The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

700.   GEORGE HOPPER (30) and   GEORGE FARROW (31) , Feloniously forging a cheque for the payment of 79l. 10s. 2d., with intent to defraud.

MESSRS. STRAIGHT and GILL conducted the Prosecution; and MR. PURCELL

defended Farrow.

  JOSEPH MENDELSTAM . I am a button manufacturer, of 26, Ely Place, Holborn—Hopper entered my employ in December last—it was his duty, amongst other things, to take care of my cheque-book—he remained in my employment until two days before he was apprehended—on 14th June he came to the office, late, and I spoke to him about being absent previously and late then—he said that he was going to the Inland Revenue Office, and would soon be back—he never returned—I went to the Bank the same day I think, and in consequence of what the manager said I came back and looked at my cheque-book, and missed from it this cheque (produced)—there was nothing on the counterfoil—Hopper sometimes filled up the bodies of cheques for me—I also found one or two other counterfoils which had nothing on them—to the best of my belief the body of the cheque is in Hopper's writing, especially the endorsement "Collins"—I saw Farrow once in my inner office, somewhere about the Derby day—I did not speak to him—Hopper said Farrow was a friend of his. (The cheque was on the National Provident Bank of England, St. Marylebone Branch, dated 29th May, 1878, payable to Mr. Collins, for 79l. 10s. 2d, signed "Bective," endorsed E. Collins.)

LORD BECTIVE. Neither the signature nor any other part of this cheque is in my writing.

  JUDAH HARRIS . I live at 45, Arundel Square, Barnsbury and was clerk to the prosecutor for three or four weeks before Hopper left—I have seen Farrow there about eight times—he used to come and see Hopper.

Cross-examined by MR. PURCELL. I cannot say when I last saw Farrow at the office.

Cross-examined by Hopper. I came in contact with your writing every day because I had the books.

  HENRY PIJUS . I am cashier at Gibson and Son's, fishmongers, Bond Street—on 31st May a young woman of 20 or 23 came there and produced that cheque—she was a shortish woman, and had the appearance of a servant—her hair was of a medium colour, and she had rather a fresh complexion—I sent to the London and County Bank for the change and handed it to her in notes and cash—the numbers of the notes were 91667 to 91671—the cheque was afterwards passed through my bank and returned marked "No

account," and I stopped the notes at the Bank of England—I had not seen the woman before to my knowledge—the Earl of Bective has been a customer of ours for years.

Cross-examined by MR. PURCELL. I may have said at the police-court that the young woman had dark hair.

  CHARLES JOHN WILLIAMS . I am a clerk in the accountant's office of the Bank of England—I produce four bank notes, No. 91667-8-9, and 91671, all dated October 11, 1877. Cross-examined by MR. PURCELL. One is endorsed "Smith of Epsom." WILLIAM HENRY HUDSON. I am a clerk in the Hanover Square Branch of the London and County Bank, where Messrs. Gibson have an account—I find an entry in my paying book of. a cheque for 79l. 10s. 2d. on the National and Provincial Bank, drawn by Lord Bective—the numbers of the notes paid for that cheque are 91667-8-9 and 91671.

  HENRY HEALE . I am assistant to Messrs. Shoolbred and Co., of Tottenham Court Road—on 31st May Farrow came with a woman about 2 or 3 p.m.—she was. rather short, and rather full complexion, had lost some of her front teeth, and had dark hair—they purchased some articles to a little over 5l.; he gave a 10l. note, which he took from others—the cashier brought the change, and I passed it to Farrow, who gave the name of Smith, of Epsom—this is the note, and it was endorsed in that name—I have the bill for the articles purchased, which I afterwards identified.

  EMMA BULLEY . I am a saleswoman in the Mantle Department of Messrs. Shoolbred—I served a man and woman there on 31st May—I identify Farrow—they bought a mantle and some fringe, which came to 4l. 18s.—the man paid me with this 10l. note, which he took from others—he gave the name of Smith, of Epsom, which I endorsed on the note—the woman was dark; rather fresh-coloured, and not very tall—there was something peculiar about her month.

  CATHERINE COLLINS . I am housekeeper to Lord Bective, of 8, Hamilton Place—this "E. Collins" on this cheque is not mine, neither have I authorised any one to sign my name—there is no one else of my name in Lord Bective's house.

  JOSEPH WAKEFIELD (Police Sergeant G.) On 28th June I was at Leatherhead railway station, when I saw Farrow get out of a third-class carriage and join somebody—I followed him to the Bull public-house, and said, "Good evening, Mr. Farrow"—he said, "Good evening, Sir"—I told him I was a police-officer from London, and should take him in charge for being concerned with another in custody, and one not in custody, in stealing a blank cheque; also for forging and uttering the same in the name of the Earl of Bective, and obtaining 79l. 10s. 2d. for it from 179, Bond Street—"Bective," he said, "I know, no Bective; you have made a mistake; where is your authority?"—I said, "I give you my authority; I am a police-officer from London, and I am going to take you on that charge"—I caught hold of him, he became violent and tried to escape, but an officer from the constabulary assisted me to the station—Farrow gave his address No. 3, Lower Terrace, Leatherhead—I went and searched the place, and found one pair of drawers and three pairs of socks, which have since been identified by Messrs. Shoolbred—I also found this. (The back of an envelope)—the names on it are, "17, Grosvenor Square, Clarke; 15, do., Brunt; 8, Hamilton. Place, Collins; 23, Park Lane, Golding"—8, Hamilton Place, is Earl Bective's address—I have made

inquiries, and the other three names are all housekeepers at the different houses, as Mrs. Collins is at Lord Bective's—on the way to London, Farrow asked me when the forgery took place; I said I believed about the latter end of May, but I was not certain of the date—I told him I had traced two of the 10l. notes given in payment at Messrs. Shoolbred's—he said, "That is quite right, I did; but am I to be answerable for that if I got them in a betting transaction?"—I said, "I don't know anything about that; you will be able to make your defence"—I spoke of the note endorsed Smith, of Epsom, and he said it was quite right—I had apprehended Hopper on 17th June at 59, Rockingham Street, Southwark—I told him that I was an officer, and that I was going to take him in custody for stealing a bill of exchange belonging to Mr. Mendelstam—he said, "I have stolen no bill; I had a bill, but I left it on the desk"—I brought him to the station, and told him he would be further charged with stealing a blank cheque from Mr. Mendelstam's cheque-book, which had since been forged and uttered in the name of Bective for a large amount of money—he said, "I stole no cheque; Mr. Mendelstam sometimes took out blank cheques; they are getting it up for me," or "mixing it up," I am not certain which.

  JOSEPH WAKEFIELD (Re-examined.) I apprehended Farrow in consequence of the description given by Mr. Heale.

HOPPER— NOT GUILTY . FARROW— GUILTY . ** He was. further charged with having been convicted of felony at this Court on 20th November, 1871, to which he PLEADED GUILTY.— Ten Years' Penal Servitude .