Star.
London, England, 1806-04-21 00:00:00

OLD adair.

Saturday 47.4, Rieitard Waller Cbrigoper Dodd:,
Timmy Rorbefirr, and ROA:fa frafier, were capitally
' indicted in leveret counts, charging them with Forging
and ,PablifhingaWill, purporting to be that of Major
Ric main Hawaii's, of the Royal Corps of Engineers,
arils intnnt to defraud the legal Heirs of the deceafed.
, The Prifoners.had been brought up for trial lad
Seffions ; but, on petitioning the Court for delay, on,
the ground that their principal witneffes, having to
come from the Viands of Guernfey and Jerfey, had
not yet arrived in town, their trial was poftponed till
theft Salons.
Mr, Goalies,, on the part of the profecution,
opted the cafe in a fpecch of great length and ability.
Itiajeir Hankin,. he dated to have been a Gentleman
of great reflaadabiiity in the army, who in the courfe
of his profeffson, had lived tome time in the Ifland of
sernrey, where the prifoner, G. R.Walker, had alto
refided as a Merchant, and was confidered as a
man of tome property and refpeetability. On the Sib
if April, tdoe. the Major had left London for Trini-
aid, and In October following, accounts had been
brcrugist Irene of his death ; and no will having
been (mind *tong his papers his brother had ap-
peared to be feint' m heir to his property. This ad-
tnindlratioo, however, had been impeded by the will
mrdion, prodpeed on the part of the prifoner,
George R. Walker, of which he pretended to be
iesecutor ; and a fuit had been commenced at Doc-
tor's Commons for the purpofe of having the will
probated, accompanied with an affidavit by the laid
George Walker, and afterwards followed up by the
depofitions of the other prifoners at the bar, wisofe
names appeared as witneffes to the laid will. From
the names of the legatee and executor of this will,
the relatives of Major Hawkins were convinced that
it mull be a forgery, being completely ignorant of
day tonnedion having fubfided between the Major
and the raid perfons. On this ground, in conjundlion
with other thong circumflances, he hoped to make
good the charge to the Jury. Major Hawkins having
lived on the ifland of Guernfey, might have been ac-
quainted with the prifoner Walker; bu t he woul d prove
from depofitions of perfons of the firft refpellability,
who had beets long acquainted with the Major, and
(erred in the corps with him, that the fignature
of this pretended will was not the hand writing of
Major Hawkins, though it bore fume diftant refem-
blance to it. Another circutoftance that ought to
have great weight with the Jury, was, that the ter-
tator in this will was defignated Major of his Ma-
jetty's Royal Corps of Engineers, whereas that corps
was only defignated the Royal Corps of Engineers.
and there was betides no Officer in that corps of fuch
defeription. Major Hawkins had been uniformly a
correct man, particularly in writing, and it was by
no means probable that he would either himfelf have
committed fuch an error, Cr have allowed it in others,
in a matter of fo much importance. He had been
We in the habit of writing much liimfelf, and did
not even admit an amanuenfis where it was ufual for
gentlemen in his fituation to do fo, and it was there-
fore extremely improbable, that in a matter of fuch
confequence as his will, be would refort while in good
health to any other perfon for this purpofe. He had
lived alto on the heft terms with his brother and Isis
family, which confided of two Cons and a daughter,
and was fo much attached to one of the font, that
be bad taken particular intereft in his education
and eftablilliment in life. 'The perfons, betides, to
whom this will had been entruned, he would
not only ;stove to have been unknown to the Major.,
but even to have had no evidence except in the per-
fons of the prifoner and his wife who had a (fumed a
feigned name for the purpofe. Nor had any perfon
ever been found of the name of the pre ended legatee,
except the mother of the prifuner, wiik had, notwith.
handing, never yet alledged that the was the objets
of the Major's bounty. In cafes of this kind the ter
timony of an accomplice, he admitted, was to be cap-
tinaly admitted, but he had a witnefs to produce of
rlii. defctiption, who had been partly involved in the
roof-piracy, but whore evidence, corroborated by other
eircumflances, was fo &nog that it could not fail,
t.e was confident, to make a ftrong irnpteuion on
the Jury. Should the Jury be convinced ef the guilt
of the prifoners, he had no doubt that
_Office would
,area (kW to a proper verdict. Thc crime was of

