[forgery]

R. v. Thompson

Court of Criminal Jurisdiction

Dore J.A.., 28 June 1800

Source: Court of Criminal Jurisdiction Minutes of Proceedings, 1798 - 1800, State Records N.S.W, X905 – 475

            [475] Vide Indictment

No. 3

            Thomas Thompson for Forgery arraigned on the Indictment to which he Pleaded Not Guilty.

            Thomas Prentice Corporal in the New South Wales Corps being Sworn Deposeth that on Saturday Evening last Thomas Jones a Private in the said Corps tendered him a certain note for nine shillings and nine pence payable to Mary Watts or Bearer and purporting to be the note of John Palmer, that the witness required the said Jones to indorse his name thereon who did so and the witness received the said note and gave said Jones a valuable Consideration for it. Saith that said note had been previously Indorsed with the name of Thomas Thompson.

            That on the Evening of Monday last about dusk this witness received from the Prisoner Thomas Thompson a note purporting to be the note of John Palmer for Eight Shillings dated 24th June 1800 for which said note the witness also gave a valuable consideration.

            That both said notes have been declared forged and being produced to the witness he declares them and each of them to be the same notes he received as aforesaid.

            Thomas Jones being sworn Deposeth that as note now produced to him for nine shillings and nine pence and described in the Indictment is the same note he received from one Mary Lyons to get a Bottle of Rum with which note he paid away to Corporal Prentice.

            Mary Lyons being sworn Deposeth that she negotiated a Bill of Nine Shillings and nine pence to the last witness and that she received the said cat bill from the Prisoner Thomas Thompson.

            John Palmer Sergeant in the New South Wales Corps being sworn Deposes that the above Bills are false and forged, and no part of them the hand writing of this witness.

            Hence closed the Evidence for the Prosecution.

            The Prisoner being called on for his defence had nothing to offer.

            The Court having cleared to deliberate and being re-opened Find the Prisoner Thomas Thompson

            Guilty and do so suffer Death and Sentence was pronounced accordingly.