The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-09-15 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.

Yesterday Wm. Pon, aged 23, and John npper, aged
111, stood indicted capitally-for forging and counterfeit-
ing a bill of Exchange for 26/. 17s. (with intent to de-
fraud Wm. Howell, of Birmingham), purporting to be
drawb and wide payable two months after date at the
house of Messrs. Williams and Co. Birchia-lone, Lom-
bard-street.

Wm. Howell deposed, that be was a issminaker, and
resided at Birmingham. On the 16th of July he received
an order, signed .1. Tipper, requesting him to send one
doable and one single barrel-gun. At this time be did
not know Tipper, but went to No. 1, Marlborough-
s.reet, to inquire for him, where be saw a woman, but
front whom he could obtain no information. He left his
raid and was going away, but bad not proceeded far
before he was accosted by the prisoners, and asked if his
ague was Howell, and illte understood the order he had
received, and Tipper fixed Friday the 20th to look at
some patterns, and the prisoners, accordingly attended,
and the prisoners fixed on certain patterns, and desired
that the guns should be sent as early as possible, for
which they were to pay by a banker's bill. Witness
then returned to Birmingham, sent op the guns to a Mr.
Sherrington, requesting him to take a banker's bill for
them, which he did and sent down the witness ; it was
represented to be drawn on Messrs. Williams and Co.—
Sometime after the prisoner, he was informed, called
again on Mr. Sherrington, who sent down another or-
der, which was executed, and a direction sent up with
the box, to take a bill like the last. This was done, he
received a bill for 26/. 17s. He subsequently gave in-
structions to Mr. Sherrington, relative to the bills in
question, and in consequence of what took place, be came
to town, and had the prisoners taken into custody.
W. Sherrington stated himself to keep the Two
Angels and Crown in St. Martin's-lane. He received
general instructions to dispose of the two guns sent him
by Mr. Howell. On the 17th of July, Potts, who
gave his name as Tipper, called and asked him, the
witness, if be had not received two guns, and being
answered in the affirmative, and shown them, present-
ed to the whom a bill for 171. 16s. On the 11th of
August the same prisoner called again, and gave his
name as Tipper, a second time, and inquired if witness
had not received a box containing more guns? He
was answered in the affirmative, and the prisoner gave
him another bill for 26/. 17s. Witness seeing both
bills signed alike, had no eonbt of their validity, and
delivered up the property. Witness sent both bills to
Mr. Howell.

by Mr. A Nanzws.—Had never gone
to inquire if there was such a house in Birchin-lane as
Williams and Co.

George James—ls a friend of Mr. Howell, but not
his correspondent. On the 15th of Ang. received from
Mr. Howell a bill for 261.175. Witness identified the
bill produced. Witness was desired to take it to Wil-
liams and Co.'s, for the purpose of making inquiry re-
specting it; went to 3, Hirthin-tine, in the first in-
stance; saw a gentleman in a lower room, and asked
if that moWilliann', the banker's ; neither of the
prisoners were present at that time; the answer given
to his inquiry was, that it was Williams's, but not
Williams', the bankers; went into a narrow passage,
on the entrance door of which there was a brass-plate,
cCith the inscription 4' Williams and Co." on it ; also,
on going up stairs, saw a lady in a small room folding
linen; the premises had no appearance of being a
house of business; there was also a door on the same.

Boor, on which was written, " Attendance frosn ten
till four ;" thinks there was " Williams and Co." on
it, but could net be positive ; then went to Williams
and Co.'s. at No. 20, Birchin-lane;, sheaved the bill,
and being answered that the acceptance was not
their's, wrote to Mr. Howell, and received an answer.
A letter was also written at the same time to the pri-
soners, and they called on witness at the Red Lion
and Still, in Drury-lane, and left a slip of paper, say-
ing they would call on Saturday morning, which they
did, and Potts introduced himself to the witness as
Mr. Tipper, and the other prisoner as his friend. The
object of the prisoners in calling was " to do business
with the witness;" declined doing so until Monday, by
which time Mr. Howell came to town, and had them
taken into custody.
Cross-examined.—Potts never said lie was the agent
of Tipper ; he called himself Mr. Tipper ; the bill pur-
ported to be drawn at No. 3, Birchin-lane.
Mary Woodhall, lives at No. 3, Birchin-lane ; knows
Tipper, but not the other prisoner; a counting-house.
dining-room, and bed-room, on the premises, were
taken by a person who called himself Mr. Williams,
ou the Ist of November; he took them for one year
certain, in the name of Williams. Tipper and Co.
Wilianis himself only came one day after into the
counting-house, in company with a man named Jar-
man; did not know the name of the person in the
counting-house, when Mr. James called ; Williams
called once on a Sunday, but witness did not see him;
'Tipper was there constantly; bad never seen Potts
present ; at first there WAS a bpsiness of " Exchanging
Notes" carried on ; which was continued until Tipper
was taken into custody. Mr. Jarman acted as clerk,
and Mr. Tipper as one of the firm. The rent to be
paid was 801. per annum, bat the witness had never
received more than the one quarter paid in advance.
Cross-exaMined.—lt was common for persons to
take chambers for the purpose of business; had seen
notes similar to those produced twice or thrice.
Tipper regularly attended from ten till four. There
was no hole or box in which bills for acceptance were
to be left.