the firfl magnitude, as one of the greed bleffingst.
civil.zed fociety, was the fecurity and confidence with
which we were enabled to tranfmit our property to
thofe who were allied to us by blood or affetlion
He had no need to point out the dangerous tendency
of a pradice calculated, to deftroy this feeurity of the
value, of which every man Dula be fenfible front the
feelings of his own bofom.
Several witneffes from the Prerogative Office were
examined, who proved that they received the will in
queßion from the houfe of Melts. Kerr and Vanhe-
thuyfon, Solicitors, and had received ioftrudions from
Mr. Burton refpeding it.
Mr. Burton depofed, that he lira faw the will is
September when he received it from Mr. Van-
hethuyfon—has feen Dodds, and thinks he has feen
Richard Walker, as fubfcribers to the will—had re-
received a letter from G. R. Walker to prepare elle-
, gationein fupport of the will, from infirudions afford-
ed by the Paid G. R. Walker. Some of thofe intiruc-
tions 'were written, but others were verbal.. Of the
written initruitions one was by Dodds, another G. R.
Walker, and another by Rochetler. He had &ears
the allegations when prepared to G. R. Walket, who
approved of them.
Mr. Vanhethuyfon depofed, that the will hid been
left at their office by Mr. Walker, and had remained
there a confiderable time under cover ; had met with
Mr. Walker by appointment, but recollected no es-
marks having been made on the will at
they did bufinefs for Walker, who when not in,towek
refided in Guernfey ; be had always looked on Mr.
Walker as an hone& man.
Mr. Kerr knew Mr. Walker, but had never cone
verfed with 'him on the fubjedi of the will t he was
in the country at the time, and did not fee Walker till
after the will had been taken to the Prerogative
Office.
Mr. H. Stevens, of Do ton' Conmpons, faw the
prifoners on the I 7th of June, I 805, in rapport of the
will, all except R. Walker, whom he did not recoi-
led having feen.
Mr. Jennings, Prodor and Examiner in the Pre
rogative Court, being examined refpeding the depo.
fawns taken at Dodors' Commons, hefitated to an.
fwer, as the queßion in Doctors' Commons was yet
pending.
Mr. Garatow, on the part of the prifoners, here
interfered, and a long converfation 'enfued refpeding
the propriety of producing the depofitirns taken at
Dodoes' Commons, as the queßion there was yet no.
determined, and the whole evidence of courfe taken
there being as yet imperfcd, declarations might be
withdrawn, and new allegations fubmitted in theft
room. The objeaion, however, was over-ruled by
the Court, and the witnefs Rated that he had the 'WI
and had taken the evidence, which, with the affidavit
and allegations, together with the ;lineations of
Dodds, R. Walker, and Rochefier, were delivered to
the Court.

Major Rowley was then called, who was a Major
in the fame corps of engineers with the deceafed. He
was well acquainted with the deceafed, who, though
a Major by Brevet in the armyewas like himfelf only
a Captain in that Corps. The deceafed quitted Eng-
land for Trinidad in April 1803. He had died at
Trinidad on the t of July of the fame year. Having
received the official report of his death early in oao-
ber, he had fearched his papers in the bottle of Mrs.
Bethnel, where the Major had lodged previoufly to
his going abroad, but found no Will. in Anna
he received a letter from Walker the prifoner,
by which he was informed for the firli time that the
Major had left a will previoutly to his going abroad.
He had been acquainted with the deceafed fince 1787
—knew bit brother and two nephews, with whom he
always underftocd the deceafed to have been on good
terms. The deceafed had interefted himfelf
lady in behalf of one of his nephews, who was a Lien.
tenant in the army, and he had reafon to believe his
affedlion continued unabated, when the Major left
England for Trinidad. The Major was art accurate
man to a great degree, and he had never lien a paper
figned by him that was not written alto by himfelf,
whether official or other wife. There was no fuch rank
as Major in the Corps of Engineers. He was well ac-
quainted with the deceafed's ltand.writing. (Here
the will was handed to the witnefs, of which having
examined the fignature, he declared that he did not
believe it to be that of Major Hawkins.) He did
not know any fuch perfon as Elizabeth Hinde, the
legatee in this will, and never had heard the Major
(peak of any loch perfon. He did not know him to
have been acquainted with any body of the name of
Browning, nor did he know that he was acquainted
with G. R. Walker. The Major, hosiever, had been
in Guernfey from 93 to 98, and might have met with
Walker there. _ _

General Mofs corroborated the foregoing tellimo-
try ; and farther flared, that an application had been
made to him by Robert Eddington and R. Walker,
for the purpofe of difelofing to him the bufinefs re-
floating the will. Little, however, had been Paid on
the firbjeft in prefence of Walker, whom Eddington
had brought to him to make the difclofure. He had
made a fecond appointment, but it was not kept.
General Twift bore teftimony to the punctuality of
the decestfed, and did not believe the fignature to the
will to he hit. _ _ _ _ _ _

Sir W. Green, and W. Ten, E. of the Ordnance
Office in the Tower, gave evidence to the fame effeet,
from a long and intimate acquaintance with the de-
ceafed.

