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Leader (1850-1860), 8th November 1856, Edition 2 of 2, Page 6, WiTcncKAKT is? So.-uEttSKTSniP.K.— ' -A ...

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      Our Civilization. ——?—The Crystal Palace...

      3 on . Opposite to that name were the seal and signature of the attesting witness . The words in the instrument were , * Signed , sealed , and delivered by the above-named Henry Johnson , ' and the signature was attested by ' William James Kobson , of No . 3 , Adelaide-place , ' whose signature was affixed as the attesting -witness . According to the evidence of Mr . Clement , it appeared that Kobson applied . to . him . to sell one hundred sharesfifty in the present instrument and fifty in another . Acting upon these instructions , Mr . Clement -went into the market and sold one hundred shares , and then received from Robson the paper produced and another paper . Mr . Clement paid Kobson 295 ? . as the profit of these instruments , which , profit passed from . Mr . Cleinent

      to tha prisoner at the bar . Xow , was the instrument produced a forged instrument ? It purported to be a transfer of ' Henry Johnson , of Birmingham , contractor , ' and that individual had been called , and had sworn positively that the signature of ' Henry Johnson' was not his or written by his authority . He also said there was no ' Henry Johnson , of Birmingham , builder and contractor , ' but himself . He swore most positively that he never had any shares in the Crystal Palace Company , and that he never knew , until the transactions of that day in that court were brought to his knowledge , that his name was entered on the register of the Crystal Palace Company as having any interest therein . If they believed Mr . Johnson that he "had never sigued the deed

      in question , or given Kobson authority to sign liis name for him , the offence would be proved , and it would be shown that the prisoner uttered this deed and . received value for it as for a genuine instrument . But the prisoner ' s counsel had contended , after a great deal of crossexamination of Mr . Johnson , that it was doubtful whether Johnson did not give Robson authority to put his same to this instrument , and something had been said about the hesitation or anxiety in Johnson ' s manner in giving his evidence . That was a question eutirely for -the consideration of the jury . Johnson stood in the relation of a brother-in-law to the prisoner , and that might explain a good deal of his anxiety without imputing to him an intention to defraud or to state that

      "which was false . Johnson said that he had borrowed 7001 . or 800 & of Kobson , and he believed that iu 1854 he borrowed 100 / . from , him at the Telegraph-office in CorhhiU , when he wanted to make up some money to pay Jus . wages . Mr . Johnson said : this was not so late as December , 1854 , and the paper which the prisoner was charged with having forged was dated 'February 2 , 1855 . ' Johnson swore that on that occasion nothing passed about Kobson not using his own name , and using instead the name of Johnson . As Johnson , indeed , had no shares in the Crystal Palace Company , it was idle for him to give the pr isoner authority to execute a transfer of fifty

      non-existing shares . If they believed Johnson , the instrument was a forgery . " The Judge having commented on the rest of the evidence ( which was all of a confirmatory character ) , the jury consulted for a few minutes , and then found the accused Guilty . Another indictment against him , in connexion with the forgeiy of a dividend warrant , was withdrawn . Robson vcas then sentenced to be transported for twenty years for the forgery , and for fourteen years on account of the larceny—the latter sentence being concurrent with the first , and therefore simply nominal . The convict walked from the dock with a defiant air .

      While the jury were deliberating , it was remarked that , instead of looking towards them , Robson employed himself by scribbling upon a sheet of paper . This sheet ¦ was afterwards handed round the bar , and was found to 'Contain , the following observations : — " If I am found guilty upon this charge , I will not plead again , but take my chance . Johnson has completely sold me—Henry Johnson , of Birmingham , " In one corner of tho sheet , the convict sketched a very good likeness of his brotherin-law , having thus engaged himself while Mr . Justice Erie was passing sentence upon him . This

      extraordinary conduct will scarcely fee matter of surprise when it ia stated that , after liaving left Mr . Passon , the accountant of tho Crystal Palace , at his o-wn residence , on the 17 th of September , Kobson drove direct to a famous "West-end tavern , which he was then in the habit of frequenting , and ordered dinner for himself and a lady who joined him during the afternoon . The dinner consisted of fish , curry , and a brace of partridges ; and , while it was being served , Robson , addressing the waiter , said , "I am sorry Mr . ——— has sent me curry , for I never eat it . Pray tell him to remember this when I dine here again . " On that very night he fled .

      A public auction took place on Monday , at the Liverystables , Hart-street , Covent-gardon , of the last remaining effects belonging to Kobson . These comprised a chestnut gelding , a set of plated gig harness , riding saddles , bridles , stabling implements , a handsome brougham , dog-cart , & c . A large number of spectators assembled , and very high prices wore- realized—higher , indeed , than would have been reached , but for the associations which ollng to the purchases . The harnesB is stated to have fetched a prl <>« tut above its original value .

      1062 Th E Leader. [No. 346, Satvbbav

      1062 TH E LEADER . [ No . 346 , Satvbbav

      A Factory Riot, Somo Very Borioas Dlstur...

