Star.
London, England, 1823-09-05 00:00:00

.FORGED BILLS OF EXtkitAIGE.

CRlLTWattitai—The system of robbery and plun-
der, through the medium of forged bills of exchange,
is not confined to the Nletropolis ; the principals hav-
ing
-their agents or confederates in the country. At
a watering place in a neighbouring county, an in-
stance of it, involving strong suspicion of forgery, re-
cently occurred, not often to be met with in the an-
nals of swindling, and worthy of being made known,
to put the Public on their guard against similar de-
ception and plunder. A gentleman, an adept in his
vocation, sent down a trusty, well-tutored servr.ut to
take apartments for him, and mike known his great
wealth arid large establishment. He came him, elf
in a handsome equipage, hired, as it turned nut, foi
the occasion, and claimed kindred with the chief
Gentleman of the place, remarkable for his easy ac-
cess and unsuspecting good-nature. Thus getting an
entree to his house and table, he prosecuted his claim
of relationship with great perseverance and equal
publicity ; searching • the records, court-rolls of the
manor, opening a tomb in the Church, that had heen
undisturbed for two 'Centuries, and publicly making
out his pedigree. Having made his great wealth and
connexions known, he wished to distinguish himself
for more amiable endowments, and issued cards for
a gin and sniff party, with a ball and supper, to all
poor men and women above 65, in the place, at
which he did the honours, with his servants in full-
dress liveries, and graced by the beauty and fashion
(as spectators) of the neighbourhood, with his good-
humoured relation at their head. He received the ,
company, as their names and rank were announced
-from below, and repeated on the landing-place above,
with all the etiquette of the well-bred man, which be
aped a merveilk ; the scene which took place as the
ball proceeded, the gin operated, and the hoary party-
coloured couples coalesced in the loving moment of
the cushion dance, with the hurly-burly, screaming
and fainting et the ladies, when the mob without
broke in upon the mob within, would require the
pencil of a Hogarth to do justice to it. Of this ex-
traordinary entertainment, announced to be a good
old yearly immemorial custom of his ancestors, who
had always taken pleasure in the comforts and hap-
piness of the poor, he caused a faithful statement to
be inserted in the .ounty papers, extolling his great
generosity, ample fortune, and noble family ; and
his servants availed themselves of the opportunity of
making it known their master was so rich, he did not
know.what to do with his money. His name being
up, he went to see all estates on sale for miles round,
offering sums he knew would not be accepted ; and
taking care to make these offers publicly kn,,wn, he
acquired great notoriety for wealth, and his important
concern requiring a legal agent of integrity, his good-
natured relation introduced him to au eminent soli-
citor, by whose assistance he hired a mansion, park,
and manors, till a purchase could be made, and by
whom (his open manners lulling suspicion asleep) he
was introduced to the Bank, where he got a large bill
discounted, with the produce of which, and some dis-
counted at the watering place, he opened an account
with the chief Bank in the county, where he passed off
more bills, enabling him to open an account with
another Bank, where he was equally successful—first
making one Bank subservient to the fraud on the
other. He might have played off the same trick at
most of the Banks in the county, but alarmed at in-
formation from another quarter, he drew out his
money and went off, leaving all his debts unpaid ; '
and even the Master of the Assembly-rooms minus
for keeping up the good old immemorial custom ofl
his ancestors ! While exercising his vocation in the
country, he was practising it elsewhere (seldom_ re-
siding more than a week at a time in the same place),
particularly in London, where, profiting by the know-
ledge acquired of landed property in the country, he
gave it out a large estate had fallen to him as heir
at law, he was going to take possession, and be mar-
ried to the only daughter of his newly discovered re-
lation, under whose auspices he began and ended his
exploits in the country, and with whose character and
genealogy he had made himself well acquainted be-
fore he practised on his good-nature and credulity.

The Assize for the county of Flint proved maiden,
and the Judge received the white gloves.
The Counting-house at the Brass Works belonging
to Messrs. Butler and Hill, situated near Stone, was
broken open on the night of the 22d ult. by means of
crow-bars and chisels, with which the robbers had
broken down the casement of a strong outer and
inner door, and an iron chest, weighing nearly 400
weight, was removed from the inner wall of the
building, and carried a distance of seventy-five yards
to a remote corner of the Works, where it was thrown
over the boundary wall, which is nearly six feet high,
into the adjoining field at the back of their Wire Mills.
The door and inside drawers_ were then dashed to
pieces with a sledge hammer, which the robbers had
procured by breaking into the smith's shop at the op.
posite side of the premises, and all the cash and effects
carried off; but the books were carefully deposited
on the floor of the workmen's privy, which adjoined
the scene of demolition, very little injured. Dili-
gent inquiry led to the apprehension of one Rock,
the leader of a desperate gang of poachers, who is
recognised to have passed a 201. and a 11. note, part
of the stolen property. A large and disorderly crowd
assembled to prevent the removal of the prisoner ;
but Mr. Hill mounted his horse, and, with the handle
of a stout hunting-whip, drove away the leaders of
the mob, who had closed in upon the chaise which
was to convey the prisoner, while a few of the most
respectable inhabitants kept an open way for the con-
stables to pass with their charge.. The mob seeing
their resolute determination to enforce the removal,
offered no further violeace, and Rock was the next
morning fully committed for trial.
LOOKING-GLASSP./ AT REDUCED PRICES.—The No-
bility and Gentry are respectfully informed they may
be'supplied with the best Cast Plate Glass, of the
largest dimensions, at GEO. COOPER and C-o's Plate
Glass Warehouse (established fifty years), 36, Picca-
dilly, opposite St. James's Church. A laige assort.
ment of Chimney, Pier, Console, and Dressing Glasses
on view. Plate Glass for sashes, carriages, conserva-
tories, libraries, book-cases, lamps, &c. comparatively
cheaper than Crown Glass. The Glass at this Ware.
house is allowed to be of the finest colour and brilli-
ancy, far exceeding the French manufacture, and con-
siderablg cheaper., Glassesconveyed- to any part of
the lahgdom, on spring machines, without
pease of packinrcascs.