By Baron Gestalt—There were several other per-
sons besides Jarman. who subsequently acted as clerks.
They were fiequently all together. There were books
about. and when they first came they went ou'very re.
gularly ; had seen persons receive cash from the parties.
Moses Ford bad a bill for 301. on the 2d of August,
accepted " William, George Keon and Co." which
witness paid away.
Mr. Baron Gasnast—This has nothing to do with
the transaction.
(A difficolt7 here arose from the absence of Mr. Bur-
sas, one of Cite partners in Gm house of Messrs. Wil-
liami:tyy prove thplorgery ; and Mr. Baron Graham
suggested.that he or one of the clerks should be
seus, for, this conese was adopted, and the Court stopped'
1,1;e proceeding' In about half as hour Mr. Burgess
CAWS Into Court.] ,
Wm..liugh Burgess, is a partner in the house of
Williams and Co.
- Asaacws objected to this witness, as being an
interelited party. .
Mr. Baron GRAHAM suggested, that a release given
by the prosecutor to Mr. Burgess would obviate the
dot &ctdty ; and a release was acoordingly drawn up.
Karon Gillum, while this was proceeding. re-

. .
marked on she great inconvenience of no professional
genderless Saving been engaged for the prosecution.
The prosecutor said, that it was is consequence 0
having been told at Bow-street. that the case was se
very clear that it was unnecessary.

Mr. ALLAY said, be bad been informed that profes-
sional aid wadi have been had if it had been under-
stood to be neosisary. So far from any blame attach-
ing to the prosecutor, be had been at the expense of
41. 40. for dflOsif4Vat e indictment.
Mr. ANDltilr Whom was that paid ?
Prosecutor—l& Si; Stafford.
Mr. Baron GRAllelf said, it was highly necessary
that persons should understand that it was impossible
that cases of such importance as the present could be
conducted without professional assistance.
Mr. Burgess was then called, and proved the ac-
ceptance to be a forgery. A partner always accepted
bills, and the writing on that now produced was not
the writing of any one of them ; there was no bankers
of the names of Williams and Co. in Birchin-lane, be-
sides the witness's firm, nor was there any other firm
of that name either in London or Westminster. The
form of their acceptance is " Williams and Co."
Cross-examined by Mr. Asusews—The mode of
acceptance on the present bill was very common
amongst commercial men, as was the writing in red
ink ; it was plainly drawn on No. 3 ; knew there was
a No. 3, and that persons of the names of Williams were
trading there; bills of No. 3 bad been presented at
his house; if the bill bad been shorn to him be
should probably not have sent it to No. 3, but have
said they bad nothing to do with it.
The prisoners made no defence, and the following
witnesses was called for the defence.

Teasdale Cockell, of the bankers' licensing office,
Somerset-house, said, that a license was taken out on
the 26th of February, 1821, for Wm. Williams, Jchn
Tipper, and John Williams, all residing at Swansea,
in the county of Glamorgan," to trade as hankers; no
license in Londen was necessary unless to issue notes
payable on demand; the license endured until the 10th
of October following; did not know who took out the
license; when the license was applied for, a copy of
the bia to be issued was given in ; it appeared by the
one given ir., that they referred to N 0.3, Birchin•lane.
This closed the case, and

Mr. Baron GRAHAM summed up the evidence at
great length. No man In his senses, observed the
Learned Judge, could doubt. that the nano of Wil-
liams and Co. was assumed for the purpose of borrow-
ing a credit, but that was not in itself sufficient to es-
tablish the crime of forgery. What the Jury would
have to take into view was, to see whether there was
any solidity in the house in question? How did that
appear. A maa calling himself Williams took the
premises in question, but lie was never seen there bat
twice. With respect to taking out dig . license, that
proved nothing at all, for the greatest islackguard in
town might take out a license. It was nut even
proved that the prisoners were even concerned with th
house, in Glamorgan; nor did it appear that any thinl
farther than the payment of

purpose of keeping up appeal
for even Mrs. Goodhall bad •

any payment farther titan t.
,The Joey retired for• three
on their return the Foreman

ers at the Bar, Guilty of issui
to defraud.

