90. (L.) Matthew Skinner was indicted for forging, and counteirfeting an order, for the payment of money, directed to Mess. Fuller, Baker, and Halford , to this purport:

"October

"2 l, 1768. Pay to Mr. James Brown , or

"bearer, 15 l. 15 s. and 6 d. G. Humphrys." And for publishing the same, with intent to defraud William Saunders , October 22 . +

William Saunders . On the 22d of October last, the prisoner came to my shop; I am a hosier near Aldgate ; he told me, he was recommended to buy three or four dozen of house, of 23 or 24 s. a dozen, and that they were for a person at Berry, who did a great deal of business in my way, and if we used him well, he would be a good customer; he looked out five dozen, which came to 5 l. 6 s. I asked him, what name I should make the bill of parcels in; he said, his name was Robinson; he then presented a draft for 15 l. 15 s. and 6 d. and desired me to give him change. He said, it was the last draft he had. I was hesitating upon it, but he appearing to be a reputable country shop-keeper, I was inclinable to give him change, with this precaution, that as soon as I had given him change, which was a draft upon Sir Richard Glyn and Co. I intended to go immediately to know whether it was a good one. I gave him a draft upon Sir Richard for 10 l. 9 s. and 6 d. which with the 5 l. 6 s. made the money. I went to Mr. Fuller's, and found his bill was a bad one. Sir Richard Glyn 's house being but two doors from that, I got to Sir Richard Glyn 's four minutes before the prisoner came in. Skinner seeing me, he wanted to withdraw. He said, he would call again; they told him, he had better do his business now. He had my draft in his hand, and laid it on the counter. We went for a constable, and took him in custody. He said, he received it of one Gompy, and said, his own name was Jonathan Robinson , that he came to town about selling a horse, and that he could neither write nor read. We went before an Alderman on the Monday. ( This was Saturday evening.) He there acknowledged another fraud of this kind. He said, he came from Sheffield, and that he received it of one Gompy, at a house in Goodman's Fields. He said, he should be glad to have Gompy taken.

John Vaughn. The first time I saw the prisoner, was at Sir Richard Glyn 's. I went along with him and Mr. Saunders, and Mr. Halford, to a tavern in the Poultry. He was asked his name. He said, it was Jonathan Robinson , and was lately come out of the country, I think, from Sheffield, and had the draft of one Gompy, a Jew, and that he himself could neither write nor read. That he had laid in Goodman's-Fields the night before, and had taken it there; that he had been in town but a few days; that he lodged, when he came to town, at the Three Nuns Inn, in White-Chapel, three or four nights, but had laid at the Fleece Goodman's-fields the night before; and that he came to town to dispose of a horse. But he was not consistent in the account that he gave of himself.

Q. Does any body of the name of G. Humphrys keep cash at your house?

Vaughn. I have been there fifteen or sixteen years, and I know of no such person. The draft is a blank cheque of ours that has seen filled up

(Produced in court.)

It is read to the purport as in the indictment.

Prisoner's Defence.

I received these drafts of Gompy, in order to get them off for him. I was very innocent of any bad design.

Q. to Saunders. How came you to find that the prisoner's name was not Robinson?

Saunders. When he was before Mr. Alderman Kennet, at the Mansion-House, he said his name was Matthew Skinner . The Alderman asked him, why he had said his name was Jonathan Robinson ; he answered, he was then confused, and did not know what he said.

For the Prisoner.

William Geter . I am the constable. After I went to the prison with the prisoner, he desired I would see after Gompy; he said, he was sure I could find him. I went to the Three Nuns, in White-Chapel, and took one of the turnkeys with me. We were told we were too late by about 20 minutes, Gompy was just gone away with a horse, which he bought of the prisoner. We went to the Golden-Fleece, in Goodman's Fields; they knew him there, but he was not there. I came home, and went to the Compter to Skinner. The next day he was very uneasy that we could not find Gompy. I heard him say, he could neither write nor read.