Mr. R. Hawkins, nephew of the deceafed, Rated
the family of his uncle confined of a woman with
whom he lived, who had a child to him ; of a bro-
ther, father to the witnefs ; a nephew and a niece,
betides himfclf. He never knew a perfon of the
name of Elizabeth Hinde, and never heard his uncle
mention the Malt of the executor in this will.
The affidavit was here read, and the fignature
proved to be the hand writing of G. It. Walker by
the teftimony of Robert Eddington, who had often
fern him write.
The innrunions figned by the other three pa*.
ners were alto produced, when the hand writing of
Dodds and Roche fter were fworn to by the fame
witnefs ; butt he csuuld not fwear to R. Walker's hand
writing, having never feen him write but once. The
envelope was alto produced that contained the will,
and was proved to be the hand writing of the prifoner
George R. Walker. • •
The will was then read, leaving an annuity of 301.
to Mrs. Bethnel, with whom the Major had lived, and
a legacy of wool. to her natural daughter by the de-
ceafed, bequeathing all hit other property, perfonal

. • •
or real; td Elizabeth Hinde. Tbc affidavit was alto
read, with, the initrullions figned by the prifoners,
Dodds, Rncheller, and Walker. They an agreed in
the fame Retry, that having met,aceidentally at the
honfe of a William Browning, in Darti4.outh•ltreet,
Wellminfter, they bad there feen the• Major, and had
been requened by him to be witneffes to his fignature
of hi. will along with Mrs: Browning. The affidavit
further Hated, that the will was deli*ered to Mrs.
Browning, with a charge not to produce it, till be
(the Major) fhould return, or till the fhould hear an
account of his death.

Mrs. Elizabeth Scudder depofed, that the lived in
Dartmnuth•llreet, Wellmintler. In July, 1803, the
prifoner, G. Walker, with his wife, came to lodge in
her hr•ufe, and continued fix or (even weeks, going by
the names of Mr. and Mrs. Browning. Mr. Browning
was deaf, and ufed a trumpet.
Mrs. Woodford .lived is Brook-fireet, Fitzroy-
fquare, in 5804 A woman then lived with her of
the name of Browning, and a percent who was deaf,
whom the believed to be the. prifoner, afterwards
joined this woman, when they appeared to live toge-
ther as man and wife.
Mr. Hines lodged in the fame houfe, and corrobo-
rated the ilatement.