Mr. Baron ORA lIAM put it to the Jury to consider
how far they could reconcile their verdict. for uttering
against both prisoners, as it had not been made out that
both of them were present when the note was uttered.
The Jury again consulted, and then found Potts
Guilty, and Tipper Not Guilty.
Mr. Baron Cia MUM then said, that he wished to know
whether they (the Jury) thought the credit of the osten-
sible house of Williams and Co. had been assumed with
intent to defraud, for if thot was the case, it was such a
fraud as would amount to forgery ?
The Jury again consulted, and after some consultation
again retired,- and on their return, after half an hour's
absence, found Potts Guilty of uttering with intent to
defraud, and Tipper Nut Guilty.
Mr. Baron tinattam.—Are you of opinion that this
bill was framed with the intent to assume the credit of
the good house ?
The Jury replied in the affirmative.
Mr. Baron (bemuse—Then, 1 think, that amounts to
forgery.
John Tipper was then'put to the Bar, charged capi-
tally with forging and uttering* Bill for 17/.165. Under
the direction of the Learned Judge, he was acquitted.
The Learned Judge said, be was sorry that theyl
were under the necessity of letting perhaps the most
active of the whole party go at large.
John Dougherty was capitally convicted of stealing
six I/. Bank notes,&c. the property of John Hutt, in his
dwelling house.

Laze FIRE IN PRINCE'S-1111MT, Sono.—Yesterday
morning, whilst the firemen and labourers were em-
ployed digging► after the unfortunate sufferers who pe-
rished in the late destructive fire at the house of Mr.
Myers. they discovered the mutilated remains of: two
individuals, and the spectacle which they presented was
truly horrifying ; the beads and limbs were burnt off.
From the situation in which they
.were found; it is
very probable that they are the remains of Mrs. Po awl
her daughter, who lodged in Mr. Myers's house, find
perished together in the flames. The remains were car-
ried in a shell to the bone-house of St. James's parish,
for the Coroner's Inquest. There are other bo,lies still
in the ruins, and the labourers are busily employed in
digging after them.

FlRE.—Between eleven and twelve on Thursday night
an alarming fire broke out in the back premises of Mr.
Turner, baker, 71, Hatton-garden. The engines being
well supplied with water, after, three hours, succeeded
Inaubduang flames. Considerable damage was done.
to the premises, and one of the firemen had a narrow
escape.
Daum) Boaotsnr.—lnformation was yesterday
given at Marlborough-street police-office, of a must
daring and extensive robbery in the house of Mr. So-
!omens, of No. 119, Pall-mall. on Thursday morning
last. The thieves, it, appeared. is the absence of the
watchman, had torn up the iron greeting, by which
weans they obtained an entrance into the area, and
bursting open the kitchen window, gained access to the
house i they advanced through the kitchen up stain to
the ware-room of Mr. • Solomon,. and plundered the
rooms of a large quaniity of valuable property, among
which were tour gold watches, [Our gold musical
ma-boxes, four sliver ditto; Some cashmere shawls.,
several curious silver watcheii, a number of valuable
diamond rings, a Inialattme set with brilliants; sere-
'mai ttinkets, gold rings, and splendid laweo ornamental'
aed'also two Aver ineells of George the Ssiseildr—ir,c,
Ike. Mr. Solauteas Ities:aot yet asceittliett
• • •
of his luso. "• ,y-•

N..

POLICE.
--...-

iIiAtrowOmumm.—FRAUDULIINTRZOTSTEII-OEFICs.
—Yesterday Themes ?reeler, who kept a register-
office for hirist (Permits at 34e, St. John's-square,
Clerkenwell, was brought up for final examination on
a charge of obtaining money on false pretences.
Slimibeth Moffat, a modest good-looking female, de-
posed, that she resided at No. 3, Adam-street Man-
chester-square. On Tuesday morning, the 4th inst.
she saw an advertisement in a morning paper for a
young woman to travel with a young lady; inquiry-
to be made of Mr. T., at 34i, St. John's-square.—
Thinking it was a situation adapted for her, she went
according to the direction on the next day, and saw the
prisoner, and inquired where the lady lived. He first
demanded payment of three shillings as is fee,
which she having tendered him, lie gave her a direc-
tion to a Mrs. Sedgwick, 45, Minor-place, Walworth,
saying, that lady bad authorised him to procure her a
servant of that description. Witness instantly repaired
to Manor-place, and saw Mrs. Sedgwick, who appeared
surprised, and told her she wanted no such servant.
nor did she know any thing of the prisoner. Witness
returned to the prisoner's office, but he had left. Next
day she saw him, and told him what Mrs. Sedgwick
bad said. The prisoner replied, that certainly be was
not employed by Mrs. Sedgwick to get her a servant,
but it was the same thing, as lie had been employed by
a friend of hers, Mr. Deacon, No. 2, Skinner-street,
Snow-hill. The prisoner, to verify this statement,
produced a written paper, on which nas the address
of Mrs. Sedgwick, which he said he had received from
Mr. Deacon for that purpose. The prisoner, to make
op for the disappointment, gave her another address
to Mr. Douglass, 98, Oxford-street, grocer, where sloe
likewise went, and was informed there was no servant
wanted, and that they gave the prisoner no orders to
send them any, and they appeared very angry, at so
many servants being sent. She returned to the pri-
soner, and desired hint to return her money. He told
her peremptoriiy he would not refund it.
Mrs. Sedgwick and Mr. Deacon attended. and stated
that they knew nothing of the prisoner. Mr. Deacon,
on being shown the add.ess of Mrs. Sedgwick, said it
must have been procured from his sloop. lie had, at
the desire of Mr. Sedgwick, put up a bill in his win-
dow, for a servant, and that some person applying, in
consequence of seeing that bill, must have gut the ad-
dress.