      A FACTORY RIOT , Somo very BOrioas dlsturbancea have occurred at Baildon , near Bradford , owing to a disagreement between Mr . Taylor , a worsted manufacturer , and aomo of hia

      workpeople . Mr . Taylor has recently adopted the system of working two looms , instead of one by one weaver , who thus earns about half as much more wages than a weaver at a single loom ; but double the quantity of work is performed , and the employer , therefore , manifestly reaps the greater advantage . Another mill , situated at Shipley , in the same general locality , is also owned by Mr . Taylor , who lias not here introduced tho two-loom system ; and . the workmen at this establishment proceeded in a body on Wednesday week to the Baildori mill , and threatened the two-loom weavers . This went on for some time , and at dusk the mob amounted to two

      thousand persons , men , women , and lads . They demanded that Mr . Taylor should turn the overseer and all the two-loom weavers out of the mill . lie . refused ; and the inot > then "began to destroy the mill . At this juncture , Thomas Smith , a ¦ weaver , went out to reason with the malcontents ; but he was struck on the head with a stick by a woman named Griinshaw , and some of the men then beat him severely , knocked him down , and kicked him , several exclaiming , " Throw him iuto the water •!" ¦ " Kill him ! kill Mm ! " At length , however , he managed to get back to the mill . Another two-loom weaver was also murderously assaulted , but escaped ¦ with his life .

      In the meanwhile , the destruction , of the edifice proceeded . Mr . Wheater , the designer of tlie mill , broke through the brick wall of liis room with au iron bar , made his way to the back part of the premises , removed two panes of glass , and thus escaped , the mob shouting out in front that they would have hold of him . Mr . Taylor , having made his appearance before the crowd , and endeavoured to prevent them obtaining further access to the premises , was seized round the waist by a man , who tried to throw him into the water ; but he extricated himself and knocked his adversary down . At that moment , he was struck on the forehead by a large stone , which inflicted an extensive wound . It was now

      dark , with a thick fog . Some ef the rioters , however , carried blazing besoms , which had been dipped in tar or pitch , -with' which they threatened to set fire to the building . The light thus afforded , however , served to secure the identification of the ringleaders . Volley after volley of large stones was thrown , and nearly all the mill -windows were broken ; the machinery was injured , and damage to the amount of 200 ? . was done . One of the rioters seized a pole with some blazing tarred shavings at the end of it , and thrust it into the mill ; another man ran up the outside stairs with a similar burning mass , and made a second endeavour to fife the building . But both these attempts failed , aud the mob dispersed about eight o ' clock .

      . Seven women and two men were subsequently taken into custody , and , after examination last Saturday before the magistrates , were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and hard labour , with the exception of one of the women , who was merely ordered to find sureties to keep the peace .

      Astute Forgers. Two Men, Named William S...

      ASTUTE FORGERS . Two men , named William Salt Hardwicke and Henry Attwell , -were indicted at the Central Criminal Court for forging and uttering a cheque of 410 / . 7 s . 4 d . on Messrs . Gosling and Sharpe , the bankers . Early in the present year , Mr . Turner , a solicitor of Red Lion Square , lost a pocket-book , containing a blank cheque and some letters belonging to him . Attwell shortly afterwards called at his office and requested him to apply to a man of the name of Hest for the sum of 38 Z ., which Attwell alleged was owing to him . An I O U for the amount claimed was produced . Mr . Turner took the necessary proceedings , and a stranger called upon him a few days afterwards , and paid the 38 ? . into his hands , and also

      6 s . 8 d . for the letter which tho lawyer had written to him . Attwell called again at Mr . Turner ' s ofilco not long after this , and was paid in cash the sum which he claimed . After a very short interval , he presented another I O U to Mr . Turner for 103 Z . 18 s . Gd ., with a similar request to that which had accompanied the first . Tho lawyer took the same proceedings as before , and the amount was subsequently paid to Attwell by a cheque on Mr . Turner ' s bankers , Messrs . Gosling and Sharpe . A forged draft in Mr . Turner ' s name , for 400 / . 7 s . 4 d ., was then drawn , and a young man who had advertized for a situation was employed by a person ( doubtless a confederate of tho prisonors ) , to take it to the bankers to get it cashed . Attwoll's accomplice , Hardwicke , was in the banking house at the time it was

      presented , probably with the intention of seeing that matters wore all right ; and the cheque was paid , partly in eight 507 . notes ,, and the rest in gold . After this , Hardwicke ' a wife went to the Temple Bar branch of tho Union Bank , where sho stated that she wished to transmit 20 / . to Mr . Richard Gurney at Hamburg . The cashier acceded to her request , and told her that the Hamburg agent of tho bank would bo advised to pay the amount to Mr . Qurnoy upon his applying for it . Very soon afterwords , both prisoners made their appearance at the Hamburg bank , when Hardwicke represented his name to be Gurney , and claimed the 20 / . Taking advantage ) of the introduction thus offered them , they aaked for , and obtained , chango in gold for the eight 60 / . Bank of England notes which wcro tho produce of tho forged cheque , thua removing every cluo that

