Star.
London, England, 1818-12-05 00:00:00

FORGERY ON A SAVING MINE.

Yesterday George Prideaux,aged 24, and Thomas
Faulkner, whose trial stood over from last Sessions,
in consequence of the illness of a material witness,
were put to the bar on an indictment which charged
them with having forged, counterfeited, and uttered,
on the Bth of June, a receipt for the sum of 1:100,
with intent to defraud a Saving Bank.
Robert Parrott deposed that he was the Actuary
of the Saving Bank at the west end of the town, cal-
led—" The Western Provident Institution." Wit-
ness produced and verified the enrolment of the So-
ciety. Tl:e establishment was situated at No. 13.
Panton-street, Haymarket. The Trustees of the So-
ciety were Eduard Adolphus Duce of Somerset,
John George Earl Spencer, John Julius Angerstein,
and John Drummond, Esqrs. On the 18th of April,
witness, as Actuary, received from two persons one
hundred pounds, who stated that they came in be-
half cf the Society called the Horseshoe F:rid. He,
received it in the names of Thomas Prideaux and
James Jones, as Trustees for the Benefit Society. A
deposition book was given them by way of receipt
for the money, and a duplicate of the entry was made'
in that book. If the parties who deposited sums of,
money wilted to take out their money at a week's
notice, they came for that purper.e. On the 20th of,
May last the usual notice was given for the removal
of this money, and the deposition book was produ-
ced. Witness could not say that either of the priss-
ners were the persons who gave the notice. On the
Ith of June the money was drawn out. On that oc-
casion two persons came and produced the deposit-
book. An entry was made according to the usual
form, denoting the principal received, and the inte-
rest which had accrued thereon. 11 itness wrote the
receipt given, and those persons who received the
money signed it in his presence. The money paid
by witness was two 12,50 Bank of England notes.—
Witness had a knowledge of the prisoners, but he
could not say whether they were the persons who
took out the muncy or not.
Edward I)ochetty said he was a member of the
Horseshoe Benefit Club. Prideaux and Fauli.ner
were their Stewards. '1 heir money was kept in a
box, which had three separate locks and keys, and
ail diEerent from each other. The two Stewards kept
one, and the landlord of the Princess Charlotte, in
Swallow-street, where the Club was held, keeps the
other key, so that the box cannot be opened unless all
are present. The prisoners were Stewards in April,
and afterwards Robert Dixon and Thomas Blake be-
came Stewards.

William Salter, a servant, stated, that about sit
months since he met Faulkner at the corner of Whit-
comb-street, and he said—,, Salter, you are the man
I wanted to see." Witness asked him what far? He
replied that he was going to draw one hundred pounds
out of a Saving Bank just there, meaning, he suppo-
sed. Parton-street, and he told witness he would give
him a pound note if he would go along with him.—
Witness told him he wanted no pound note of him or
any other man, but if he could Jo any good he
shoul.i be glad to do it. On going opposite the Sa-
ving Bank, he said that one of the Stewards of their,
or our Society, was ill, and he therefore wanted a
witness to sign another man's name. His words were,
" I want you tc, sign such a name" (mentioning it),
but v hick witness could not recollect. Witness told
him he would not sign it. if he gave him five hun-
dred pounds, and they separated. There was no man
with him.

Edward Fuller was a farrier, living in James-
s:. et, Oxford-road. On the 9th of June, Faulkner,
with whom he s% as well acquainted, came to his
lodgings. lie was not at home, but met him in the
street afterwards. Faulkner offered to take witness
to Ascott Races, and a place of meeting was ap-
pointed for that purpose in an hour. They met ac-
cordingly at the corner of James-street, and there
Faulkner pulled out a bundle of notes, saying—“ I
can get more money into my pocket by walking
about than other men can by hard work.
Benjamin Smith, a member of the Herse-shoe
Fund, proved that he heard Faulkner say, that if the
Society should advertise the depositor's book, he
would find it fur £lO or less.
The case for the prosecution having been con-
cluded, the prisoners were called upon for their
Li der. ce. _ - - - . - -

Thomas Faulkner declared that he had nothing to
do with the transaction. For the last four years he
_ . .

had not belonged to the Club. He had never been
inside either the Savings Bank or the Bank of .Eng-
land in his life. He assured the Gentlemen of the
Jury, that this was nothing but a conspiracy against
his life, for being on a contrary side of the question
to the members of the Club.

The prisoner Prideaux declined making any de-
fence.—The following witnesses were then called to
make out an alibi:
Andrew Arnold said he was a bricklayer, and had
knowr the prisoner Prideauz for ten years. On the
Bth of June last, witness saw him ill in bed, at his
mother's house, at about half-past nine is the morn-
ing. lie remained in his bed-room for as hour, and
then went into his sitting-room, and continued here
'until fire o'clock. He did at believe that the priso-
ner could have gone out without being seen.
James Williams saw the prisoner at his father's
shop at about half-past eight o's.lock on the morning
of the tell June, apparently very ill. lie scented an.