The Statesman.
London, England, 1813-09-04 00:00:00

RTIIWI B E MLA ND ASSIZES.
Joh to Normats wns tried for Forgingt bill of et-
Asap for 75!. with intent to defraud Tr. 1.10W140", of
.Norpetli. The' history of this ease was detailed by
• Mr. Thomas Bowser, a linen.draper at Morpeth.—
On the 10th of May last, he received a letter bearing
the Newcastle post-mark, purporting to be from his
Uncle Dixon, of Burlington, which steled, that his
old friend, Robert RaWson, who had been ship.
wrecker', would cad en him at Merpetlu and begged
that he would let him have what he wanted. Abbut
half an hour after the receipt of this letier, the Pri-
soner came to his shop, and enquired if Mr. Bowser
was within, when the witness informed him that he '
. nits the person. The Prisoner then said, "My name
'is Rolie.t Rawson, tied I have received a letter fionsl
your uncle, Thomas Dixon, of Burlingtott,• with:an
Aurder— to receive same money of you." 'Mr. Bowser
expressed his satisfaction at seeing him, and gave him
.an hearty welcome to his house ; and as the Prisoner
said he had, that morning, walked from New-
castle, and had not breakfasted, Mr. B. begged he
would walk up stairs. When there, he answered a
satiety of cfuestions which Mr. Bowser asked, re-
lativist° bis uncle Deton's family, and appeared in.
tirnetely acquainted with his affairs he also de-
tailed several particuters respecting his own ship- •
wreck. After the Prisoner had breakfasted, he seut.
down stairs for, the witness, who, ou going Up, 11..
found a letter and a bill lying on the table. This,lllls
Prisoner said, " this is s I have received
•
yobr uncle." This leder was dited Burlington, May
3, 1813, and addressed to Mr. Robett Rawson, car.
pettier, to the care of Mr. Lawson, Golden Tiger,
,Newcastle. After condoling with him at his mister-
tune of being shipwrecked, it states, that he had writ...l
ten to his nephew, Thos. Bowser, of Morpeth,
'ould arts'anee him Monet, on theAraft enclosed, and
if he dirt not want the whole 751. he might helve the
balance in his tiephen's hand, White it would tie per.
safe; it conclud.ll by observing, that all the
family were hi good health (except himself, who had
rlteaniatisin severelv- in his shoulder), and was
Age el by the mark of Thomas Dixon. After the •
witness had e•art the letter, he es trained' the bill,
which rippeared perfectly 'reg.rlar ; and he then told
the-Prisorter that he bad that morning received
lettei from his uncle Diann, who wished him to ad-
vance bOl. on the draft.. The Prismier replied, that
If It was convenient to Mr. B. he would have 601.
*she had to buy a chest of toots at Sundislantl,
which would (-on him 20 or 301. ; he also wanted a
complete'' new rig,ing," and 501. would not be
'ab'et t.. do for him, and to pas his expenses by Intl
to Berlinom. Mr. Bowser said he would let him
lase 6U1.. if he would endorse the bill ; this he did,
.einsl wrote cn the back of it, Robert Rawson. The •
Prisoner ettiptlred what conveyance there was to .
Airweastle; at that time a coach was nearly ready,
.but Mr: B. thinking this would hurry the hisoneril
pressed him to stop anti dine with him, and he.
might go by another coach in the afternoon. The
'PA•nne.r enquired if the witness had any shirts
er tioesers, fit for seamen, ready made ;' Mr. B.
,Infortited bill that he would procure those things bet. I
ter. at, ,Newcactle ; but if he waited any haiolker.
~Cbsteelii•i4s, or striped cotton,would be
• glatrto serve him. lie bro..g!st these gen it-pieces,
two oY illicit, he said, were for his daeghtett, and
other .aeddlos, ameteiting to 61. 17s. Gd. After 1
dinner, Mr.:Mawr went: to the Northumberland ,
Beek, and set table for Ilse draft, after
.d.ocseil Oa his return he gave the prienuer twelve!
• five pound ni,t,,s, a..el i.mted him to tidbit a glass of
rum and water. rids Ie refused by observing, that
having resided nem) scars in a warm climate, the "
least spirits an..cted his heed. Mr. U. sets fur a
bottle of wine, and he drank a glass or teen; and ,
'Let, pad im fur the .40..ds lie had purchased its two'
*Ss* pound owe. e f to,, Northumberland Bank, anti
received his change. He .1150 bought another gown-
,piece, rind paid fur i ; acrd, as the Mores were not
at this time put to the coach, Mrs. Bowser insisted
on his stepping to take tea, which he did; And as
.the night was new anti cold, he to, k a glass ~f rum
amid water. By this time the coach wits- rends ; he
look his bundle, and after shaking Mr. B. cordially
by the. hand, bade him gnecl-bye. When The l'ri-
totter was gone, Mr. Bowser wrote to his uticleet
Burlington, acknowledging the receipt of his letter,
And communicated his having advanced Rawson 601.
en-the draft. On return of post he received 'll letter
from his wicks, stating that he had never wrote
such letter to Rawson. He (Bowser) then went in
pursuit of the Prisoner, and. traced Mm through
7'4l.."Wrastie to Sunderland ; he there tOok a,konce-
officer, and ploceeded through Stockton ant Wis-
. tcrWhithy, where they found • him. When
Aitken into custody, some of the goods he had bought
of Mr. B. were its his posses siou, but nowe the •
notes he gave him were fosflid on him. • fitetad
one pound Bank. of Englanti.notes end some
on hior.. When apprehended,- he was in a state of •
intoxication. .
The bill las then produced ;It was as followat--
• 4' Its rlinetna.May 18s3. ileinaitd, pay Rabert.Raw.
tea, or unary, amortise pettado, value received.
luau
111011 As ofixtmq.
• •• I"; '
" To Mews. Harrlsos Od Os. bankers. blaudoit•haole--
*Veer, Lamina."
Thomas Dixon, whollos at Burlington, stated,
that lie could not read, hot that the-moss on the itieSe 1
shown him was not of his making, nor did he au. I
timbre any person to do it fur him., or to write thel
letters produced. Ille said he knew 44 Prisnneisl
ond that his name is John Norman; that he newer
went by the name o 1 Robert Rewson to his. knowe
ledge; that he bad known him '22 years, and Se is SI
peeper by trade. About It years ago, the Miaow'
'Oil he went two . vestiges to Qireetilaud together itt
the same ship ; the witness wag a
.harpormerpiiid
Sohn Norman, the Prisetier,, asecooper. Fronitiliae
same till last Atiril he hail never tr.ett the Pristsorg,l
When be called, I did not recollect him; and 141
• teritvne his same was Sohn Normals, and that
came 'to we me because we had been' old shipmatei.l
I Lent him a t wenty.shitlitig note tr. pay his expellees,
to' 111111, a here be sold he was going." lb. did not!
recollect of telling i'..'.oroton of his heels% a nephew
at Morpeth. •
'Cite P, isorser made no defence. • :
"Ptit". Jenne reeapitulited the evffeuce tt thelurt,
verdict of' amilt.i.."l" . • •

' ash• feturiattl a 1