THE ENGLISH FORGERIES.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 633, 8 February 1870, Page 3

THE ENGLISH FORGERIES.

« [AGE, JANUARY. 24] Chas. J. Davis, who was arrested on board the ship Yorkshire upon her arrival at Melbourne, on a charge of forgery in England, was brought before the city magistrates this morning, when Mr Wrixon appeared for the prisoner. Inspector Kabat applied fora remand to London, and, in support of his application, placed in the witness box John Meiklejohn, a sergeant of the detective police, Scotland Yard, London, who produced a warrant signed by Wm. Partridge, police magistrate at Southwark, London, which had been backed by the Chief Justice of Victoria. The warrants brought out by Mr Meiklejohn charge the prisoner with fraudulent bankruptcy and forging a bill of exchange for LB4. This, howevei*, is only one charge against him, as the total amount of his defalcations was not Known when the mail left, but it was anticipated thatthey wou!dnotfallfarshortofLls,ooo. The prisoner is said to have been in an extensive way of business in Thornton street, Southwark, as a contractor, builder, decorator and undertaker, and being a good tradesman was always in demand, and could obtain any amount of credit, but being fond of company and good living, and keeping} house in a style more fitted for a gentleman of independent means he soon outran the constable, Being in want of ready money, he commenced to forge the names of his friends to bills, which were readily cashed by the banks, as his name was sufficient to obtaiia him an advance anywhere. This proceeded for some time, bills as they fell due being paid with the proceeds of ' another forgery, until at last Davis, finding the place becoming rather hot, made up his mind to bolt. Making inquiries, he found that the Bhip Yorkshire (which had left London for Melbourne a few days previously) was to sail from Plymouth on 2nd November ; he quickly made up his mind to take his departure by her, more especially as he had two bills to meet on the 3rd. Not caring to leave empty-handed, he went to a person with whom he had business transactions and asked him to advance L7OO. This ■ was at first demurred to, as .there was an outstanding L 75 unpaid by Davis, but to remove this difficulty he direw a cheque • for the amount, and an arrangement was ; then made for an advance of L6OQ, which i he obtained in two LIOO notes, L2OO in „ gold, and the balance in small notes. On . the day following (Snnday lßt N oveuiber), I having already packed up his goods, he i started by the mail train for Plymouth, - and the day following sailed ia the Yorki shire before he was missed from London^ , It was hpweverj soon discovered that he ; was missing, and the holders of, his bills

found that they were forgeries. He was afterwards declared bankrupt, and ten houses belonging to him were seized by the official assignees for the beneil't of the creditors, who expect to realise about 10s m the pound. Having discovered that he had sailed in the Yorkshire, the powers in Scotland Yard were invoked, and a telegram sent by the last mail to arrest him on arrival in Melbourne. This was done by FdrsteratidO'Rourke, and detective Meiklejohn left England by the mail steamer of 27th November, taking the necessary warrants for his arrest. Meiklejohn deposed that he was present on sth November, when the magistrate signed the warrant, and also on 15th November, when the depositions were taken, which he also produced. Prisoner was the man referred to in the warrant. He left England on 2nd November in the ship Yorkshire. Mr Wrixon, for the prisoner, contended that there was nof sufficient evidence before the bench to justify their remanding the prisoner to London. The bench considered there was quite sufficient evidence before them to grant the remand asked for, and he was therefore remanded to gaol until step? could be taken for his removal from the Colony. Mr Wrixon applied that the money and goods found in the prisoner's possession should _be handed over to his wife, but the bench refused to make any order. (For continuation of news see Fourth Page.)