Star.
London, England, 1817-08-07 00:00:00

AS CI~rS.

. .
WARWICK, TUESDAY, AUCTTST 5.
By eight o'clock Mr. Justice HOLROYD proceeded
in the trial of prisoners, and Mr. Justice BAYLEY hav-
ink gone through the civil list, Mr. CLARKE took his
place, and went on simultaneously with the trial of
prisoners in the other Court. All the prisoners against
whom the Bank of England wet prosecutor, were
first brought up; six, charged with tittering forged
notes, knowing them to be forged, pleaded guilty.—
Four, charged with having forged notes in their pos-
session, and uttering forged notes, knowing them in
both cases to be forged, pleaded " guilty" to the
possession, and " not guilty" to the uttering ; the
prosecutor declined to offer any evidence in support
of the denied and capital part of the charge.
George Chatterley, charged with having at Birming-
ham, on the 2d of May, in his possession, without
lawful excuse, three fnrged Bank of England notes.
knowing them to he forged, pleaded " not guilty."
His trial was therefore folly gone into.
Serjeam VAUCIIAN and Dlr. R csorn were Counsel
for the prosecutor, blr. RrYNouns for the prisoner.
Serjeant VAUGHAN opened the case, by telling the
Jury that the indictment was founded on a merciful
Act of Parliament, which was intended to intercept
in their source evils which in their desolating course
might involve thousands in destruction. Tliere WAS
a class of middle-men who exposed themselves to
certain death by uttering notes given to them by
others. To prevent this transition from the original
holders to the active circulators, the possession of
.urged notes was mule criminal. Of tl;is crinlin.l act
he would now prove the prisoner to have been guilty.
Mary Slater (a young woman of genteel person,
and tolerably good address) lives in Needless.alley,
off Temple-street, Birmingham. On the 2d of May.
about ten o'clock at night, she stood at the corner of
Needless-alley, next Temple-street. The prisoner
came up to her and entered into conversation with
her, and afterwards accompanied her to her apart-
ments. Before he left her he gave her a half-crown
piece, which she said w•as bad. He then pave her a
second, which she also returned: lie gave her a third,
which was bad, but which she kept. He told her he
could put her upon a genteel way of gaining a liveli-
hood. She asked how ? He said that he dealt in
" *nit goods;" (by which he explained. that forged
Bank notes were meant); that he did not utter them
himself, but sold them by the dozen. At this mo-
ment the watchman passing the door, called the
hoer; she went to the dnor and informed him what
was going on. Ife went and got two others, and
with them went into the room. This WAS John Kean.
When these three men came into the room. the pri-
soner, witness, and another woman were there.
Cross-examined by Mr. ResuoLus.—What are
, you ?---No answer.
What are you ?—No answer.
How do you live ? What is it yon do ?—I sew, Sir.
Why did you hesitate so much before you gave
that answer ?•—No reply.
Why did you not at mice say so reply.
Do you understand me ?—Yes, Sir.

Then why don't you answer : I ask you why you
did not at once give wie the answer « I sew ?" sewing
is a creditable employment.—No reply.
Have you any other mode of suiipotting yourself ?
—No answer.

Are you constantly employed in sewing ?-11/41e.
Have you any other employment ?—No answer
from the witness. (The Counsel on the ether side
looked and muttered.in high displeasure; the Ladies
iq the galleries were in great contusion and distress).
I ask again: have you any employment but sew-
ing ?—(Violently agitated) I have had. Sir.
Pray what was the don't choose to tell Iron.
What was that employment ?-1 don't choose to
tell you.

Mr. Justice HOLUOYD.—You cannot urge the wit.
ness farther.

Mr REYNnt.ns.--I am aware of that, my Lord.
Do you know any thing of a X 5 note ?--N
Do you know any thing of a JO note of the Nor-
thampton BAnk ?—No, Sir.
You did not change such a note for the prisoner ?
—No, Sir.

Do you know any thing of a Joseph Ham ?—I
do not.

Did you not say to one of that name, " D—n me,
but I'll sell Chatterley's life, and the lives of all such
b—y rascals?"—No, Sir, I am not in the habit of
using such expressions, and did not use them.
You Are allowed to say what you please on your
oath, and he is not allowed to state any tning on his
oath ? (This question was repeated several times
below any answer was given.)—You know that, Sir,
as well as I do.

Is not the house in which you lodge one into which
ladies and gentlemen can have admission at all hours
of the night ? No, it is nr.t.
Do you mean to say that it is not a house of, ill
fame ?—Yes, Sir, I do say it is not.
Jobn Kean came into the room with the other two
men in cons: quence of the former witness's informa-
tion. He sew the prisoner sitting at the fire side,
and said to him, " what are you doing here ?" He
answered, " drinking a quart or two of ale with
these women." He said, " you must go with me."
Prisoner then started np, thrust his hands into his
breeches-pockets, and pulled out some papers from
one of them, which he was about to drop, but which
witness seized ; it was the three forged notes. The
house in Needless-lane is a house of bad lame.
John Cheshire identified the half-crown which Miss
Slater put into hts hands. It was exactly similar to
two found in the prisoner's pockets : the three were
evidently bad. The prisoner had no other money
about him.

Mr. John Lees, whose province it is to detect for-
geries on the Bank of England, declared the notes to
tie forged.
Richard Yorke (called by the prisoner) swore that
he was with the prisoner in the Stag and Hounds
from eight till eleven, and that the prisoner had a
45 note of the Northampton Batik when he left him.
Verdict —Guilty.
He and the tour who had confessed guilty o! the
same offence, were then sentenced to trar,p-riati,,u
1,4. fourteen years.

The Court was afterwards occupied till six o'clock
u trials of nn interest, either in point of ch,:rge or of
vidence. A boy of 15 was indicted for two distinct
lug/lanes. The Jury found. hitn guilty of stealing

•
fisik .ricilie Grit; and in. iiie iein-iici iiii evidence v.i.l
°gem!, and of *course lie was acquitted. ~
In the other Court. N‘paul 11',V seas convicted bl
1 having, on the 15th Of M.iich last, together with
1
I Samuel Hurst (convicted it the f,,triner Assizes, and
since transported), robbed Ttiornas Ha; tin of hil
pocket-book, contaiiiiil thiet 105 I) tCF , II:d of other
property: Hurst held A pistol to his breast, while
the uriioner seateleed all tiis pockets, And tipik what-
ever he lound. Mr. Fitytin Asked back some Chequer;
of wh'cls they could make no use. The primmer an-
swered, " If you don't take yourself Away, we'll
make a hole through yoti." The proof WAG quite
conclusive.—Guilty.