Kentish Mercury 13 March 1852.

Forging banknotes, and singular mode of utterance.

William Brown, tailor, (21, well) but whose real name is Robert Hayward, lately employed by his brother, a printer, Drury Lane, London, was charged with uttering forged £5 Bank of England notes, and also with having five other notes, reported to be five pound notes.

Mr Clarkson, appeared for the prosecution, and the first witness he called was John Bishop, about 12 years of age, who said the prisoner came up to him in High Street, Margate, on the 18th of last December, and promised to give him 3d if he would take a letter to the post office and bring him and answer. He handed him a letter which he took to Mr Gore, the Postmaster. That gentleman after asking him where he received it, called in a policeman who directed him to take a paper back to the prisoner, which he did.

Mr Frederick Gore, Postmaster, Margate, said he received a letter from the last witness, and enclosing 6d, and a piece of paper for purporting to be a £5 note, with a note requesting that the post office order might be payable to "William Vile, bootmaker, Ashton, Kent," from "D Fox, 32, Marine Parade." Witness at once detected the note was a forgery, and he communicated with Mr inspector Marchant, who succeeded in apprehending the prisoner. Some time since there was a person name Fox living on the parade, he has since died, but the brass plate is at present on the door.

Mr William Vile, bootmaker, of Ashford, said he did not expect any money from Mr Fox, who he did not know - the prisoner he had never seen before.

Louise Fisher, said she was the daughter of the landlady of the "Bulls Head," Margate, and that on the 18th of December, the prisoner came there, took a glass of ale and borrowed pen and ink, shortly after he came to the bar and left a bag, for which he said he would call again. He did not, however, do so, and witness gave the bag to the inspector of police.

Mr Inspector Marchant gave evidence of his having been called by Mr Gore, and also to apprehending the prisoner, and finding upon him 15s and a key. Perceiving the key belonged to a bag, he inquired at the several taverns if any person have been there, and upon arriving at the "Bull's Head," he found the bag left by the prisoner. On searching it, which he opened with a key found on the prisoner, he found the pocket book containing eight copies of letters, with blank places for the name; also five forged £5 Bank of England notes, and two £5 post office orders issued by similar means, with forged notes, which had been obtained by the prisoner at Dover and Deal. Two bottles of medicine were also in the bag, which the prison asked to be given up to him.

Mr George Spain, assistant postmaster of Dover, gave evidence of the order found in the prisoners bag, being obtained from him on the 17th of December, under similar circumstances, as in the last case, payable to "Heath, gunsmith, of Reigate," from "George Mulgrave, "London Hotel," Dover.

Mr Heath denied all knowledge of the prisoner, or that any such person as Mulgrave was indebted to him.

Mr Ekins, postmaster of Deal, gave evidence of an order being obtained from him, the one produced found in the prisoners bag, with a £5 note. The letter directed the order to be made payable to "William Ashley, grocer, Tonbridge," from William Judd, cabinet maker, Lower Street, Deal."

A lad said the prisoner directed him to proceed with the letter to the post, and he handed the reply.

Sergent Thompson, the London police, said the prisoners proper name was Robert Hayward, but he was no trade, but had worked for his brother, printer, of Drury Lane. Evidence was given of the note being spurious, and as to the prisoners writing.

Prisoner, in defence, said he found the notes in a railway carriage at Basingstoke, and that he was tempted to commit the offence, by their being thus thrown in his way.

His lordship went through the evidence, commenting at length on its nature; when the jury immediately found the prisoner guilty.

The learned judge in passing sentence, said such crimes called for the most severe punishment, and in this case it was accompanied with a deep laid plan, which made it imperative to carry out the law, he should, therefore, sentence the prisoner to 14 years transportation.