The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-04 00:00:00

1344.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF .EXGREQUER, Dec. 3.
Before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a Special Jury.)

REVENUE FRAUDS.-THE. ATTORNEY GENERAL V.

BRYANT.

In this case the information was filed at the instance
of the Attorney-General, to recover from the defendant,
a paper-manufacturer at Weston Mills, near Bristol,
certain penalties alleged to have been incurred by the
evasion of the Excise duty.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the facts on which
this information was founded were nearly identical with
those which were submitted to the consideration of the jury
yesterday in the case of the Attorney-General v.Westcott,
and notwithstanding the result of that inquiry, he felt
bound to proceed against the defendant for the full
amount of the penalties incurred. In this case they had
to deal with the fraudulent paper maker himself and
not with the party who received it when it had not paid
the duty. It would be proved that the defendant
had been frequently seen at WeAtcott's with a spring
cart, although he was not now in possession
of such a vehicle ; that he had been in a darkened back
kitchen in Westcott's house while parties were cutting up
paper ; and, further, that a considerable quantity o!
paper which was received from the defendant's mills
was sent by railway to London, without having
paid the duty. There was also this additional and
striking circumstance: Mr. Bryant had employed about
seven or eight hands at his mill ,• the duty which he
paid annually was about 3411. ; and the amount of duty
showed a quantity of work which was quite in-
sufficient to support so large an establishment.
This was proved by the fact that the duty
paid by the defendant increased immediately
after the seizure. In the first six weeks (or" round," as
it was termed) after the seizure, the duty amounted, with-
out any apparent increase of business, to 1131., more than
double the previous average ; in the second round it was
1131., and in the third, 1301. Under all the circumstances
he anticipated a verdict for the full amount of the pe-
nalties.

