468. (2d. M.) CHARLES LOCKET, otherwise LOCKINGTON, otherwise WILSON proceedingsdefend was indicted for feloniously forging a certain order for the payment of money , as follows, No. 1112 Cornhill, Lond. March 12, 1772.

Mess. Raymond, Williams, Vere, Lowe and Fletcher.

Pay to Mr. Wm. Clark < no role > , or bearer, fifteen pounds fifteen shillings.

Rt. Vennist and Co.

with intention to defraud John Clarke proceedingsvictim against the statute.

The 2nd Count for publishing as true the above order with the like intention.

The 3d Count for uttering and publishing as true the said forged order with intent to defraud the said Charles Raymond proceedingsvictim and Co. March 13th . *

On account of an error in the indictment he was Acquitted.

(2d. M.) He was a second time indicted for forging a certain order for the payment of money , as follows,

Messrs. Neale, James, Fordyce, and Down.

Lond. Feb. 14, 1772,

Pay to Wm. Hopwood < no role > , or bearer, sixteen pounds ten shillings and sixpence.

Rt. Vennist.

16 10 6

with intention to defraud John Scoles proceedingsvictim against the statute.

The 2d. Count, for feloniously uttering and publishing as true the said note, knowing it to be forged with the like intention against the statute.

The 3d. count, for feloniously publishing as true the said note, knowing it to be forged with intention to defraud Henry Neale proceedingsvictim , &c. against the statute. Feb. 14 . *

John Scoles < no role > . The prisoner came to my house, the corner of Holywell-street, and asked for a name I understood of the person in the shop before me; asked me if he was at home; having a paper in his hand I imagined he was a creditor of his; his name was Biggs: he did not ask for that name, but I imagined he meant him. I told him I had taken the shop very lately (I had been in it but a month) I asked him if he was a creditor; he said he was no creditor. He pulled out a paper which he said was a list of some goods he wanted to purchase of this Mr. Biggs, as I understood him; I told him, I could serve him as well as Mr. Biggs could; he then said, he had no objection to deal with me, for he was not engaged to any one; he then gave me an order for sundry goods, to the amount of 10 l. and 6 d. including the package and every thing. He took a little parcel of Persian blue with him, and was to send a cart for the rest; he said, if I would make out a bill and receipt against he came back, he would call and pay me for them; he went away, and came again in the afternoon; he said he was in a hurry, as he must go by the coach, and was afraid it was gone out; he told me his name was William Thompson < no role > , and that he lived near Ware, in Hertfordshire; when he came back he brought this note (producing it) and presented it to me for the goods; I looked at it; I imagined I had seen such a name before, I was not positive; he said he was in a hurry, and would go elsewhere if I scrupled the note; I simply took it and gave him 6 l. 10 s. change in cash; then I told him as it was the first dealing we had together, we would not make a dry bargain, but if he pleased we would go over the way and drink; I went over the way to treat him with sixpenny-worth of punch; he went out in a hurry and left me there; I went immediately to Messrs. Neale and Co. and presented the draft; this gentleman said it was a false one, he knew nothing of the connections of the parties, and that I had been greatly imposed on. He kept it till next morning; (it is read)

Messrs. Neale, James, Fordyce, and Down. London, Feb. 14, 1772.

Pay to Wm. Hopwood < no role > , or bearer, sixteen pounds ten shillings and sixpence.

Rt. Vennist.

16 10 6

He never sent the cart for the goods.

John Gregory < no role > . I am clerk to Messrs. Neale, James, Fordyce, and Down.

Q. Do you remember Mr. Scole's presenting a bill at your house?

Gregory. Yes; this is the draft he presented to me?

Q. Do you know any such man as Robert Vennist < no role > ?

Gregory. No; there is no such man keeps cash at our house; nor no such name, nothing like it.

Q. How came that name to be crossed?

Gregory. I did it to prevent its being negotiated again; I am not certain whether Mr. Fordyce or I cancelled it, it was done at our office.

Q. to the Prosecutor. How long was it before you saw the prisoner after this?

Scoles. I came home, mentioned it to my neighbours; they advised me to keep close; they said, I should catch him in Holliwell Lane. I happened to read in the news paper one day, that Mr. Clark was defrauded in the same manner; I went to his house, and compared the drafts together, and found them nearly the same. I went to Justice Wilmot's and saw the prisoner there; the Justice bound me to prosecute him.

Prisoner's Defence.

I never wrote any of them, nor filled them up, nor did I know them to be bad ones; I took it of a man in trade.

Guilty . Death .