DETECTIVE'S NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

DETECTIVE'S NOTES.

BY INSPECTOR MEIKLEJOHN.

[Au. Rights Reserved.]

♦FORGERIES ON WEST END BANKERS AND TRADESMEN. •EARLY in the ear 1873 several West End [tradesmen of wealth and high standing in 'their various businesses were being from time to time victimised by a series of frauds and forgeries, effected by means of simulated •pi natures to letters and cheques, showinf that some more than ordinary talent was at work, directing the operations of )tho " literary" or " writing" confraternity of swindlers. It was not, however, until the month of April that this epidemic, so to Speak, of forgery culminated in a case of Vutlicient importance to necessitate any pressing application to the detectives authorities. For many reasons—especially at the commencement of the London season— it is far more politic for a tradesman with an aristocratic connection and clientele, to put up with moderate losses by fraud, forgery, or false pretences — the three F's of educated cr i me than submit to the worry, expense, and loss of time consequent upon a prosecution at the Old Bailey. Besides these considerations, a certain amount of ridicule and obloquy always attaches to the dupe. Most tradesmen of wealth would rather lose money to a moderate amount than recite in the witness-box a carelessness and want of ordinary acumen on their own part. Moreover, the victim of one fraud is very likely to become a " mark" for future dishonest operators, who read the name in the papers, and direct their delicate attentions or those of their " pals" accordingly. Forgery on a bank is a "horse of quite another colour." It is the essence of a banker's business to recognise signatures, and there is a fund to recoup him Ins losses if victimised by mistaking one. On the other hand, the tradesman who cashes a forged cheque has to put up with the loss of his money, as well as the ridicule. In the instance 1 am about to relate the amount realised was by no means trifling, and it was no doubt the magnitude of the fraud and the cool and skilful audacity displayed in its execution that caused the victim to give an intimation to those highest in authority at Scotland Yard that oirprivate and personal, as well as on public grounds, it would be worth their while to use ev.. endeavour to trace the perpetrators ; but of this more hereafter. THE MILITARY TAILOR AND THE GALLANT MAJOR. The forgery itself was on this wise. A certain major in the army, moving in high circles of society, and a member of an aristocratic club, but in a financial point of view somewhat " shaky," had for some time been indebted to a West End military tailor of world-wide reputation to the ext< nt of some £$Q. The linn in question were getting a little nervous about their account, and a missive calling the gallant major's attention to it had only recently been despatched to his club. It may therefore be readily imagined that on a letter bei:r_ handed in by a commissionaire, bearing on the envelope the crest and on the heading the stamp and address of the aforesaid club. and purporting to be writ by the gallant officer in question, nohypercriticism as to the handwriting arose, more especially as a crossed cheque on a first-class city bank, payable to tlu l order of the major, and duly endorsed, for the sum of £-40 odd was enclosed. The letter contained a request that the amount in which he was indebted to the i;rm might be deducted from the cheque, and a receipt and the balance in notes be returned by the bearer. The whole matter appeared so genuine that the receipted bill and money were returned without hesitation and a somewhat dubious account regarded a≤ satisfactorily settled. NO ACCOUNT AT THE BANK. Judge then the dismay with which the principals of the firm, in three days' time, on open'ng a letter from their bankers, found that, the £240 cheque had been returned with the words " no account" written thereon. One of them experienced a rude awakening on seeking an interview with the major, and finding that the endorsement and letter were forged, and had certainly not emanated for him or the club, and that, the payment of his account still was, as it. had been for some time past, out of the question. HOW THE FRAUD WAS ACCOMPLISHED. Of course, the writer of the letter had no cause to complain. Sitting in the coffeeroom of a first-class hotel, he had employed the commissionaire to take the letter to the tailors. The unsuspecting envoy had naturally been followed by an accomplice, whose part it was to watch whether the bearer of the missive was detained and a policeman sent for, or accompanied by anyone on his return. In that event he would tike care to be beforehand in reaching and warning his associate, but as no suspicious symptoms manifested themselves, he had only to walk leisurely back to the hotel and receive his share of £160 worth of crisp bank-notes, and walk away with his companion. A reference to Scotland Yard was now imperative, but the chiefs did not impart full particulars to the subordinate staff. FOKGEKY FOR FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS. Weeks passed, no arrest was made, and no one suspected. On the third week of May I became aware that a forgery of £400 had been effected on a firm of West End bankers, and gave information to that t-ifect at thy office, saying I had strong suspicions that the same parties had committed a forgery on some military tailors. Then the papers were produced, and the lull particulars of the ca.