Mary Ann Bell stated, that she had gone to the pri-
soner's office in consequence of an advertisement, and
had been induced to give him 31. lie sent her also
to Mrs. Sedgwick, and she experienced the same
dis-
appointment as Elizabeth Moffat.
Jonathan Keeling described the manner in which he
had been tricked out of 55., tinder the pretence of in-
troducing him to a gentleman who wanted a man and
his wife to take care of a house.

The prisoner was committed to Newgate, and the
witnesses were bound over to prosecute.
UNION HALL.—During the last week an investiga-
/raordinary nature has been carried
of this office, which has tenni-
lion of four persons, holding re-
hi the establishment of the Co-
charge of felony, preferred' by
iployer, and the proprietor of the

le statement of Mr. Glossop, that
. _
the accused parties were decorateurs at his Theatre, and
of course had to do all the gilding work of the house,
as well as other matters connected with the decorations.
For some time past he bad missed large quantities of
the gold used in those departments; but his opinion of
these men was so high, that it was with much difficulty
he could bring himself to suspect their integrity, and
the losses thus sustained he was fain to attribute to
other causes than the real one. The depredations, how-
ever, kept increasing, and at length reached such an
alarming height as to call loudly for some immediate
remedy. The gold was given out to the prisoners in
books (as leaf gold generally is), and each received his
quota to work with. I n order, however, to ascertain the
thief, he (Mr. G.) called all the four together, and pro.
posed to them to choose a foreman amongst themselves,
who could receive all the gold at once, and deal it out
to the others, as it was found inconvenient to supply
them individually. The men accordingly made their
election, and Mr. Glossop then delivered to the foreman
ten books of gold, having previously placed his private
mark on the books. For working each of those books
the prisoners received Is. W. besides a further sum of
ls. 6d. on the delivery of each empty book ; and al-
though the artisans in any branch of the gilding trade
could only earn Ms. a week, working twelve hours a
day, yet such, Mr. G. said, was the indulgence with
which he treated those individuals, that every one of
them could earn and was paid 15s. a (lay. At the re-
gular time, the foreman wade the usual return of empty
books, and on the proprietor examining the same, he
found that only nine of the books. he had marked were
delivered in—the tenth being a book exactly like the
others, but without the private mark. He was then
convinced the prisoners had surreptitious books, and
that they not only embezzled the gold, but also de-
frauded him of 3s. on each occasion, Is. tid. for work
which they had not, and could not have performed, and a
like sum on the return of the book. However, to make
quite sure, be marked ten more in a similar manner,
and out of those he missed two, when the foreman gave
in his account. Mr. Glossop finding his suspicions thus
realised, consulted Mr. Farebrother. his prompter, on
.what was best to be done,in the presence of this latter
gentleman, he again marked ten books, and give
them out as usual ; but this time there was no defal
cation, and all the books were fairly sent in ; on the
next occasion, however, an unmarked hook was Intro
duced into the number, and the parties of centse ap.
propriated one of the books of gold to their own uses.
Mr. Farebrother advised Mr. Glossop to call the
prisoners into his presence, to tax them with their
guilt, and then have them and their lodgings searched
for the solen property. The prosecutor screed to the
Plan, and sent for Clark. one of the officers belonging
to this office, who nightly attends the Theatre, to
wry the latter
.part of it lato7effect. The prisoners
:were very indignant at thespelbeelleit; and threatened
Mr. Glossop with an Italia* •fiettelaelag to asks to
hise a charge agaialt 019111i.11-41111 diellavering that an
'officer had been sent for. eists=dt the lonised messaged
'to get Oac'ead to run home, 'to glee (as Mr. Glossop

f one or two bills for the don of rather an extra°
pearances, bad bean done, on by the Magistrates
I not been able to 4titin ted in the apprehensi
theitlvanee 4 Bible situations in
ree quarters of ' ?g,. Theatre, on a c
said,—We Mudthe Rrisee- Illhe:Glessop. their empl
suing this note with intent Ifiatre.
It appeared from the
it in the -him consider