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ASTUTE FOllGEBS
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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son . Opposite to that name were the seal and signature of the attesting witness . The -words in thejnstruraenfc ¦ were , ¦'? SignM , sealed , and delivered by the above-named Henry Johnson , ' and the signature was attested by ' "William James Bobson , of No . 3 , Adelaide-place , ' ¦ whose signature was affixed . as ' the . attesting witness According to the evidence of Mr . Clement , at appeared that Robson . applied to him to sell one hundred shares—¦ fifty in the present instrument and fifty in another . Acting upon these instructions , Mr . Clement -went Into the market and sold one hundred shares , and than received from Kobson the paper produced and another paper . Mr . Clement paid Kobson 2961 . as the profit of these instruments , which profit passed from Mr . Clement
to the prisoner at the bar . Now , 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 iuterest therein . If they believed Mr . Johnson that he had never signed the deed
in question , or given JRobson authority to sign his 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 name 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 entirely 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
700 ? . or 800 / . of Rdhson , and he believed that iu 1854 he borrowed 100 L ftom him at the Telegcaph-offi . ce in Cornhill , when he wanted to make up some money to pay his wages . Mr . Johnson said this was not so late as Dei ^ 3 ^~^ -i ? 4 ^ -- ^^ : _^ e _ pajger _/ which the prisoner was charged with having forged , was dated 7 e )> ruary 2 , "Loafy . ' Johnson swore that on that occasion nothing passed about Bobson not using his own name , and using instead the name of Johnson , As Johnson , indeed , had no shares ill Jhe Crystal Palace Company , it was idle for him to give the prisoner authority to execute a transfer of fifty
non-existing eharea . 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 bjan , in connexion with the forgery of a dividend warrant , -was withdrawn . Kobson was then sentenced to be transported for twenty yeara for the forgery , and for fourteen years on account of the larceny—the latter sentence feeing concurrent with the first , and therefore siin ply nominal . The convict walked from the dock with a defiant air .
While the jury were deliberating , it waB remarked that , instead of looking towards them , Kobson employed himself by scribbling : upon a sheet of paper . This sheet was afterwards handed round the bar , and . was found to contain tjie following observations : — " If I ani found guilty upon this charge , I will not plead again , but take my chance . Johnson hag completely sold me—Henry Johnson , of Birmingham . " In one corner of the sheet , the convfct 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 bo matter of surprise when it is stated that , after having left Mr . Fasson , the accountant of the Crystal Palace , at his own 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 , carry , and a brace of partridges ; and , while it was being served , Kobson , addressing the waiter , Baid , " 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 tho Liverystables , Hart-street , Covent-garden , of the last remaining effects belonging to Bobson . These comprised a chestnut gelding , a set of plated gig harness , riding saddles , bridle ? ,. stabling implements , a handsome brougham , dog-cart , &c . A . large number of spectators assembled , and vary high prices were realized—higher , indeed , than would have been reached , but for the associations 'vrbidh ding to the purchases . The harness is stated to liaro ( etched a pxlc . « far above its original value .
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A . PACTOHY RIOT . Somo very Beriotw dlstuTbance . 8 have occurred at Baildon , near Bradford , owing to a disagreement between Mr . Taylor , a -worsted manufacturer , awl some of hia
workpeople . Mr . Taylor has recently adopted tho system , of working two looms , iustead of one , by one weaver , who thus earns about half as much moxe 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 has not here introduced the two-loom system ; and the workmen at Ibis establishment proceeded in a body on Wednesday week to the Baildon 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 . He refused ; and the mob then began to destroy the mill . At this juncture , Thomas Smith , a weaver , went out to reason with the malcontents ; but lie was struck on the head with a stick by a woman named Grinishaw , -and sonic of the men then beat him severely , knocked him down , and kicked him , several exclaiming , " Throw him into the water ! " "Kill him ! kill him ! " At length , however , he managed to get back to the mill . Another two-loom weaver was also murderously assaulted , but escaped with his life .
la the meanwhile , the destruction of the edifice proceeded . Mr . Wheater , the designer of the mill , broke through the brick wall of his room with an iron bar , made his way to the back part of the premises , removed two panes of glass , and thus esaaped , the mob shouting out in front that they would have hold of Mm . Mr . Taylor , having made hia 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 hind 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 of 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 . "NTolley 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 shuivings at the end of it , and thrust it into the mill ; another man ran up ihn outside stairs -vritk a siir . iisr burning mass , and made a second endeavour to fire the building . But both these attempts failed , and 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 . . ¦' , ¦• ¦
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Wjtcjici : ai"t ix So ^ iEitsicu'simiii :. —A case of gross credulity has just been made public ; it Shepton-Mallet . A woman named 'Welshman , who is by profession and repute a witch , was recently sent for by another woman named Bathe , of Downsidu , to dispossess her of a spell under which the latter fancied , herself labouring . Welshman quickly put her magic in operation , impressing ou her victim the necessity of strictly abiding'by her instructions . The ' poor woman " went , on for some weeks until she was brought to a •¦ very . low state of health by various tricks which had been practised upon her , and she then communicated what had been going on to Boma 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 , beside * supplying herself with vegetables from the garden , she was ' committed . to the House of Correction for six -weeks .