-io imparted to me. Of course I could not say much, but, like the contemplative parrot, I thought a good deal, and the first result of my thinking was to determine in my own mind that in the £400 ease no time should be lost and that the notes, or at any rate part of them, should be recovered. The forgery had only been effected the previous day, and I was satisfied that the perpetrators, one of whom I knew, were still in Lo- 'on, and could hardly have yet disposed of their spoil. ASTONISHMENT OF THE BANK AUTHORITIES. I therefore proceeded in all haste to the bankers, and asked the cashiers if they were aware that a forgery for a large amount had been committed upon them a day or two previously. I was answered in the most rude and abusive manner, and informed that no forgery either for £400 or any other sum ha 1 been committed on their bank, nor was it within the bounds of possibility that any forgery could be committed in that house. I assured them that I was positive my information was correct, and asked them if they would refer to their books, and ascertain if one of their customers' cheques for £400, or thereabout.-;, had been recently cashed. I did not know the name of the gentleman whose cheque had been forged, and thought I might in this way ascertain it, and pay him a visit. It was, however, no use — the cashiers remained obdurate, and refused to give mo ■<n.y information, or search their ledger, or inform their principals, or help in any way. ■They asked by what authority J. came there to pry into their method of doing business. I produced my card and went away in disgust, telling them that they ■would find it out when it was too late, and that 1 was then in a position, if full details "■ the forgery were given me, to recover a great portion of the money. The long and the short of the matter was they would tell me nothing. How THE CAT CAME OUT OF TIIE BAG. Nothing more was heard of it for more than a week, when at length the "cat" emerged from the "bag" in the following fashion :—lt was the Derby day—the 2Sth ° f -May, 1873 (signalised by the victory of jJoncaster, and ever memorable from the act of the winner, as well as that of the Oaks and St. Leger—viz., Marie Stewart— win? both the property of Mr. Merry), Vi-hen a certain dashing cavalry officer, a captain in a crack regiment of Hussars and tile son of a well-known city merchant of immense wealth, called at his bankers to provide himself with the sinews of speculation on the course, in the shape of ready cash. Expressing some astonishment at his Balance being so low, his pass-book, conhis paid cheques, almost invariably »,-.\J he ''roprietors of the New ZEALAND Herald KotL? ul £ has E d th V right t0 publish these «otta in l\orth New Zealand.

drawn on half sheets of notcpaper, was produced, and, from the pocket of tht aforesaid pass-book, a paid cheque for £400, in appearance and handwriting so sirailai to his own that, though he repudiated the authorship the moment lie saw it, the cashiers were for a time incredulous and more inclined to the theory that a practical joko had been played upon them than a iorgery effected on their professedly invulnerable bank. At length the true light dawned upon them. DOWN OX THE CLERKS. Not much could be said or done that day, as it was the Derby, but the following morning I was requested to call at the bank, and on being ushered into the sanctum of the partners, was confronted with the cashiers to whom some nine days previously I had given intimation of the forgery. I was asked by one of the partners if it. was really the case that I had given this information. " .Most decidedry," I replied, and tlie quondam incredulous cashiers were reluctantly compelled to admit that I spoke the truth. " And you two said nothing about it, and took no notice ! Go out of my sight at once !" They vanished in double-quick time, secing that there was evidently no room for expostulation or argument with a justly indignant principal. A fortrery of considerable magnitude had undoubtedly been effected, and ten day's grace allowed to the forgers to get rid of the notes. Races had intervened, where these would pass without suspicion and where tracing would be impossible, and the odds against bringing home the crime to the authors were materially increased. 1, and others, might know who were concerned in the matter, but to produce legal proof sullicient fora jury to convict was quite a different matter. HOW Till- KORHKKY WAS EFFECTED. But first of all a few words as to how the forgery was effected. As in the previous e-isc. a commissionaire presented himself at the bank with a cheque for £400, written on plain paper and enclosed in an open envelope, heaving the name of a club of which the gallant captain was known to bo a member. The cashier demurred to payingit off-hand, and asked the commissionaire to return with the cheque to the ofHcer who sent him, and ask him to write a letter, saving in what notes he would have it. About an hour afterwards a letter purporting to be written by the captain, and also upon club paper, with the cheque enclosed, was sent by another commissionaire to the following effect : —" You are quite right to be careful. Please send me three one hundred pound notes and