The next *knee, Eddington, who had been privy
to all the tranfaaions of the prifoner, and was a molt
material witnef. in this cafe, bad known the prifoner
many years. He was employed by Government at
Guernfey, to fupply the different garrifons with coals,
tke..and witnefs was then his (errant. In July rgos., he
received a letter (the prifoner Rochefter being then out
of Walker's employ) to call On him (Rochetter) in
Wellclofe fquare, at his houfe. Witnefs did fa. He
was not at home, but a letter was left for him, with
one inclofed for G. Walker, for him to convey to
hissild mailer, in which he was not to fail. Witnefs
delivered the letter to the woman who lived with
Walker as his wife, who called herfelf Mrs. Brown-
ing. He was informed by Rochefter, on his return to
hie honfe in Wellclnfe-fquare, that an old intimate
friend of Walker's had died at Trinidad, and there
was only one fubfcribing witnefs to the will, a Mrs.
Browning, who had left the country, in confequence
of an altercation refpeting family matters. Two
more vritneffes were aeceffary. and Mr. Walker had
known him long, and he of courfe would have no
ebjeaion to become a fubfcribing witnefs. The will
was a good one, G. Walker was executor, and no
evil could an from his fignature. An appointment
was made for a meeting between G. Walker and
witnefs, at the Circus Coffee houfe, St. George's
Fields, where witnefs found Walker and a man o(
the name of Godfon in waiting, who was one of
Walker's clerks. Walker was deaf, and they com-
municated together on flips of paper, which were
burned ; Walker affured witnefs there was no danger
in figning, and they agreed to meet and dine the next
day at the houfe of Rochafter. After dinner, Ro-
chefter beckoned wieners up (lairs, and placed a paper
in his hand, which was the will in queftion. Wit-
nefs failed, and obferved, the ink was not yet dry.
Rochefier advifed him to film under the name of
browning, Paying, he bad been promifed soot. to do
fn. and Walker would give him, the witnefs, tool. and
five guineas to do the fame. Wirnefs palitively re•
laid. He law Rochefter again the next day, who
informed him the will he had leen was only a copy
of the original. Saw Dodds, who was an attorney's
clerk, the following day, and acquainted him with
what hid happened. Dodds begged to be introduced
to the parties, for he had teen many good wills. and
was a complete judge of them. It was difficult to
prove a will at Dodoes Commons for want of wit-
neffes. Witnefs apprifed Rochefter of what had
pallid, and an interview was the confequence be-
tween him and the prifoner Dodds. Richard Walker,
the other prifoner, was heard of, and introduced to
the parties by Dodds. at the Saracen's Head, Snow-
hill. Dodds was hired to get another fubfcribing
witnefs to the will, by Rochefter. Rochefter accufed
witnefs with having grange ideas refpeEling the will,
and danger of figning it. which he again obferved
was only a copy. Mrs. Browning contended that fhe
was she widow of a Captain. The will was again
produced in the pretence of witnefs, and Dodd. took
It to the window, and looked at the water mark ; he
Paid that a man fhould not have to do with fuck
things without having had experience. The water-
mark appeared to him to be plaufible.
Ann Eddington.--I am the wife of the laft witnefs.
I knew all the four prifnners. lam acquainted with
Mr. George Richard Walker, and have been fome
years. With Mr. Dodds, but lately. I lived with my
hufband in the year 1804, in. Pitt-greet. Tottenham
Court Road. I remember Mr. George Richard Walker
calling on my hufband. I never heard Mr. Walker
(peaking of the will. My firtt becoming acquainted
' with the prifoner Dodds, was not until then. I heard
Mr. Dodds (peaking to my hufband about the
I Mr. Dodds always thought it was a good will, and
was very lorry Mr. Eddington had reprefented it to
be any thing elle. I heard Dick Walker fay, he
wanted very much to call on General Mots. He felt
himfelf uneafy ; it was what Mr. Eddington repre-
fented of him, which he was uneafy about. He made
an engagement to go to General Mors. Dodds Paid,
he wifked he had been informed of their going to
General Mors, that he might have a (hereof tt, mean-
ing the money he might get from General Mors for
difclofing, for that he might have made every man of
them by at. It was a very good will. I think Mr.
Dodds mentioned fome money, add he Paid he could
have made them all, had they taken him by the hand.
Crnfs-examined by Mr. GARROW—She laid Dodd.
and Dick Walker always confidered the will good,
and upbraided her hufband for having reprefented the
contrary. " I remember Dick Walker Paid, if he had ,
any doubt of it, he would not have figned it for a
elsouland pounds, and he felt himfelf very unhappy
that it had been fpread abroad that a doubt was en-
tertained of it. I have heard my buflund talk a
great deal of the meeting before the Magittrates, and
1 believe of their giving him leave to go and fetch his
papers. He had a valt number of papers, but what
they contained I cannot tell He had not them all
with him at the firtt time he was at the poi cc office,
and he came home for fomething more than he had
then. He came home for hi, papas more than once
or twice.

Mr. Lambert Wocd--'• I live at No. 6, Pitt-flreet,
Totter.hain.court-road, and lived there in the year
tBc4.; in the fummer or ;mom° of that year, Ed.
tlington and his wife came to lodge in my bottle.—
They lodged to the belt ofrny recollation till the sd

