The Sun. — 1844-12-02 (London, England)

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, Nov. 29.  The winter gaol delivery for this county commenced here this morning before Mr. Justice Coleridge. The Learned Judge took his seat on the bench at twelve, and proceeded to charge the grand jury. There are sixtyfour cases in the calendar,including eighty-eight prisoners. A large proportion of those stand charged with offences of the most serious class. There are three committed on the charge of murder, five for manslaughter, two for arson, two for forgery, four for rape, three for sacrilege, eight for cutting and wounding, eight for burglary, and no fewer than twenty-two for robbery with violence. There are two prisoners who stand charged with the unusual offence of blowing up a steam-engine with gunpowder. In the city of York there is but one prisoner, who stands charged with embezzlement. His Lordship having adverted to the several cases, and the grand jury having retired for a short time, returned into Court with a bill found.  Saturday, Nov. 30.  Thomas Carter was indicted for knowingly uttering a forged order for the payment of money, purporting to be drawn and signed by Christopher Sadler, with intent to defraud John Dresser, the public officer of the Yorkshire District Bank. A second count laid an intent to defraud John Dresser and others ; and a third, an intent to defraud Christopher Sadler. Mr. Bliss and Mr. Blanchard conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Hall. It appeared that on the 20th of July the prisoner, who is a carter, went into the bank at Thirsk and saw a clerk of the name of Johnson. He asked if Mr. Sadler, of Thornton-le-Moor, had been at the bank that day. Mr. Jaekson said he had not. The prisoner then said he had a letter frost him, and presented the order in question, which was, " Please to pay James Jackson the sum of 131., by order of Christopher Sadler." Mr. Johnson asked the prisoner if his name was James Jackson. He replied it was. Mr. Johnson asked if he wanted 131. from Mr. Sadler ? He replied he did, for barley sold to him at Northallerton fair. Mr. Johnson said Mr. Sadler could not be buying barley, as he had given up brewing. The prisoner replied, I know he has. After some futher conversation Mr. Johnson refused to pay the order, and the prisoner left the bank. On the 29th of July he called again, and presented a similar order from Mr. Sadler. Mr. Johnson asked him if Mr. Sadler had sent him with it, and he said he had. The prisoner was then taken into custody, when he begged to be let off, and said he would be glad to make it up. The order was a forgery. In proof of the first count, laying the intent to defraud Mr. Dresser, as the public officer of the Bank. Mr. Dresser was called, and produced a copy of the under the 7th Geo. IV., apublic officer. He stated irhneet whichuarcnt acted d aandsee swut to describedsuch. Mr. S Stamp-office, in p- oa ffis e.' Mr. HALL objected that this was not sufficient. It was necessary to produce a copy of the return filed, certified under the hand of one of the Commissioners of Stamps. That was the mode of proof specified in the statute. The rule of law as to parties acting in certain offices, being taken to be duly appointed, did not apply to the present case. That rule applied to constables and others, acting for the public and official stations. Mr. Dresser was the officer of a public company. He had no duties to discharge in that office but the one, the only one for which he was nominated to succeed ; he seed in the name of the Company, and the sole motive of his appointment to that duty, was his name being in the return filed at the Stamp-office. Of that there was no proof. There was at present no legal proof before the Court that the copy of the return made out by Mr. Dresser, and sworn to, had ever reached the Stampoffice at all.  His LORDSHIP reserved the point, as also one that was taken on the second count, laying the intent to defraud Dresser and others, that the Bank could not be described in that form, but only by their public officer. The prisoner was found Guilty,