the remainder in rivers." The writing was so absolutely identical with that of the cheque that no doubts of any kind as to the genuineness of the affair were for one moment; entertained, and the notes were handed to the commissionaire, who returned with them to the hotel where the pseudo-captain was anxiously waiting his arrival. Till: "COt'N'T" AND TUP. " VALET." There wore two principals, and two only, concerned in this affair, and they wen.; identical with the two who perpetrated the forgery on the military tailor. One of them, familiarly known as the " count," and whom 1 s'udl subsequently refer to under that title, was a man in every way calculated to act the character ho assumed, both in personal appearance, manners, and education, being an accomplished French scholar. His confederate, whom I will designate as the '"valet," acted his part to perfection in earrviugout t he instruct ions of his pretended master, and in safeguarding his interests. Quick in his movements and intelligence, he seemed to be capable of being in a dozen places at the same time, and there was no artifice of the detective police with which he was nor thoroughly conversant. SIMILARITY OF HANDWKITINU. The count was, no doubt, a clover penman and imitator of handwriting, but in the case of the forgery on the bankers, the similarity between the writing of the count and the captain was natural more than artificial ; and it was, without doubt, the accidental discovery of this coincidence in their handwriting that caused the count to select the captain as a likely " mark." The discovery arose as follows: The captain had backed a horse with an acquaintance of the count, and had paid with a cheque, which, in due course, was handed to the count in payment of a hct lose to him by his friend. It is very probable that the handwriting of the major who served as the "mark" for the forgery on the mi!iailor became known in a similar manner, or he also was accustomed to back horses, and it i> wonderful how soon the private ari'airs and methods of doing business of gentlemen frequenting the betting ring transpire among the bookmakers. Uu'.V THE CLCU I'APEU AND ENVELOPES WERE OBTAINED. But, ir may be asked, is there not surely n difficulty about obtaining club paper and envelopes, which seem to be absolutely essential for a successful foray in forgeries of this nature? 1 answer decidedly not, provided that the co-operation of a welldressed, and gentlemanly man, such as I have described the count to be, is secured. We will suppose, for instance, that some sporting member of a club, whose credentials, in the shape of the stamped writing paper, are required, is satisfactorily ascertained to be absent, say, cither at races, in the park, or elsewhere. A hansom drives up. Out steps a gentleman dressed in the height of fashion, and inquires of the hall porter if Mr. So-and-so is in the club. The answe" is either "No, -ir, ' or '■ I will send and inquire—what name shall I say' , " Brown, Jones, Robinson, or p.ny name will do, as the caller knows that the page-boy will not find the party inquired for. In the latter case, the visitor is probably asked to step into the waiting-room while " buttons'' goes on his abortive mission, and lie can then help himself from tiie paper and envelope-stand, which is always on the table at the disposal of callers. It makes, however, no difference if the answer is " No, sir," as he then asks, if he can write a note, and a paper tmd envelope case is at once placed at his command, and two or three sheets and envelopes can easily be stowed away. The note, if the visitor has to leave one, generally contains a "'straight tip" for some forthcoming race emanating from an emissary of a bookmaker anxious to secure clients, or some scrap of, no doubt, equally trustworthy and important racing intelligence from a well-wisher, who for the moment desiring to remain " incoy.," simply signs his initials. Of course there arc more way.- , of " killing a dog than by hanging him," but, in the forgeries I urn relating, the necessary working materials were, I believe, obtained by the count through the ruse such as that I have described. DISAPPEARANCE OK THE VALET. The whole and sole conduct of the case. was now entrusted to me, but the time that had elapsed rendered it extremely difficult for me to trace the notes in the mo.sk sure way. The count was well known to me, and remained on the spot, frequenting his old haunts and mixing in the society of his friends and intimates, with the greatest nonchalance and sang froid. I took care to meet him pretty constantly, and on several occasions had a friendly conversation and "a glass" with him, but nothing could I glean which tended to throw any light on the whereabouts of the valet, who personally was unknown to me, and who had disappeared from the scene. Without him the case would necessarily be incomplete against the count, as all hopes of tracing any of the notes to the possession of either of them had now to be abandoned. To make confusion worse confounded, I believe that the count and the valet changed places when the letter was handed to the second commissionaire, the valet, for once, acting as " boss," and the count as spy. In fact, the affair was a good deal " mixed." Day after day, and night after night, I pursued my inquiries and obtained evidence of the most, conclusive character to convict them both, provided they were both in custody, but there were weak links in the chain as against the count apart from his accomplice, and, as I have said, the valet could nowhere be found. I believe on several occasions I was close to him, and may even have passed him. Still it is unlikely he would approach me, for ho knew me by sight, though I did not know him, and was well aware that I was. only too anxious to make his personal acquaintance. I had, of course, been furnished with a very accurate description of his personal appearance, style, and features, but, especially in the absence of a photograph, such descriptions form bub a sorry guide to tho incarnate reality. A SCENT AT LAST. At length, on the 15th of July, fortune smiled ujTon me, and, by the merest chance, j

