpe's cheque.
Several other witnesses having been examined, who gave
collateral evidence, all of which has been already published
in our police report,'
Inspector Pearce, of the Detective Force, deposed to taking
the prisoners into custody at Kingston, when they
both declared their innocence of the offence of
forgery. The two prisoners were living together as
man and wife, and when the witness went to their
lodging, Skinner acknowledged that the female was not his
wife, but begged of him not to let the people of the house
know anything about the transaction, as they had lived there
most respectably, and without the slightest imputation or
suspicion.
Mr. WILKINS addressed the jury on behalf of his client in
an able and lengthened speech, and in illustration of the diffi-
culty with which the identity of a signature was beset, men-
tioned the case of a Learned Judge in that Court (Mr. Justice
Mattison) who mistook his own handwriting.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS addressed the jury on behalf of the
prisoner Skinner, and commented strongly upon the impro-
bability of a person who bore her Majesty's commission and
held the high station in society which he did, being guilty
of the crime with which he was charged. The Learned
Counsel also commented upon the honourable feeling which
he exhibited in not availing himself of the offer of Mr. Bush
to become a witness against the female prisoner.
Several witnesses, most of them officers of the army and
navy, were called, who gave the prisoner Skinner the highest
-1,
Mr. Baro:aracter for honour and respectabilily.
One 6,,....ir ,
umE parA of
ALDEuscee baying summed up,
The jury, afteiii. short consultation in the box, stated to
tahftee jr whichua g e th theyattheretired
y Cll.ldrian on r
0,...t be likely to agree for some time,
the Court to the jury-room to considecifieir N. t.
ry, ---
- Ir tur
The ju, after about an hour's deliberatiorie; ned into