The Sun. — 1846-01-24 (London, England)

GUILDHALL. A sailor, about 24 years of age, named Thomas Bingley, was brought before Sir Peter Laurie charged with forging and uttering a cheque for 121. on Messrs. Praed, purporting to be drawn by the Hon. Mr. Grey, of Charles-street, Berkeley-square. Mr. Weldon, on behalf of the banking house, stated that the Hon. Mr. Grey kept an account with the firm, but the cheque was so unlike his writing that nobody could mistake it for a genuine document. The prisoner was the son of a bailiff, who was for a time in Mr. Grey's service, and he had been relieved several times upon writing that he was in distress. The last of these donations was made in a letter which had been partly copied in the forged document. The genuine letter, dated Jan. 14, ran thus : " I fear. from your letter of this morning, that you are very idle and discontented. I have nothing more to say to you, and send you my last assistance of 11. The forged letter, dated the 21st of January, began : " I fear, from your letter of this morning that you are very wilde and discontented, and I send you my last assistance of 121., hoping it may do you more good than the last." It had an order on Messrs. Praed for 12/., written at the foot; was dated from 43, Charles-street, Berkeley-square, and had passed through the post, addressed " Thomas Bingley, 101, New Gravel-lane, Shadwell." The complainant said the prisoner was toe ignorant to do any mischief, and he was not disposed to press the case to trial if the prisoner could give a reasonable account of the matter. He produced a letter written by the prisoner since he had been in custody, and the writing appeared to be dissimilar to the forgery. Sir PETER LAURIE said it showed great art if the prisoner had caused this letter to be written and sent to himself by post. The prisoner said he knew nothing of the letter, except that he received it by post, and supposed it to be genuine. Sir PETER LAURIE thought the examination should not be proceeded with till further inquiries had been made about the prisoner. It was of importance to all bankers and their customers, as well as to the public, that no attempt to utter forged cheques should go unpunished. The severity of the law had been relaxed to increase the certainty of prosecution ; and, without adverting to the result of that amelioration of the law, he would say that every act of forfery should be rigidly prosecuted. Whether the imitation o the signature was good or bad, the prisoner intended to cheat Messrs. Praed of 12/. The prisoner was remanded. A man who had the look of an artisan, but who refused to give his name or any particulars whatever, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. John Eve, a City policeman, said he was informed about eleven o'clock the previous night that a man had leaped from Blackfriars bridge into the Thames. About three hours after he met the prisoner in Chatham-place. His clothes were thoroughly wet, and as he would not answer any questions he detained him. Sir PETER LAURIE asked him his name and occupation. The prisoner declined mentioning either. He was, he said, a little excited. Sir PETER said, he took care to swim on shore. He might be trusted with the care of himself; it was a trick to excite compassion. The prisoner was immediately liberated.