Sarah Ward

116

Tony Beale on 29th September 2021

Old Bailey Online (DoB from here) 1119. SARAH WARD was indicted for that she, on the 5th of June , at St. James, Clerkenwell, feloniously did dispose of and put away, a certain forged and counterfeit bank note (setting it forth, No. 12,075, 1l., March 6, 1818, signed R. Clough), with intent to defraud the Governor and Company of the Bank of England , she knowing it to be forged and counterfeited, against the statute . SECOND COUNT, for feloniously offering to John Terry a like forged note, with the like intent. THIRD and FOURTH COUNTS, the same only, calling the forged instrument a promisory note for the payment of money, instead of a bank note. FOUR OTHER COUNTS, the same only stating the prisoner's intent to be to defraud the said John Terry. JOHN TERRY. I keep the Plough public-house, at Hoxton . On the 5th of June, the prisoner came into my house about twelve o'clock in the morning, and had a quartern of gin, which came to four-pence. She tendered me a 1l. bank note; I took it. Mr. Lewis who was sitting near me, told me to be cautious as I had only been in the house three days; he requested to look at the note, which he did, and said it was a bad one - She heard it. She had a child in her arms. I asked her by what means she got the note? she said a man at the corner, had given her the bottle, and the note to get changed. I, Lewis, and the prisoner all went out to look for him - She led us to the corner, which was twenty or thirty yards off - We saw no one there. She said she did not know the man. We told her we must detain her - She said she hoped we would not, for we might keep the note if we liked. I went for a constable. Lewis had the note; he did not return it to me. Cross-examined by MR. ADOLPHUS. Q. How long was it from the time she came until she went out - A. The whole did not last above ten minutes-it took up no more time than merely helping her to the gin and giving change, which would not take a minute. I detained her long enough to alarm a person who was waiting outside. MR. REYNOLDS. Q. How long was she in the house before you went to look for the man - A. Not more than five or six minutes. WILLIAM LEWIS . I am clerk to Mr. Davis, who is a distiller, and lives in Old-street - I live in Bartholomew-square. On the 5th of June I was at Terry's house, saw the prisoner come in with a bottle for some gin, and tender a 1l. note. Mr. Terry handed it to me; I looked at it, and immediately said, in her hearing, it was a bad one. Q. Did you ask her how she came by it - A. Terry asked her. She said a man gave her the bottle and note at the corner of the street to get some gin-he was a stranger. We all three went out to look for him. We went to the corner but found no person there - She said he was gone. Q. During this time what was done with the note. - A. I put it in my breeches-pocket, and held it in my hand. The prisoner requested me to let her go, and seemed a great deal agitated - I took her into custody. While Terry was gone for an officer a crowd came round. I walked through Hoxton with her, put her into a coach, and took her to the office. I asked her in the coach what her real name was? she said it was Sarah Ward , and that she lived at No. 5, John's-row, City-road. I kept the note in my pocket, holding it in my hand. When I got to Worship-street I gave the note into the hands of Mr. Yardley, the clerk of the office. I took it from him again before he left my presence, and took it to the Investigator's Office at the Bank, and put my name on it before I parted with it-(looking at it)-this is it. Q. Did you make inquiry at John's-row - A. The day after she was taken, I went and made a diligent inquiry in John's-row. I found two houses of No. 5 - I inquired at both of them, and all the houses of that number in the neighbourhood, leading from John's-row, but could hear no account of her. Cross-examined by MR. ADOLPHUS. Where did she give her address - A. Turner asked her address at Worship-street - I took down what she said. Q. Did she not say it was Little West-place, John's-row - A. She did not; two persons attended at her third examination, by her desire. I do not remember Westplace, John's-row. I went to all the streets about there. EDWARD BISHOP. I live at No. 5, John's-row, in the parish of St. Luke. I have lived there fifteen years. The prisoner never lived there. I never had any lodgers. Cross-examined. Q. Is there such a place as Little West-place, leading into John's-row - A. There is a place they call West-place, leading into John's-row-John's-row is a public-place. ELIZA RAWLINGS . I live at No. 5, John's-row, City-road-there are two Nos. 5, on the same side of the way. I have lived there eighteen months-the prisoner did not live there - I do not know her. THOMAS SMITH . I am a feather manufacturer, and live in Union-street, Hackney-road. On the 11th of February the prisoner came to my shop, and bought a feather, which came to 1s. 4d. - she gave me a 1l. note; I asked her name and address? she said her name was Sharp, residing in Bell-alley, Whitecross-street, which I wrote on the note, with my own name (looks at a note), this is it. Cross-examined. I never saw her before, until the 9th of June. Q. Do you remember any thing particular of her - A. I had an opportunity of taking particular notice of her, and am not afraid to swear to her; she appeared very much swollen, as if she had a cold. She did not appear pregnant. The note is not signed, which I did not notice at the time. She was five or ten minutes with me. CHARLES CHRISTMAS . I am an inspector of bank notes(looks at the notes), that uttered to Terry is forged in paper, plate and signature. The other is also forged, and has no signature. They are both off one plate. Cross-examined. Q. Is it not a note that a woman might take without noticing it - A. It would impose on many persons. ROGER CLOUGH . I am a signing clerk at the bank; the note has not my signature. (Note read.) Prisoner's Defence. I solemnly declare I did not know it was forged. I was going to Hoxton to seek for lodgings, a decent man gave it to me, with a bottle, and asked me to fetch half a pint of gin; I asked him his name, he said he lived in Turner-square. I told them my name was Ward, and I lived in West-place, John's-row. I have four small children. GUILTY . DEATH . Aged 27. Recommended to Mercy. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Graham

341

Maureen Withey on 11th June 2020

Principal Superintendent of Convict's Office, Sydney, 26th April, 1837, THE Conditional Pardons granted to the undermentioned Persons are now lying at this Office, and will be delivered to the respective Parties on payment of the Fees due thereon to the Public. Sarah Ward – Janus. Sydney Gazette, 6 May 1837.