The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-11-15 00:00:00

LONDON POLICE REPORT.

MANSION HOUSE.
CHARGE OF FORGERY.—On Monday Mr. Cope, the marshal,
brought before the Lord Mayor a man of gentleman-like ap-
pearance, named 'William Collier, a surgeon in practice at
Liverpool, upon a charge of having forged the name of one of
the executors to a will in the transter of a large sum of money.
The unfortunate man was obliged to sit during the investiga-
tion, he was so deeply affected at his situation.
Mr. Lumley, the barrister, attended for the prisoner. Mr.
Freshfield attended to prosecute for the Bank of England.
Mr. Freshfield said that Mr. Collier and a Mr. Rich. Squire
were trustees under the will of Mary Martin, deceased, of
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, upon trust to pay the dividends
on a considerable sum of money to-the prisoner's wife. The
prisoner had no dominion over the money at all, but received
the dividends for his wife for several years. At length, in Jan.
last, a transfer of the property was made at the Bank, under
circumstances which threw suspicion upon the prisoner, and
the Bank solicitor-employed Mr. Cope,/ the marshal, who pro-
cured a warrant ter apprehend Mr. Collier. The prisoner was
taken into custody,•and charged with the offence.
Mr. Richard Squire stated that he was one of the executors
under the will of the late Mrs. Mary Martin, and he identified
the probate of the will handed to him by the lord mayor. The
prisoner was his co-executor. In the will was a bequest of a
sum of money for the benefit of Mrs. Sarah Collier. Witness
and the prisoner invested the money in the three per cents.
reduced. The prisoner, as it was a matter of more convenience,
received the dividends for Mrs Collier. 'Witness did not attend
at the Bank in January last for the purpose of transferring the
property mentioned in the will, and the writing in the Bank
transfer-book was not his writing. George and Henry Wheeler
were the witness's stockbrokers on the occasion of making the
original transfer, and no other stockbroker had been employed.
Ile declared that he never employed or sanctioned the employ-
ment of Mr. Durant, the stockbroker.
Mr. Lumley—How long is it since the original transfer was
made?

Mr. Squire—The date of the original investment is April,

Look at-the writing of your name, and say whether you know
whose it is ?—I do not know whose it is. It is evidently the
writing of some person who is not at all acquainted with my
writing.
The Lord MaYor.—Do keep other accounts at the Bank ?
Mr. Squire—Several. 'I here are many accounts in the Bank
to which I invariably attend myself.
Then you are known at the Bank ?—I believe I am ; for I
have been in the habit of Visiting it frequently for the last thirty
years. The transfer lately made was made to William Collier,
Jan., who, I believe, is the sou of the prisoner.
Have you known the prisoner long?—My acquaintance with
him commenced in consequence of our co-executorship, and did
not extend beyond that. Ile is, as far as I know, a respectable
person. He uniformly received his wife's dividends.
Mr. Blackburn, clerk to Mr. Durant, the stockbroker, stated
that the prisoner was introduced to the office by a gentleman
to transact business. The prisoner called at the office on the
10th of January last, and gave instructions in writing for the
transfer of a sum of money, and witness accompanied him and
.another person, whom the prisoner introduced as Mr. Squire,
to the Bauk to sign the transfer book.
Another clerk in the employment of Mr. Durant stated that
lie was present when the pawner called and gave instructions
to well out stock in hie name to the amount of £l2O. The pri-
toner afterwards gave him instructions to sell out 1:1 3e. Id.
in the Reduced Three per Cents. Wituess made out the ticket,
which was drawn in the name of William Collier, Esq., of
Stokenchurch, Oxon, and Richard Squire, Esq., of King's Lang-
ley-, Herts. Mr. Durant bad bought the £l2O stuck for the pri-
soner, which was sold on the occasion alluded to. The sale of
the stock and the transfer of the £2,011 3s. Id. took place on
t.he same day.

Mr. Rowland Durant stated, that in October he transferred
the stock by virtue of a power of attorney granted by Mr. Col-
lier, jun. Witness transmitted the account in bank post bills
o Mr. Collier at Liverpool.
The Lord Mayor asked the prisoner's Counsel whether he
wished to make any observation upon the case ?
Mr. Lumley said that the gentleman at the bar was not
chargeable with a guilty knowledge. " I advise him," said Mr.
Lumley, " not to say any thing at present."
The-Lord Mayor—Prisoner, I am•quite ready to hear you if
you would wish to make any explanation of the circumstances
stated against you, or to show why you should not be committed
to Newgate for trial. Your counsel will advise you what is best
to be done. _

The prisoner said that he felt extremely unwell, but he ex-
pected, when he should be in some degree recovered, to be able
to produce witnesses who could satisfactory explain the case.
The Lord Mayor—lt is my duty to commit you for trial. No
ground has been stated for remanding you, and I must there-
fore send you to New-gate.
Mr. Lumley requested that his lordship would permit the
prisoner to remain at the Compter in consequence of the state
of his health.

The Lord Mayor—l certainly cannot do so. Proper care
-will betaken of his health in Newgate. If I send a poor, rag-
ged, unprotected boy to Newgate on a charge for stealing a
handkerchief, am I to give the indulgence of another prison to
a person accused of an infinitely heavier offence ?
The prisoner, who leaned his head upon his hands during the
investigation, and appeared to be overwhelmed with affliction,
was then fully committed to Newgate. We understand that
the unfortunate man has eight children. In the justice-room
he was certainly an object of compassion.