Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-10

FAMOUS TRIALS
FAUNTLERoY.

The crime of forgery was punishable
by death in England up to the year
1887, and there were many interesting
cases during the early part of the last
century, but mono excited the same
amount of attention as did that of
Fauntleroy, the eminent English banker
in 1924. The firm with which Fauntle-
ROW was connected was considered to be
one of the most prosperous in London,
and was located at Lombard street.
1t was on Sept. s of the year named
that d hard-faced police officer entered
the bank parler of the firm and laid
his brawny hands on Mr.. Fauntlerey $
shoulders and Appreciated him on the
charge of forging powers of attorney
by which he had disposed of close to q
million dellars' worth of other peoples
Bank of England stock.
A palsy of horror swept through the
banking district when the following
morning they read in the London Times;
ARREST of Mr. Fauntleroy, the eminent
banker, on a charge of forgery.
Before Mr.. Fauntleroys trial took
place endless ledgers had been conned
! bank books footed up. tin boxes ransaek-
ed and stupendous discoveries made.
When the day of the trial arrived, t'lt
court was full of bankers, merchants,
literary men and others who had been
robbed by Fauntleroy, or had shared his
hospitality at his pleasant dinner par
ties
The prisoner, with his powdered hair
and dress as immaculate as ever, stood
pale. nervous and humble at the bar.
Fauntleroy had really embezzled about
400. geo pounds but the Bank of Eng
land prosecuted for only 10000 pounds,
which he obtained by forged powers Of
attorney in the years 1914 and 1915.
After the grand jury had found true
bills the trial was appointed to take
place on Oct. go 1924. At its opening
the reading of the indictments occupied
about 20 minutes. The hFst forgery
was that of the name of Frances Young,
which was proved beyond doubt. When
the police officer displayed to the court
| the contents of the two boxes found in
the prisoners house. they contained all
| the evidence necessary and rendered
J further exhibition useless.
| The prisoner on being asked what he
had to say in his defense, read paper
stating that on his joining the firm ii
1897 he foundN the concern deeply in
! volved in consequence of building spec
| ulations He showed how one reverse
| after the other had come to the firm
| how he had received no relief from his
| partners and that he had never emhez
| zled one shilling.
When Fauntleroy finished reading thu
| paper he sat down and wept. A nun
Der of witnesses were called to attes
their high opinion of the prisoners hon
| or. integrity and goodness of dispose
ton. At the conclusion of the evidenc'
the jury retired, and after celebrating
90 minutes they brought in the verde
of Guilty Of uttering the forged In
strument, knowing it to be forged"
Thereupop Judge Park asked the pris
oner to stand up. He addressed him a
follows: Henry Fauntleroy, the attor
ney general does not feel it necessary il
the discharge of his duty TO proceed fur
Their with the other indictments whic
have been preferred against you. 1t
no part of my painful duty to pronounc
the awful sentence of the law. Tia
unpleasant task will devolve upon tn
learned Recorder at the termination G
the sessions: but it is part of my out
| as Christian magistrate to fmplore yo
now that you bethink yourself seriousl
of your latter end"
convulsive sob from the wretche
prisoner was audible throughout tn
court There remains a certain myster
; still shrouded in the great Fauntlero
, swindle. 1t is impossible to coh1ectur
for what purpose the dishonest banke
preserved in a private box SO caref,
and suicidal statement of his own mi.
| doingA
. When Fauntleroy, on the fatal da,
presented himself for execution he wa
dressed in black coat and trouser
? with silk stockings and evening dres
shoes. He was perfectly composed III
wTetched man never turned his head I
the right or left till he reached the fot
of the steps leading to the scaffold.
: The moment he appeared a strang
!, thrill went through thousands of heart
! The black, dim mob turned white; ever
hat went off in the twinkle Of an ey
less than two minutes the body
Fauntleroy, the banker, swayed IN II
murky November air.