A Sad Case . —Emma Iiiley , a girl of seventeen , who appeared to bo in a very miserable state , was indicted at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of her illegitimate infant . She was charged upon an inquisition taken by . Mr . "Wakley , the coroner ; but there had been no inquiry before a magistrate . The youug womaa had been seduced by a mail named Ucnuett , who had left her and her infant to starve . It was sought to be made out , in support of the-charge ' ; of- manslaughter , tiiit cite hri'J wilfully ¦ withheld from her child thai nourishment with " "which she was iu a conditiou to supply it . The evidence , however ,: failed entirely to make out 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 in consequence . She was Acquitted , and has been taken under the protection of the sheriffs , who will see that she is properly looked to . '
Muiumskous Assault . —A man named Thomas Burke has nearly murdered a woman of the town living near ilolborn , with whom he was to have been married . He had brought home to her last Saturday night a trifliog sum of money , which she said was not enough to keep her honest ; and sho refused to go to the theatre with him , saying she must " stay at home and earn her living . " Burke then went put , but , returning about half i » ast twelve o ' clock , found her in bed with another man . Enragod at this , he struck her over the head with one of his boots , aud fled , leaving her bathed in blood .
ArrnisnEN'siON of ax Escaped Convict . —A mau named Priest , who escaped from tho Oxford gaol early iu August , has been apprehended in Birmingham . A letter from n , woman with whom ho cohabited to a female acquaintance who could not read , and who took tho note to a publican that ho might inform her of the conteuts , disclosed tho place of Priest ' s concealment . He had lived for some tiine with a set of travelling ghoAvmcn , who promised to protect him should he be sought after ; but ho afterwards quarrelled with them , and left . On one occasion , ut Summertown , he waa very nearly captured by tho police in n public house ; but he jumped over a back wall , and got clcur off across the fields .
Ckntjiai , CiUjHNAL Court . —Thomas Dennis , a couvict iu the Model Prison at llol loway , has been found Guilty of a murderous assault on ouo of the Avarders , under circumstances which were related in the Leader of October 25 th . Ho is now sentenced to be transported for fourteen yeara , to commonco at the expiration of his former sentenco . —William Smith pleaded Guilty to a charge of firing a loaded pistol at William Ward , The ofl ' encc was committed under an impression that Ward had been on terms of improper intimacy with the wife of tho accused . On finding the pistol miss lire , Smith
boat Ward about tho head with tho weapon . Ho waa sentenced to hard labour for oighteon months . — "William Anderson , a labourer , was charged with stealing properly from the person of llichurd Felstoad , an orraudboy , about twelve years of ago . The theft was committed in a street in Clerkonwell , on tho . evening of tho 14 th ult . Tho boy was knocked down by a blow on tho head ; but lie jumped up and valoroueily run after tho thiof , who was stopped by two passengers . Anderson waa found Guilty , aud soutenced to fifteen yearn' trana-
Astute Follgebs
might lead to tho discovery of the perpetrators of tta forgery . . '™ In the course of last September , Hardwicke an < i Attwcll appeared at Yarmouth , where they each com mitted a scries of frauds ' upon different people ;¦ -but th were at length discovered , in . consequence ' of thrp £ lawyers who had been applied to happening to meef casually , when the circumstance of the different an plications which had been made to them by Attwdl being mentioned , their suspicions were aroused , and sten * were immediately taken , which ultimately led to the an prehension of the prisoners . The jury found them both
guilty . A second charge was-brought forward against Hardwicke , who , it was stated , hud'forged an accenfince to a bill of exchange for 1000 / . ; and so nearl y hail he succeeded in carrying out this fraud , Ihntthe clerk at the bank -was in the net of ¦ handing him . the notes in payment , when the largeness of the amount induced him to examine the bill a second tiiuo more narrowly , anil it was-tlien discovered to be a forgery . ' The prisoners were sentenced ., to transportation for life .
ASTUTE FOHGEBS . 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 . ou Messrs . Gosling and Sbarpe , the bankers . Early in the present year , Mr . Turner , a solicitor of Ked Lion Square , lost a pocket-book , containing a black cheque and some letters belonging to him . Attwell shortly afterwards called at bis office and requested him to apply to a man pf the name of Best for the sum of 38 / ., which Attwell alleged was owing to him . An I O U for the amount claimed was produced . Mr . Turner took the necessary proceeding s , and a stranger , called upon him a few days afterwards , and paid the 382 . into his hands , and also 6 a . 8 d . for the letter which the lawyer had written to
him . Attwell called again at Mr . Turner ' s office not long after this , and was paid in cash the sum which he claimed . After a very short interval , he presented another IOUto Mr . Turner for 103 / . 18 s . 6 d ., with a similar request to that which had accompanied the first . The lawyer took the same proceedings as beforo , and the amount was subsequently paid to Attwcll by a cheque on Mr . Turner ' s bankers , 3 Iessrs . Gosling and Sharpe . A forged draft in Mr . Turner ' s name , for 4001 . 7 s . id ., was then drawn , and a young man who had advertized for a situation waa employed , by a person ( doubtless a confederate of tho prisoners ) , to take it to the bankers to get it cashed . Attwcll ' s accomplice , Hardwicke , was in the banking house at the time it was presented , probably with the intention of seeing that
matters were all right ; and the cheque was paid , partly in eight 50 / . notes , and tho rest in gold . After tliij , Hardwicko ' s wife went to the Temple Bar branch of the Union Bank , where she stated that she wished to transmit 20 L to Mr . Richard Gurney at Hamburg . The cashier acceded to her request , and told her that the Hamburg agent of the bank would be advised to pay tho amount to Mr . Gurney upon his applying for it . Yery soon afterwards , both prisoners made their appearance at tho Hamburg bank , when Hardwicko represented hia name to bo Gurnoy , and claimed tho 20 / . Taking advantage of tho introduction thus offered them , they naked for , and obtained , change in gold for the eight 60 / . Bank of England notes "which were the produce of tho forged cheque , thus removing ovcry cluo that
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1062 THE LEADER . [ JSTo . 346 , Saturday
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 8, 1856, page 1062, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2166/page/6/
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