[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 26 Feb 1814 - Suspicion of Forgery

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 26 Feb 1814   (p. 3, col. 3)

 

SUSPICION OF FORGERY OR SWINDLING. 

 

On Wednesday week, a person calling himself Robert HEPPLE, from Morpeth, came to the Coffee-house here, with his servant, William
WILSON, whom he sent to Messrs. FORSTER's bank with a bill drawn by himself, as agent for BATSON, REED, BATSON, and Co's. bank,
Berwick-upon-Tweed, on their agents in London, for £500, payable to Wm. WILSON. WILSON told the clerk at the bank that he was going
to purchase horses at Wigton fair. Having got the bill discounted, he delivered the amount to his master at the inn. In the same
manner HEPPLE got discounted from Messrs. CARRICKs a similar bill for £325.—He also attempted, by means of his servant, to discount
a like bill for £500 at the bank of Messrs. GRAHAM and Co. which was refused; but at Mr. ELLIOT's he was more successful; having got
it discounted there. 

 

Soon after the bill was cashed at Messrs. FORSTER's, Mr. Charles BROWN, the chief clerk, suspecting that all was not right, made
private enquiries, at the Coffee-house, respecting William WILSON, horse-dealer, and was informed that no horse-dealer was there;
but that there were two men, one of whom came outside and the other inside of the Newcastle coach,—both entered by the name of
HEPPLE. Continuing his enquiries, Mr. BROWN found that they had left the inn on Friday, but could not ascertain in what direction
they had proceeded. Sunday morning he was informed by the guard to the Dumfries coach, that he had taken to Annan, the day before,
an outside passenger who answered the description given of him. Accordingly, Mr. James FORSTER and his clerk lost no time in going
in pursuit; and learned at Annan that Wm. WILSON had obtained £500 at Mr. SCOTT's bank there, on a bill similar to those uttered in
Carlisle. He was traced to Dumfries, and taken into custody on Sunday, as was also Mr. HEPPLE, who had arrived in the mail from
Annan, on Saturday night. 

 

On Monday morning, before the magistrates, WILSON made an unequivocal confession of his having been employed by his master to get
the bills cashed; and HEPPLE acknowledged getting the cash, but, in defence, insisted that he was a partner in the Berwick bank, and
that, in all he had done, he had not acted illegally. Mr. FORSTER, however, being, notwithstanding, suspicious, HEPPLE returned the
cash he had obtained from him, and obtained an acknowledgment from the former that the bill should be transmitted to his Solicitor
in Northumberland. This bill had, however, been previously sent to London for acceptance.—Mr. SCOTT, of Annan, also recovered his
property; and the magistrates acquitted both the prisoners. 

 

It appears that the other bankers in Carlisle, who had parted with their money, had expected that Mr. FORSTER would have conveyed
the parties to Carlisle, as they made no stir in the business. Finding themselves mistaken, they made search; but, on Tuesday
morning, WILSON came back to Carlisle by the Dumfries coach, on his road home to Morpeth, when he was secured. On his examination by
Mr. HODGSON, clerk of the peace, in presence of the magistrates of this place, he disclosed every thing he knew respecting the
transaction. 

 

On Wednesday, information was given to Mr. HODGSON that a man, answering the description of HEPPLE, had slept the night before in a
public-house at Crosby, a village four miles from Carlisle, on the Brampton road.—That gentleman and Mr. Thos. CARRICK, immediately
went in a post chaise in pursuit, and traced him to Brampton, where he had been seen going through the town by the back-street. They
pursued along the Newcastle road; and, opposite to Naworth, observed a man before them, who suddenly disappeared near a small
plantation. After the chaise had proceeded to Temmon, where no intelligence of the fugitive could be procured, Mr. HODGSON, deeming
it impossible that the man could have passed them, ordered the postillion into the chaise, which had then the appearance of one
returning empty. This stratagem had the desired effect; for, in a short time, the party perceived a man come from the wood along the
common. They alighted and made towards him. He then quickened his step, but, after a chase of some duration, he was overtaken and
brought to Carlisle in the evening. On his examination he still persisted that all he had done was legal, and that he was advised
thereto by his counsel, in order to compel his partners to come to a settlement, who were indebted to him very large sums. 

 

Of the property which he obtained in Carlisle from Messrs. CARRICKs and Mr. ELLIOT, only a small part was found upon him. Part of
it, he said, he had payed away, and the remainder he had remitted home.—He was committed to our gaol for further examination; and
WILSON was bound over, on his own recognizance, to appear to give evidence when called upon. 

 

On Wednesday, Messrs. FORSTERs received back from London the £500 bill they had transmitted, dishonoured,—with a remark, that it had
not the corresponding number, was not on the kind of paper used by the Berwick bank, and that they were surprised to see HEPPLES's
name on it, and that they had no advice of the transaction. 

 

 

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