Star.
London, England, 1822-08-29 00:00:00

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SUMMER ASSIZES.

LANCASTER.
Thomas Make was charged with having uttered to
Joseph Hadfield, at Manchester, 15 forged Black-
burne Bank-notes, for 30s. each, knowing the same to
be for eed.—One of the notes was handed up to his
Lordship, and the purport of it was, " a promise tc,),
atke as :10s. that note, as part payment for a 21. note.
His Lordship minutely inspected the note, and then
said, " What ten-fatly has the Public against the is-
suers of this paper? Is it to defraud the Stamp 0,-
fice ? I. it a subtle contrivance? What is it but a
false token?"
Mr. STA RKIE declared that he was not competent
to answer the questions; they were, he said, issued at
the time there was a scarcity of cash,of with the view
being beneficial to the currency of the country ;
and they were also issued to prevent the bankers
being piessed too I, aid for payment in specie, and
they would entitle the holders of them to receive a
V. Bank of England note on presenting one of them,
and 10s.
Mr. Baron WOOD.—I never saw such an abomi-
nable thing in my life, as to give the Public a note
upon which they can have no remedy.
Mr. STARK I E declared he was not then able to meet
the objections his Lordship had raised; but he must
say, that he thought the note a very singular produc-
tion ; he was not prepared to say what remedy the
holders of them had against. the bankers.
Mr. Baron Woon.—l will try the case certainly;
but I will take care that it shall be represented to
the proper qua: ter. I'll take care to put a stop to it.
What is it but a subtle contrivance?
Mr. STA (ME then stated the nature of the charge
against the prisoner.
Joseph Hadfield stated that he knew a person of
the name of Collins, and saw him on the Ist April last.
Witness had sonic conversation with him on that day,
and was asked if he would have to do with a good
thing,which he after wards explained to mean passing
forged notes of, the Blackburn Bank. Witness ap-
pointed to meet him on the same evening, and they
were to go together to Btu ke, who made them. As
they were passing along the New Bailey Bridge they
met with Burke, and, after witness had been intro-
duced to him as being a trusty person, a conversation
took place between Burke and Collins, in the course
of which Burke gave Collins a forged note,which was
handed over by Collins to witness. Information of
this circumstance was given by Hadfield to the Police,
and a regular plan was formed by them to ensnare
the prisoner; for this purpose it was arranged that
Hadfield should purchase a number of notes of Burke,
in a manner which should bring home conviction to
him; and accordingly Hadfield met Burke, and agreed
to purchase a number of the notes at 9s. each, and
appointed a time for their being brought home to him.
On the morning of the day on which Burke was to
come to Hadfield's house, an officer was posted in such
a situation as to hear and see all that pa -sed, and
Lavender and another Officer took their stations at a
puhlic house opposite, ready to receive the prisoner, on
a signal being given, that had been previous!} agreed
upon. Burke came according to his promise, and, af-
ter a display of business had been made between him
and Hadfield, so as to give the concealed Officer an
opportunity of convincing himself of Burke's guilt, a
bargain was struck for 1.; of the forged notes for the
sum of 61. 14s. 6d.. a Lich money was partly paid by
five marked sovereigns, that had been put into Had-
field's hands for the pup pose. On Burke's leaving the
house the signal was given, and Lavender and his
assistants then took the prisoner into custody.
Thomas Smith, a Cie! k in Messrs.Cuniiffe, Brooks,'
and Co.'s Bank, proved that the notes produced were
forgeries.
Examined by the COURT.—When a person brings
one of the.,e notes to the Bank, he is requited to give
10s. and he then receives two Bank of England notes,
or two sovereigns. The notes were issued at a time
when cash was scarce, and it was done for the service
of the country.
Mr. Baton Wooo—For the service of the country,
indeed !
It was not done to avoid the Stamp Duties. He had
seen other notes of the description. The Kirby Lons-
dale, and Settle Banks had issued similar ctes.
Mr. Baron Noon—lt is high time they were put
a stop to. There is nothing in them to compel pay-
ment, but your honour; and even if you do pay them,
you compel the receiver ..to bring 10s, with him.—
By the number of the note before me, I perceive there
must be upwaids of nine thousand pounds worth
of this paper in circulation; and I doubt whether
at indictment could not be preferred against the
Bankers fin issuing such trash. His Lordship fur-
ther said, that he sas sorry to observe, in the face of
the country, that in his opinion there were no means
of compelling the payment of this paper.
Mr. WI nuts Nis tea an objection to the indictment,
that the promissory note, as set forth, was not in fact
a promise to pay money, but was a promise to re-
ceive it, and that therefore the indictment would not
sustain the charge against the prisoner.
Mr. Buowa replied to the objection.
Mr. Baron 'Woon said he would reserve the objec-
tion for the opinion of the Judges; but he thought a
man might as well be indicted for uttering a forged
promise to eat a dinner with a friend, as on this note.
His Lordship then recapitulated the evidence; and
the Jury, after a very short consultation, found the
prisonet—
There were several other cases for trial of the same
nature, but the Learned JUDGE said he would try no
more of them till he had consulted with the Judge of
the other Court.

Mr. BROWN.—There is one charge against the pri-
soner for conspiring to defraud his Majesty's subjects
generally, by uttering these forged notes.
Mt. Baron WOOD.--rOll had better not say any
thing about a conspiracy to defraud his Majesty's sub-
jects—you had better not give a hint of that nature.