      miglit lead to the discovery of the perpetrators of fho forgery . Mie In the course of last September , Hardwicke ami Attivell appeared at Yarmouth , where they each com mittod a series of frauds upon different people : but thpv were at length discovered , in consequence of £ k * Z lawyers who had been applied to happening to meef casually , when the circumstance of tho different ar 7 plications which had been made to them , by AttivelJ being mentioned , their suspicions were aroused , and stem were immediately taken , which ultimately led to the aV prehension of the prisoners . The jury fJund them both guilty . A second charge was brought forward against Haidwicke , who , it was stated , had forged an acceittancp to a bill of exchange for 1000 / . ; and so n <> arlv had he succeeded in carrying out this fraud , that the clerk at the bank was in the act of handing him the notes in -pavmeiit , when the largeness of the amount induced him to

      examine the bill a second time more narrowl y , and it was then discovered to be a forgery . The prisoners were sentenced to transportation for life

      Witcnckakt Is? So.-Uettsktsnip.K.— ' -A ...

      WiTcncKAKT is ? So .-uEttSKTSniP . K . — ' -A case of gross credulity luis just been made public at Slieptoh-JI allct . A -woman named Welshman , who is by profession and repute a witch , was recently sent for by nnother woman named Bathe , of Downside , to dispossess her of ' a . ' spoil under which the latter fancied herself labouring . Welshman quickly put her magic in operation , impressing on her victim -the- necessity of strictly abiding by hex instructions . The poor -woman went on for some - \ veek 3 until she was brought to a very low state of health , by various tricks which had been practised upon her , and sh « then communicated what had been going on to some neighbours :. The result was that Welshman was brought before the magistrates , and , it being proved that she had extorted various sums of money from her dupe , besides supplying herself -with vegetables from the garden , she was committed to the House of Correction for six weeks .

      A . Sad Case . —Emma Ililey , a girl of seventeen , -who appeared to be in a very miserable state , was indicted at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of her illegitimate infant . She wus charged upon an inquisition taken by Mr . ^ Vakluy , the coroner ; but there had been no-inquiry before , a magistrate . The young woman had been seduced by . a in an named Bennett , who had left her and her infant to . starve . ' It was sought to be made out , in support 6 £ the charge of manslaughter , that she had wilfully "withheld from her child that nourishment with" which' she -was in a condition to supply it . The evidence , however , failed entirely to make but this fact ; on the contrary , it appeared that the . miserable young -woman was herself almost in a starving condition , and that her milk was nearly dried up iu consequence . She was Acquitted , aud has been taken under the protection of the sheriffs ,. who will see that she is properly looked to .

      Muri > krous Assault . —A man named Thomas Burke has nearly murdered a woman of the town living near llolborn , with whom he was to have been married . He had brought home to her last Saturday night a trifling sum of-money , which she said was . not enough to keep her honest ; and she refused to go to the theatre with him , saying she must " stay at home and earn her living . " Burko then -went out , but , returning about half past twelve o ' clock , found her iu bed with another man . Enraged at this , he struck her over the head with one of hia boots , aud fled , leaving her bathed , in blood .

      Ari'HEHENsio ;* of am Escaped Convict . —A man named Priest , who escaped from the Oxford gaol early in August , has been apprehended in Birmingham . A letter from a woman with whom ho cohabited to a female acquaintance who could not read , and who took tho note to a publican that he might inform her of tho contents , disclosed the place of Priest ' s conceulment Ho hail lived for some time with a set of travelling showmen , who promised to protect him should he bo sought after ; but he afterwards quarrelled with them , and left . On ouo occasion , at Summer-town , he was very noarly captured by tho police in a public house ; l > ut ho jumped over a back wall , and got clear off Across the fields .

      Centuax Ckiaiinal Coukt . —Thomas Dennis , a convict iu the Model Prison at IIol loway , lias been found Guilty of a murderous assault on ono of the > varders , tinder circumstances which were relutod in the Leader of October 25 th . Ho is now sentenced to be transported for fourteen years , to commence nt tho expiration of his former sentence . —William Smith pleaded Guilty to a charge of firing a loaded pistol at William "Ward . Tho offence was committed under an impression that Ward had been on terms of improper intimacy with tho wifo

      of tho accused . On finding the pistol miss iire , Smith beat Ward about tho head with tho weapon . IIo \ vaa sentenced to hard labour for eighteen months . —W illiam Anderson , a labourer , was charged with stealing property from tho person of Richard Feistearf , an errandboy , about twelve yeara of ago . Tho theft was committed in a street in Clerkonwell , on tho evening of tho 14 th ult . Tho boy was knocked down l ) y a blow on toe head ; but ho jumped up and valorously ran after tho thief , wlio was stopped by two passengers . Anderson was found Guilty , and sentenced to fifteen years' t rans-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 8, 1856, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08111856/page/6/