• . . .
POLICEDitELUCENCE.
BOW4TRERT, • •
Yesterday Darby ant! APCtiragt, the two men charged Wits
being concerned in plundering Lady Ann Dashwilo.l of plate to
a large amount, were finally examined. A tttti named 110,,
was also pot to the bar, on suspicion of having been a pinker.
eriatittis in the robber,y. Darby, the butler, seemed in the same
desponding state described in our first report ; he did not utter 4.
word during the whole of the investigation.
Mr. Anot.ruus attended on behalf of 114Carthy, the mal
charged with pawning the greater part of the plate, and sup.
mined, on his behalf, that no case either of stealing or feloniogi
receiving had beau made out against Ida client., lie received the
plate from Darby, who was Lady Dashwood's baler, and 'ie
stated that he had them full authority of her Ladyship to•raise
money upon it ; and Lady Ann had admitted, that ulion anent.
.C 331.011 she had actually whoa ized Darby tia pawn some spoons._
It was to be observed also, that M'Carthy received the procce4
of the plate that he pledged in payment of a just demand foe
goods sold and delivered—namely, fruit, &c. and not in (.he
of reward for his slizire in the transactions.

Sir IL Manta said lie was constrained to agree in opinion with
the Learned Counsel that a case of felony could not he made g 4
against M'Carthy, and he must therefore be admitted an eel.
donee for the Crown.
With respect to the third prisoner, Howe, the only evidence
was, that he had about eighteen months ago pa wned some pint
for Darby, but it was not forthcoming, and he was discharged.
Darby was fully committed to Newgate for trial.
ROBBERY or Mn. 11111SCHELL.--411`Carthy, late butler in lir.
Herschell's family at Slough, underwent a final examination, ca
a charge of stealing notes and cash in his master's dwelling-house
to the amount of £l6O.
Mr. !Winne attended to conduct the prosecution.
Several fresh witnesses were celled, through whose means se-
veral of the notes stolen were traced to the prisoner or his wife.
It further appeared, that in consequence of the • confession of the
wife, a search was made at her lodgings in the Waterloo-road,
where 25 sovereigns were found concealed in a saucepan. This
was part of the change she had received for the notes which her
husband had desired-her to get changed. 4
The prisoner was fully committed for trial. •
MANSION-HOUSE
FIT VANS:A question of some interest to Ale Public, sad
to coach-proprietors, came on before his Lordship yesterday—
namely, whether those dangerous vehicles called fiy vans should
be considered within the meaning of the Act of Parliament, n
coaches or waggons. A tradesman attended to request a sum-
mons for the attendance of the owner of the Salisbury Fly Van;
to shew cause why he neglected to deliver a parcel in proper
time. A parcel of fish was sent from Salisbury to the com-
plainant by the fly van, which arrived at the Elephant inn, Fore-
street, at five o'clock on Wednesday morning: the parcel vas
not delivered until eight o'clock in the evening, and in mu-
quence of the delay the fish was spoiled.
The complainant submitted that these vans came within the
meaning of the Act as coaches, and, in tact, paid mile duty, nal
were considered as carriages by the Stamp-office. As site Act
directed that every innkeeper should deliver every parcel that
came by a coach within six hoers after its arrival, under a pe-
nalty, the innkeeper bad incurred that penalty by the nun-deli-
very according to the terms of the Act. It was desirous to here
the case before the Public, that the owners of caravans might
be made acquainted with their responsibility.
The Act was then referred to. It stated that any parcel at.
riving by a " public stage-coach or carriage. other than a com-
mon stage waggon," should be delivered within six hours; and
that if the parcel arrived by the waggon, 24 hours were allowed
for the delivery.
The LOAD MAroa asked at what rate the van travelled ?
The complainant said, he understood, it went at the rate of
five miles an hour, including stoppages; besides, it went on
springs, was drawn by four horses, driven by a man on the hot,
and had a guard.
The Loan Mxroa.—l observe, too, from the bill, that it is
called a " fiy-van."
Alderman Vastaates.—Yes but they call all the waggons "By
waggons." The broad wheeled waggons base flown for these
forty years.
The LOAD MATOIS said, he considered that the van came
within the meaning of the Act as a " public carriage, other than
a common waggon." His Lordship directed that the innkeeper
should be summoned to answer the charge, when he might shew
cause against this construction.