The Sun.
London, England, 1818-09-10 00:00:00

FORGING A FR INK.

Lawrence Hynes Halloran, alias W. C. Gregory,
alias Holland, was next placed at'the bar, charged
with writing and sending a letter by post, the
superset intim) of which was forged, in the name
of Sir William Garrow, Knight, Member of Par-
liament, for the purpose and with the intent of
avoiding payment of the duty of postage, knowing
the saute to he forged.
The prisoner is a man of most respectable ap-
pearance and demeanour, and a clergyman ; he
was dressed in black, and wore powder, and is
between 50 and 60 years of age ; Oil entering the
Court he bowed Ii st to the bench, and then io
all around. On the question of guilty or not
guilty being put by the clerk, he addressed the
Court as follows :

" Lord, owing to the long period of my
confinement on this charge,upwaids (420 months,
the death during that period of the only witness
‘vho could have substantiated my innocence, the
exhaustion of my pecuniary resources, and. my
consequent inability to employ counsel, or have
the advantage of professional advice, I have ho
alternative left me but to plead guilty to the of-
fence with which 1 am charged."
Mr. Baron GRAHAM advised the prisoner to
consider well the effects of this plea before he
persisted in it.
Prisoner.—'' My Lord, 'have no alternative;
I stand here unarmed and defenceless 'againut a
phalanx of powerful opponents arrayed against-
me, and detetmined to persecute. It would be a
waste of your Lordship's time to plead not guilty.
I must persist in my plea."
Mr. Baron GRAHAM observed, if the prisoner
persisted in his plea of guilty, it must he taken
that lie was satisfied with ti,e justice of the
charge, Ihe only object which the Court could
have was to bring truth to light. Ile might
plead not guilty if i.e chose, and thus promote
inquiry ; but lie ought not to plead guilty, and
whilst doing- so impute vindictive motives to those
vi.ho piosecuted. 11i. plea of guilty must be
taken as all acknowledgment of the truth of the
charge.
A Solicitor who was in_Contt said he had some
knowledge of the prisoner, and would, with his
Lordship's permission,' advise him.. The Court
desired he would do so, and he went to the pri-
soner for that purpose.
The prisoner, lioit ever, refused
,his proffered
•erviee, and observed, ".1- ha-ve (itchier! to plead
ilis plea Was then taken, and he bowed
to the Conrr and refired.

Edward Keta:r was tbca put to the bar, on a

btrr AO'
peharge of having,on the bight ot ti
ligust last, burglarionsly entered the house of
Fenwick Buttner, in the Strand, and stoleli I
silver tea-pot and other articles of plate, /4'f d
The hai already seen fully detailed Witi);
public in the police reports ot the daY•
were, shortly, as followi :—On the morning tei
rnestion, between 1 kid 2 o'clock, Mr. ”1111",5
eturned hOme, acconifianied by his son, and,
is his ctiiintis, let himself in with his private6e,
the servant having guise to bed at 11. tVbenlll
etitered the parlour they perbeiied snin i
e one 1184
been beforehand wi!li them ; the furniture 011-i
contusion., and the piste fromthe sideboard 14
gone. Mr. Buttner, jun. soon after saw a r,
the shop which communicates• with the 10,1,t1°,11ei
and gave the alarm to his father, who retreat
to the back part of the house and cried ttiurger',i
The servant in the mean time; alartiied by oci
noise, came down stairs, tend opening the Sire (1
door admitted a neighbour and the pfitrole 11.%
watchman ; they proceeded to examine the)bt:;l
and parlour, and whilit doing this tlio,
a toll rt h stranger added to their number, 11ollie4
the prisoner. They iminediately questioned IlLeii
as to who he was and where be came from. Pio
said he entered the house at the same time :01
watchman and patrole did, having heard the cr) if
murder, and coming to give his assistance't,
wanting. Several suspicious circumstance",
tending his account however; he was dentin'
and nest day committed for trial. ti fiord
Buliner, his son, the pattole,asatc
and the neighbour who enured with the '?l'lccj
nian, all swore to their belief that the priial)f
did not enter the house with the:. oft/
The ptisoner, on his part, called several pers of
to speak to his character, and also a woul3lA'ir,
the to,ln with whom lie was talking !Wu' 4.11
litilmer's house when the alarm of Hiiirder
givon. This last witness deposed that Oe 1111 i
the,prisoner enter the house at the same 6,0
watchnia» and patrole went in.
After a summing op front Mr. Justice 1341 c 1
the Jury deliberated a few minutes. whet) l-
acquitted the prisoner.