Richard Brabant< no role > , Indicted, for that he, being a Person of wicked Disposition, &c. and unlawfully devising to cheat, &c. James Martin< no role > , of London , Goldsmith , Robert Hurman< no role > , of London , Goldsmith , and Robert Stone< no role > , of London , Goldsmith , of a great Sum of Money, viz. 52 l. 10 s. of good and lawful Money, &c. the said three Gentlemen being concerned in Company, as Bankers, &c. and keeping public Shop, &c. after the 24th of June, 1734 , viz. January 1st, 1740-41 . in the Parish of St. Mary Woolnorth , he the said Brabant, out of his wicked Mind, &c. forged, and caused to be made, &c. a certain Paper-writing, &c. purporting Authority, &c. in the Name of James Tipper< no role > , &c. for the Payment of Money, &c. dated January 1st, 1740-41 , and directed to James Martin< no role > , and Co. &c. to pay to Thomas Noble< no role > , the said Sum of 52 l. 10 s. and place it to the Account of James Tipper< no role > , the Tenor of which false &c Order, is in these English Words, Abbreviations of, &c. Words and Figures following.

Jan. 1, 1740-41 . Pay to Thomas Noble< no role > , the Sum of Fifty-two Pounds, Ten Shillings, and place it to the Acct. of Sic Subscrib. James Tipper< no role > .

52l. 10s.

To Mr. Martin and Comp. thereby meaning, &c. that, &c. Mr. Martin, &c. should pay, &c. Brabant, the Sum of 52 l. 10 s. Whereas, &c. the said Paper, &c. was never subscribed by, &c. James Tipper< no role > , against the Peace, &c. and in Contempt, &c.

It was further presented, that he, &c. Brabant, &c. afterwards, viz. Jan. 1 . secretly, &c. the same did utter, &c. he well knowing it to be false, &c.

He was a 2d Time indicted (as above) for making and causing to be made, a certain false and counterfeit Order for the Payment of 10 l 10 s. to defraud James Martin< no role > , and Comp. of the said Sum, the Tenor of which forged Order, is contain'd in these English Words and Figures following.

Dec. 3, 1740 .

Pay to the Bearer, Thomas Noble< no role > , Ten Pounds, Ten Shillings, and Place it to the Acct. of Sic Subscrib.

James Tipper< no role > .

To Mr. Martin and Comp.

Richard Brabant< no role > was further charched for publishing the said Order, well knowing it to be false, forged and counterfeit.

15. Richard Brabant< no role > , alias Jones< no role > , was 24 Years of Age, born of honest Parents near Bath , who Educated him in Reading, Writing and Accounts, aud instructed him in the Principals of the Christian Religion. The special Business he learned was Book-keeping ; he could also write several Hands very well; while at Home in the Country, he did not any Thing amiss; he came to London , recommended as 'tis said, to Mr. Tipper, a Gentleman of Business , to procure him some Post in one of his Majesty's Ships; but Mr. Tipper understanding him to be dexterous at Book-keeping and Accompts, and wanting such a one at the Time, kept him himself to take Care of his Books and Accompts.

A young Lad who was his Fellow-Servant, gave Evidence against him, that he told him he could counterfeit any Gentleman's Hand, upon which, he having a Bill in his Custody, shewed it to Brabant, who counterfeited the Gentleman's Name who subscribed the Bill so exact, that the Difference could not be discern'd; this Part of the young Man's Evidence he denied, or did not remember it. Mr. Tipper, his Master, went out of Town to Essex , sometime before Christmas, and left the Care of his House and some particular Business to Richard Brabant< no role > , but in his Absence, he went off, and when Mr. Tipper came Home, he was forced to get in at the Window by a Ladder, and open the House.

His Master being in the Country, Brabant went the last Day of the Year to the Shop of Mr. Martin, and Comp. in Lombard Street , and presented a Bill to their chief Clerk, who although acquainted with Mr. Tipper's Hand, paid it as a Draught of Mr. Tipper's, for 52 l. 10 s. Succeeding so well in this first Attempt, next Day, being the first Day of the Year, Brabant sent another counterfeit Draught for Ten Pounds, Ten Shillings, and though the Gentleman made a little Scruple, because it was a Holy-Day, yet he paid the Money; having thus procured a Sum of Money, Mr. Brabant dressed like a Beau, went and made his Addresses so successfully to a young Gentlewoman of a pretty good Fortune, that, as some say, they soon made it up, and were immediately married; this Marriage was not above two