Michael Stewart

343

Maureen Withey on 12th February 2023

Tasmanian Records. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON22-1-2P344JPG Per Calcutta, Michael Stewart, alias Seymour, alias Robert Seymour, Tried Middlesex G.D., 20 May 1801, Life. ------------------------------------------------- Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 12 February 2023), May 1801, trial of MICHAEL STEWART , alias SEYMOUR, alias ROBERT STEWART (t18010520-51). MICHAEL STEWART, Deception > forgery, 20th May 1801. 489. MICHAEL STEWART , alias SEYMOUR, alias ROBERT STEWART , was indicted for forging and counterfeiting, on the 15th of April , a Bill of Exchange for 40l. with intention to defraud Thomas Boote . Second Count. For uttering and publishing, as true, a like Bill of Exchange, with the like intention. Third and Fourth Counts. Charging it to be with intention to defraud John Bond , Benjamin Bond , and Joseph Bond . Fifth Count. For feloniously forging and counterfeiting an acceptance to a Bill of Exchange, in the name of John Bond , for himself and company, dated the 4th of April, 180l, with intention to defraud the said Thomas Boote. Sixth Count. For uttering and publishing, as true, a like forged acceptance, knowing it to be forged, with the like intention. Seventh and Eighth Counts. For forging and uttering, and publishing as true, a like acceptance, with intention to defraud John Bond , Benjamin Bond, and Joseph Bond. THOMAS BOOTE sworn. - I live in Piccedilly, I am a grocer . Q. Do you know the prisoner? - A. I do: On the 15th of April, he came to my shop to buy some ship's stores, he ordered some to the amount of twenty-seven or twenty-eight pounds; and in order to pay for the same he produced me a bill, purporting to be drawn upon John Bond , Esq. (Produces it); the acceptance is in red ink; I hesitated some time before I took it, at last I told the prisoner I had not the difference in cash, but I would send it to him the next morning; he said he must have it directly, for he was ordered away to Portsmouth, and must go away the next morning by four o'clock; I still hesitated, but at length I gave him six pounds in Bank-notes, and a check for six pounds three shillings and eight-pence, upon Sir Robert Herries, who is my banker; he then went away, but gave me a direction to No. 6, Cavendish-square; I sent my shopman, Nettleship, up to Cavendish-square the moment he was gone. Q. Is he here? - A. No; the next morning I sent my son to Mr. Bond's, the bankers, he is not here; I called some time afterwards, I cannot say when, and they disavowed the acceptance, and refused to pay the bill. Q. Had you endorsed it? - A. No. Q. Where do Messrs. Bonds live? - A. In Change-alley, they are bankers. Q. Do you know any other persons besides them under that firm? - A. I know of none. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. I suppose you have taken no great pains to inquire whether there are any other persons of that firm? - A. I have looked at the list of bankers, and I have asked several people, but I have not heard of any others; I inquired of Mr. Pattisall, acting clerk in Messrs. Bond's house; I made great search after the prisoner, and he was apprehended about fourteen days ago, from information that I had received that he went into the Swan, in Paradise-row, Chelsea. Court. Q. Did you take a constable with you? - A. No; I did not consider him as a felon, and therefore I thought it not necessary; I did not find him then; I gave information round Chelsea, being pretty well known there, and he was apprehended by a soldier. Mr. Knapp. Q. Nettleship is not here? - A. No. Q. Your son is not here? - A. No. Q. Nor the person who apprehended him? - A.No. Q. You yourself confined your inquiries to Messrs. Bond's house? - A. No; I asked several other persons. Q. But you have not been round to the different banking-shops to inquire? - A. No. Q. I see the bill is dated Portsmouth; have you any person from Portsmouth here? - A. No. Q. It is drawn by a person of the name of John White? - A. Yes. Have you no person here from Portsmouth to prove the non-existence of that John White ? - A. No. STEPHEN PATTISALL sworn. - I am clerk to Messrs. John Bond , Benjamin Bond , and Joseph Bond , bankers, in 'Change-alley, Cornhill. Q. Are you their cashier? - A. Yes; I have been with them between seven and eight years. Q. Do you know any other house of this firm, in the City of London? - A. I believe there are no bankers of that firm. Q. Can you take upon yourself to say there are no mercantile houses of that firm? - A. I never heard of any. Q. Have you known the City of London long? - A.Near twenty years; and I have been in business the greatest part of that time. Q. Look at that note, and particularly at the signature in red? - A. It is not the hand-writing of Mr. John Bond and sons, or of any of the partners. Q. Nor of any of the clerks? - A. No. Q. I suppose you have seen every one of them write frequently? - A. Frequently; I am perfectly convinced it is not the signature of either of them. Q. Do they ever accept in that transverse way? - A. Never. Q. Nor in red ink? - A. I do not recollect ever to have seen it; it is very unlike a banker's signature. Cross-examined by Mr. Knapp. Q. Messrs. Bond, and Company, compose three persons? - A. Yes. Q. John Bond, Benjamin Bond, and Joseph bond? - A. Yes. Q. Is Mr. John Bond here? - A No. Q. Nor Mr. Joseph Bond ? - A. No. Q. Nor Mr. Benjamin Bond? - A. No. Q. It is the custom for the partners only, to accept? - A. Yes. Court. If they were here, they could not prove that it was not their writing; because they would discharge themselves from the bill by so doing.(The bill read). £. 40."Portsmouth, April 2, 180l. "Twenty days after date, pay to Captain Seymour, or order, the sum of forty pounds, for value received. JOHN WHITE . "To John Bond, Esq. and Co. Bankers, London. " John Bond , for Company, April 4, 1801." Court. (To Boote.) Q.When the prisoner offered you this note, and directed you to Cavendish-square, what name did he give you? - A. Michael Seymour . Q. Has he represented himself as in any situation? - A. Yes; as captain of a frigate; I think he called it the Prudentia. Prisoner's defence. The bill was sent to me from Portsmouth, just as it is now, in a letter; the person that I received it from is gone to Minorca, he is an officer in the army. Jury. (To Boote) Q. Did you consider the endorsement to be his endorsement? - A. Yes; he told me his name was captain Seymour, and that it was his endorsement. GUILTY Death , aged 28. Of uttering the acceptance knowing it to be forged. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Graham.