Several witnesses were then called fur the prosecution.
Mr. CHAMBERS addressed the jury for the defendant.
The substance of the defence was, that defendant making
his paper by machinery, and drying it between steam-
rollers, that alluded to by the witness, Maria Allen,
could not have come from him, for it was damp ; nor
could that describ,.d by Mr. Mullett, for it was hand-
made.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL having replied,
His LORDSHIP summed up, and
The jury retired for forty minutes, after which they
returned, at a quarter to six o'clock, with a verdict for
the Crown on the lit, 3d, and 7th counts, in 35 reams ;
fur the defendant on the 2d and 4th ; and for the Crown
on the Sth, in one day and one ream.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT.- -York, Dec. 2.
-Jeremiah Swallow and Michael Noon were indicted
for unlawfully having in their possession a die, made of
plaster of Paris, for the purpose of coining sixpences.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both
the prisoners.
ills LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said he thought
the facts of the ease justified a difference ie the amount
of punishment Swallow was apparently the most active
party, and the one by whom the manufacture was carried
on. On Noon, whose share in the transaction was rather
a connivance than otherwise, the punishment would not
be so severe ; but sufficiently -so to warn persons in such
occupations as that of the prisoner that they could not
connive at such transactions on their premises, without
rendering themselves amenable to the law. Swallow to
be transported for 15 years ; Noon to be imprisoned for
12 calendar months.
Two persons. of the names of Phillips and M'Lean,
were indicted for unlawfully having in their possession a
die for coining shillings.
Mr. Hall and Mr. Hill conducted the prosecution.
The prisoners were not defended by counsel.
The principal witness was a person .of the name of
Elliott, a die sinker, in the employment of a firm in
Sheffield. He stated that, in the month of July last,
the prisoners came to him at his house, and after some
conversation they introduced the subject of dies for
coining. Phillips said he wished to procure articles
of that kind for coining shillings and half-crowns.
The witness told him that those were dangerous
things to meddle with, and that there would he a
great risk to run. Phillips said there would be no
danger, and that 3PLean, who had come over from Ire-
land, and was working as a printer, would manage it.
The witness said he could not undertake it, and Phillips
then asked if he could refer them to any die sinker who
could do the job. The witness replied there were many
who could do it, but they would not. He inquired who
had recommended the prisoners to him, and they said it
was a person in Snow- lane,Sheffield, that M'Lean would
take the dies away as soon as they were completed, that
he would pour some plaster of Paris over them, and then
imbed them in a block of lead, in which they would be
taken to Ireland. Mr. Elliott finally said he would con-
hider of it until the next day, and on the prisoners leaving,
he communicated what had taken place to his father, and
the next morning to one of his employers. The next
day Phillips came again, and asked if witness had made
up his mind. lie replied that he had, but must know
who were the parties by whom they had been referred
to him, and must have an advance of money. Phillips
objected, and said he had been taken in -by a fellow in
Dublin about some copper dies before. Witness said it
would cost nearly 2/. to procure the blank dies and letter
punches fur a shilling die. Phillips said ho would pro-
cure the blanks and punches .himself, and would give
121. for the two pair of dies. The witness said he must
have 101. for the half-crowns, and 51. for the shilling dies.
Phillips said that he could make a metal, the weight and
jingle of which would be so much like gold, it could not
be detected without aquafortis ; that the man who was
with him could make German silver which could scarcely
be distinguished from real silver, and that it was their
intention to make their coin of this material, plated with
real silver. Witness said he thought with so hard a
metal it would be hardly possible to strike up the impres-
sion. Phillips said that they. had arranged to get a
powerful press at Drogheda for that purpose. On the
3d of August witness got the blanks from Phillips, and
Is. as a pattern. The letter punches, Phillips said he
had got at Mr. Osborne's, in Snow-lane. He had pre-
tended that be wanted them for a medal of O'Connell,
to be sent to Ireland. The inscription on one side was
to be " One gift we seek." On the other " Our voices
will resound for repeal through the length of the land."
The Rhrases included all the letters necessary for a ls.
die. During the month of July, witness had received
several sums of 10s. in part payment, and had made for
Phillips a turning scale for half-a-crown, from which he
said he was going to have blank dies made. Saw Phil-
lips many times before the dies were completed. When
they were nearly ready, Phillips called to see an impres-
sion. He asked witness whether he would have any objec-
tion to meet him (Phillips) and his man with clay impres-
sions from the dies. Witness declined, and Phillips then
said he would:call. with his man, to see them, and would
then pay the money and take them away. He after-
wards called with M`Lean. M`Lean sat down at the
table, and asked for an eye-glass to look at them. He
said they were very good on the whole ; but there was a
scratch on the nose which he wished should be removed.
He said they were a few shillings short. Mr. M'Lean
pulled out his purse, and said he had got 31., and would
send the remainder as soon as he got to Ireland. The
witness said he could not agree to that, but if they would
bring 41. he would have them ready to be taken away.
Phillips stated that there was a large company engaged
in the business, one of whom was a captain of a ship, and
that it was intended to circulate the coin in America ;
and that they should want a dozen one shilling dies and
cioisn half-crown dies, and that they would be able to
keep witiies; fully employed. The next time they called
they did not bring the money, but stated they would have
to write to Ireland for me more. M`Lean said he did
not like to have the dies long,:riP• his possession than he
could help, and that he would 10:.." h them away on the
Manchester.
Wednesday following, at ten o ,doc_l=, so as to get
away by the eleven o'clock coach to Manchester.
They came again on the Monday to get wit:2.4ss to
make them another turning scale for half-a-crow.."'s
and said they would be able to let him know on
the Wednesday evening whether they could fetch the
dies on the Thursday. Did not see them till
the Friday. That was the 28th of November. M'Lean
called witness out of the house, and said they
would be prepared to take the dies away by nine
o'clock the following morning, and would pay besides
12s. towards the letter punches for a new half crown.
They came on the Saturday morning, and asked for the
dies. Witness said they were up-stairs. He went up to
fetch them, and drew the window-blind half-way up as
a signal to the police, who were on the watch, that the
prisoners were there. He came down stairs again, re-
ceived the money, and delivered the dies, which were
wrapped in a cloth, and taken away by Phillips. Wit-
ness then ran up stairs and pulled the blind up the
whole way as a signal they had got the dies. The
police, who were watching in the back room of as ad-
joining public-house, then came up•and took the parties
into custody. Verdict—Guilty.
Phillips to'be transported for fifteen years, and M'Lean
for twenty-one years.
Joseph Scott was indicted for a burglary in the house
of Joseph Brownrigg, the Palace Inn, at Leeds.
Verdict—Guilty. To be transported for fifteen years.
One or two other cases were disposed of during the
day, of no public interest.