The Sun. — 1829-01-19 (London, England)

PARK.) Pagi. was convicted of burgleriously enteritig the: honse of Sarah Anti Barnet, of Frier's, Robert Bai.lon-was iedieted for tittering a forged cheque on Masterman and Co., with intent to defraud them; and the prisoner was also charged on outer counts with intending to defraud Thomas Paul. 'Dir. CARRINGTON stated the case to the Jury, and Mr. CLARKSON defended the prisoner. Thomas Pnul was at the office of the King's College, in Patliament-street, on the 30th of October last. The prisoner came into the office, and asked for a prospectus for a Mr. Robert Grant, of St. John's Wood, and went away, but shortly afterwards returned, and said that he was directed by Mr. Robert Grant to pay in. a donation for the King's College of 51., at the same time tendering a cheque for 101. on Messrs: Masterman. Witness gave him 51. in change, and. on presenting the cheque, discovered. that no such person as a Mr. Robert Grant kept cash there. By Mr. CuttmeoN, for the prisener.--It was in a bark room that the office is kept, and the weather was rather. haeyat the time he received the cheque from the prisoner. The cheque is dated 30th October, 1828. A clerk of Messrs. 'Masterman proved that no Robert Grant had kept cosh at their house for the last 15 years. Robert Clements, a police-officer, had etiqu'red in St. John's Wood, and could find no such person there us Robert Grant. Alfred ToPperethe postman of St. John's Wood, deposed to the same fact. Mr. Robert Drees Grant resides in-the Regent'eparle; 'Lever kept cash at Masterman's house, or signed such a cheque as that produced. Thos. Paul recalled and examined by Mr. CLARKso.—llad been repaid the 51. which he had given the prisoner in change, and had not been the loser of it himself. The prisoner then produced a very copious \vi it ten defence, which he was preparing to read, whoa Mr. CLARKSON, his Counsel, requested leave of the Court to he allowed to look over it before the prisoner reed it. Mr. Justice PARK recommended it most strongly; but the prisoner declined allowing his Counsel to see it, and commenced reading. He ,lid not eppear to think that it was at ail necessary to exculpate himself from the present charge, but entered into a long tirade against the false notions at present entertained respecting the crime of obtaining mceey on instruments not bearing the name of any livieg person. Mr. :it:slice PARK informed him seeee r' to be lubouriuj under a great fallacy ; that it i.Ati J,ecn decided 70 years ago that the clime of uttc.ing a cheque, bearing the name O'r' person who did nut exist, Nvas just es mirdi a forgery as if his (Mr. Justice Park's) mane had been used. The prisoner then compared the crime of forgery with that of murder, seduction, housebreaking, and high Way rubbery, and attempted to prove by the most phrenzicd sophistry, that it was productive, but of little injury to society, either as a Moral or mercantile crime. lie accused the clerk (Paul) of great negligence in being so foolish as to take a draft from a stranger. Mr. Justice PARK explained to the Jury that the • magnitude of the crime or the propriety of the re' sent laws on the subject were not under their consideration. The fact they had to try was, whether the prisoner had uttered this cheque with intent to defraud. 'The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner then wished to retract the plea of not guilty to two other indictments for similar offences, and to plead guilty. Mr. Justice PARK cautioned him that with three such convictions he could not expect nine') mercy. The prisoner persisted, arid the verdicts were re. corded.  (Before-Mr. Baron