HANTS SPRING ASSIZES.
UTTERING A FORGED CHEQUE. — Robert Henry Stoneham, a respectably-dressed young man, was indicted for feloniously putting off, well-knowing the same to be forged, a certain cheque on Messrs. Grant, Gillman, and Long, of Portsmouth, with intent to defraud William Shanks, at Liss, on the 30th of November.—Mr. Bowen conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Bullen defended the prisoner.—William Shanks said he lived at Liss, and managed the "Spread Eagle Inn" for his brother. About ten o'clock in the morning of the 30th of November in last year, the prisoner asked him if he would change a cheque which he had obtained from his uncle, James Stoneham of Bedhampton. The cheque produced was the same which the prisoner gave him, and he paid it a away to Mr. Charles Harding, of Petersfield, who gave him three sovereigns for it. In cross-examination, Mr. Shanks said he was paid the amount for which the cheque purported to be drawn by the prisoner's uncle before the prosecution was instituted.—Mr. James Stoneham, the prisoner's uncle, proved that the signature to the cheque was not in his handwriting, that he never kept an account at Messrs. Grant, Gillman, & Long's, and that he had never authorised the prisoner to draw a cheque in his name on that firm—Charles Allnutt, clerk, to Messrs. Grant, Gillman, and Long, proved that there was no customer at the bank named James Stoneham.—Police-constable Troke apprehended the prisoner as he was getting into the train at Liss. He then said "I do not know what made me to do it. I was never pressed for the money. I don't care as long as Shanks's cheque is squared, for that would give me seven years."—Mr. J. M. Piddell, cashier at Messrs. Grant, Gillman, & Long's bank, was also called to prove that there was no one who had business transactions with the hank named James Stoneham. Mr. Bullen said that he was not aware that there was any proof that the cheque had been presented.— His Lordship: But the uncle has been called, who swears that he did not sign the cheque.—Mr. Bullen: But he might have two uncles of the same name.—His Lordship: You can prove it, if possible.—(Laughter.)—Mr. Bullen then submitted that there was no proof of forgery, and that the proof of no person of the name of Stoneham having business transactions at the bank had not been satisfactorily established—The jury found the prisoner guilty of uttering the cheque knowing it to be forged. There was a further charge against the prisoner for obtaining from William Henry Robertson a pair of leather boots and money, to the amount of 15s. 6d., with intent to defraud him of the same, at Liss, on the 26th of November; but this was not proceeded with.—The Judge said he refrained from giving the prisoner a term of penal servitude, as he might have had some idea that the money would be paid by the uncle; and, as he had been three months in prison, the sentence of the court was that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for 15 months.
(See also 19-Dec-1868 & 16-Jan-1869)