•
of January, tScs. Mr. Dodds I have a perfea raw
collettion of ; the other Gentleman it Mr. George
ti Ricard Walker. r think he had much darker hair
then, but I believe his features to be the fame. lam
not clear at to him. One perfon came once in the
name of Walker, I am not lure it was that perfon,
Dick Walker, they both came, but only one of them
left ft memorandum in writing ; they enquired for
Eddington, and I !hewed them up !lairs.
ThotnasGatfon—l was formerly clerk to Ms. Wa-
lker, in the ifland of Guer nfey. I remember, ill Sep-
tember, 1804, being with Mr. Walk-r, at the Circus
Cnffee•huufe in St. George's•fields, and I remember
Mr. Eddington- fitting with Mr. Walker there; thfli
eonverfed together nn paper, the paper, I believe.
was torn afterwards. In the fpring of 1805, 1 was em-
ployed by Mr. Walker to coiled evidence refpeCting
this will. In March t Bos, I received direftions from
him to gn to Dartmouth ftreet, Weffini»lter, to en.,
quire for a perfon of the name of Browning. I have
not the papers which he gave me ; this is his writing
I believe—,(looking at a paper put into his hand)—
, Mr. and Mrs. Browning lodged at No. 28, Dart-
mouth-fired, Wefiminfter, March 28, 1803. This
was given to me in March. iflor, though dated in
:803. I received from Mr. Walker this letter.—Mr.
Gurney laid, that the feeond poftfeript of it only ap-
plied to this tranfaaion. It was this : '4 Yon will
elk Mr. Barton, Proftor, in Doftors' Commons.
whether the papers are ready for Mrs. Browning
to be called for, as I am to write if they are ready
to be fent to Ireland ;" 'finding to the neceffary
'papers in fupport of the will in Donors' Commons,
adding, 11 you will mot fail to inform Mr. Walker,
when Richard Walker has been finally examined
—Mr. Burton will inform you of it;' alluding
to the depofitions of Dick Walker, in fupport of the
due execution of the will.—The witnefs proved his
having received another letter alfo from Mr. Walker,
alfo dated the Bth of May, the former being the 6th,
from Guernfey, alluring him there was (Itch a rank
es Major of his Majefty's Royal Engineers at Guern-
fey, and that thofe who doubted it were under a mis-
take, although it was a brevet rank. This was to
do away tome filfpicions which began to be enter-
tained of the senuinenefi of the will on account of
the miftlefeription of Major Hawkins, becaufe his
rank as an Officer of Engineers was incorreitly Rated,
there being in reality no fuch title as his Majefly's
Royal Engineers, but Royal Engineers. In the next
place, his title of Major was only brevet rank; his
real defcription in the corps was that of Captain only.
The Letter then contained an allufion as to what Mrs.
Browning was, he finding that it began to be fufpe&-
ed that She was Mrs. Walker in reality. " Should
any one afk of Mrs. Walker, you had heft not fay
any thing refpeftins my (mind marriage, as I have
ftrong reafons for it; it is not neeeffary to anfwer any
queftions of that kind, to fatisfy the curioSity of im-
pertinent people."
Mr. William Vafey.—l know Mr., Walker, of
Guernfey, Mr. Rochefter, and Mr. Dodds. I law
them at the Saracen's Head, Snow-hill, in the year
1804, together—the place where Eddington had
Paid they converted together on the fubjed of the will,
Mr. Eddington was in company with them. On the
iv!' of Auguft I law Eddington, Walker, and
Rochefter together; they conveifed, but in what
manner I do not know.
Crofs-examinecl by Mr. Geeanw,—The witne&
.laid—" I have known Mr. George Richard Walker
many years, he was perfeftly refpeftable in every
tranfaftion which I have had with him, and all the
concerns I have known him in arc perfealy corata
and honourable."

• Sir Brooke Watfon, Bart. proved that a letter
which had been fent as a copy of another, purporting
to come from his office as Commiffary eneral, re-
fpeaing a demand for the fupply of coals, ke. was
never written by him or by his orders; that if hebad
had any occafion for fuch a fupply, he Ihould have
fent to tie Tranfport Board for that purpofe. This
letter was to give an apparent authenticity to the
eorrefpondence of the prifimer, George Richard Wal.
ker, with his agents, etc. from Guewfey.
John Trott, a Bow.fireet officer, proved, that at
'the time this will was attened, Dick Walker, the pri.
loner, who is one of the attefling witneffes to it, kept
a penny bather's !hop on Snow-hill.
Mr. Gallon—l was in Mr. Walker's employment
at Guernfey. There was a female there of the name
of Elizabeth Hinde ; that was the name, I believe, of
Mr. George Richard Walker's mother. (She is the
refiduary legatee, and takes the whole of Major Haw.
king's property, after a thoufand ponnds legacy to his
illegitimate daughter, and 301. a year to her mother,
under this will, of which Mr. George Richard Wal.
ker is the executor.)
This was the cafe on the part of the profecotion,
which concluded twelve minutes before fix o'clock in
the evening.