George Waddington . I live at the Three Nuns, White-Chapel. On the Saturday sevennight before this affair happened, the prisoner and two other men came to me, and hired a post-chaise of me, to go to Brentwood-Fair; they came back again at night, and lay at my house. Skinner rode a horse to the fair, and came back again on him: he staid at my house till the Friday or Saturday following. I imagined this horse belonged to the Jew, to whom I thought Skinner was servant. There were a little man and a lusty man, two Jews, that went with Skinner to Burntwood-Fair. I heard the Jew was named Gompy Humphrys, and on the Saturday, the little Jew came and demanded the horse. I was not at home. My wife said, there is a post-chaise, and Skinner's victuals and drink to pay for. He paid for the post-chaise and horse, and took the horse away; he refused to pay for Skinner, and said he knew nothing of him. This is what my wife told me, when I came home.

Samuel Oaks . I am a scissars-maker, and live in Ironmonger-Row, Old-Street. I come from Sheffield. I knew the prisoner there; he was a scissars grinder. I believe, he can neither write nor read; he always appeared to be a very honest man at Sheffield. I suppose, he had not been come up long before he was taken up. I left Sheffield not seven months ago. I do not know what he came up about.

William Rogers . I am a shagreen case-maker, and live in a court on Ludgate-Hill. I have known the prisoner about eight years: as far as I can learn, he came to London, but about a week before he was taken up. I came from Sheffield, I never knew any thing of him, but what was honest. I am pretty certain, he can neither write nor read. I hear this Gompy is now at Gloucester.

Richard Eglinton . I live at the house of John Abdy 's, at No. 5, in Oat-Lane, by Goldsmiths-Hall. I worked in Sheffield nine years. I came to town last Easter. I have known the prisoner eight years; I never heard but that he always bore a good character. I have heard he can neither write nor read.

John Edwards . I live on Ludgate-Hill. I am a journeyman case-maker to Mr. Rogers. I have known the prisoner near four years. I never heard but that he bore a good character. I never heard that he could write or read.

John Markham . I live in Throgmorton-Street. I knew him sixteen or eighteen years at Sheffield. He is a very laborious, industrious man. I never heard of his being in town, till he was taken up. It was commonly understood that he could neither write nor read.

Acquitted .

(L.) He was a second time indicted for forging and publishing, as true, a false, forged, and counterfeit draft, drawn on Mess. Fuller, Baker, and Halford, for 15 l. 14 s. and 6 d. signed G. Humphrys, well knowing the same to be forged, with intention to defraud Benjamin Hopkins , October 20 . ++

Benjamin Hopkins . I keep a shop near Cripple-gate . On the 20th of October the prisoner came to me, and wanted to look at some green tea. He agreed for twenty-four pounds, at 5 s. and 6 d. a pound, and ordered it to be marked Matthew Skinner , at Doncaster in Yorkshire, to be sent to the Swan and two Necks, in Lad-Lane, and said, he would be at my house again in half an hour. It came to 7 l. 3 s. when he returned, he gave me this draft out of his pocket book. I was satisfied with it, thinking I knew the drawer. I gave him the remainder, which was 8 l. 11 s. and 6 d. then he went away. The draft was for 15 l. 14 s. and 6 d. I sent my servant to Mr. Fuller's, to see if it was a good note before I sent the goods; he returned and told me, Mr. Fuller said there was no such man kept cash-there. The prisoner was taken two days after, at Sir Richard Glyn 's. I saw him afterwards at Guildhall. (The bill produced in court.)

John Vaughan . This draft was presented at our house by a young man for payment, about the 20th of October, in the afternoon; who said, he came from Mr. Hopkins near Criplegate; I told him, no such person kept cash with us. When the prisoner was taken up, two days after, I went to Mr. Hopkins and told him of it. The bill read to this purport.

"To Mess. Fuller, Baker, and Halford, bankers,

"&c. Oct. 19, 1768, pay to Mr. James

"Brown, or bearer, 15 l. 14 s. 6 d.

"G. Humphrys."

William Saunders . When the prisoner was examined before Mr. Alderman Kennet, he owned he received one draft of Gompy, and the other of two men, named Bonner, snuff-makers; and said he had two pounds for his share for paying the bill away; he very much desired Gompy might be inquired after, and the constable was sent after him, but could not find him.

William Geter and George Washington gave the same evidence as on the other trial.

Acquitted .