Kentish Gazette, 21 March 1854.

LENT ASSIZES, FOR THE COUNTY OF KENT.

The business of the Assizes commenced at ten o’clock on Friday morning, before Baron Alderton.

George Smith, baker, for uttering two forged Bank of England notes, with intent to defraud, at Chatham, on the 14th Nov.

Mr. Daniel Bernard, landlord of the "Granby's Head," stated, that on the evening mentioned, the prisoner came into his house and asked for two-penny worth of gin. After ha was served he informed witness that he had two £5 notes, for which he wanted £9. Witness asked him where he got them, when prisoner replied between there and the smoke. London was then understood to be thus graphically and tersely described. The prisoner said he had not got them with him, and went to fetch them. In the mean time witness sent to Everest, who arrived before the prisoner returned. He afterwards saw the prisoner hand something to Mr. Barnard, and Mr. Barnard gave witness one of the notes. Prisoner then most philosophically resigned himself into his custody of the officer, and candidly confessed, in the choicest thieves' vernacular, that he was guilty. The prisoner said before the magistrates that he had picked them up on London- bridge. A witness named Martin, proved that the prisoner cams to his house at Chatham, on the same evening, and asked him to purchase a "fiver." He produced something resembling a five-pound note, but witness declined to purchase it. He said he had "picked up" a lady at the station, and thus became possessed of them. He asked £4 5s. for it.

Mr. Barton, an inspector of notes at the Bank of England, proved that the alleged notes were forgeries. They were both made from the same plate. Mr. Ribton strongly urged that there was no proof that his client had the slightest knowledge that the notes were forged, as charged in the indictment.

Guilty.— His lordship said it was the clearest case he had ever heard. The prisoner had himself acknowledged that it was a clear case.

Fifteen years' transportation.