[ I obtained a clue which directed my enerJ gies, in the right direction. I was sitting J in the tap-room of a public-house in an out j of-lhe way quarter, where I was unknowr to the majority of the customers, when ] heard a whispering and somewhat anxious conversation between two men, and, ir the course of thoir remarks, the valef was referred to by his sobriquet or nick name. I heard it observed that he must be a daring fellow, for he was constantly in a public • house at Graves end, situated exactly opposite tho police station, and constantly used by the " super' of police, who was a groat friend of the land lord's. The response was " the nearer the church the further from God—good luck tc him. ,; IN A niiAVESEND TAVERX. The following morning, the Kith of July. I made arrangements, and started for tin quiet and salubrious little seaport, and had little difficulty, after a quiet survey of the main street and the police station, in elecid ing that the. Royal Yacht Tavern, which some years previously I had known as tht Black Horse, was the hostelry indicated. " Mine host" was now a theatrical manager, who was eventually ruined by becoming bail for and standing friend to the once notorious Maelamc Rachel. Being a stranger to the police, I availed myself of the services of the superintendent —an officer noted through I he whole borough for his shrewdness and discretion. I detailed to him the object of my mission and the astuteness and tact necessary to be exercised in effecting the desired capture. I'AYINO ADDKESSK3 TO TIIV: BAKMAID. He accordingly proceeded to the house alone, and, not knowing the valet, and perfectly ignorant of the fact that he was paving his addresses to tho barmaid, asked her, before speaking to the landlord, whether she knew such a person. At this moment, the landlord came into the bar, and the oflicer, without awaiting nny reply from the barmaid, called him aside to interrogate him on the subject. Before their conversation was concluded—in fact, almost before it was commenced—the barmaid had given the " time of day" to her sweetheart, who, with a friend, was then in the private bar. I must here mention that the premises referred to are of a somewhat extensive and unusual character for an ordinary public-house, the front bar in the main street being connected with tho yard and kitchen at the back of the house by a passage which terminates in a dancing and concert-room, to which another bar, or tap, is attached, and which is entered from a back street. It may readily bo supposed that the warning voice of his lady-love was not lost upon the valet. Down the passage, and out at the tap entrance, he and his friend went in the twinkling of an eye, and gained the railway station in time to ditch a train just starting for London, almost before the landlord had informed the officer of the fact of the party wanted being then in the house. Of course, when apprised of his sudden departure, the hitter hurried out to find me, and we rushed post haste to the railway station, just in time to see the London train vanishing in tho distance ! There was I left upon the platform to deplore ray ill-luck, and with sensations, I should imagine, much akin to to those of the greyhound which, after mouthing the hare, has been unable to prevent, her escape to the covert. Still, in spite of my misfortune, my appetite and determination had been considerably whetted by tho Gravesend adventure, and I returned to London to renew my search, feeling certain that, if I had done nothing else, I had succeeded in ousting the valet from his seaside concealment; that his lady-love would have to seek him, and that a watch on her movements might, very probably place me on the right scent again. The superintendent, nettled at his bungling, agreed to keep his eye upon her, anel to keep me " posted" as to her movements. AT CANNON-STREET STATION". Accordingly, on the *23itl of July, a whisper reached my ear that the lady would in all probability be at Cannon Station that evening, presumably to meet her lover. I of course repaired thither and carefully noted the arrival of all trains from Gravesond ; but I was again doomed to disappointment, as I suppose a whisper had also readied the barmaid, and she never put in an appearance. 1 afterwards ascertained that the valet had been at the station upwards of an hour, to wait her arrival, but in this instance, luckily for himself, had waited in vain, for the recognition of the lovers would undoubtedly have been the prelude to a forcible and rude separation. IN CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNT. My great fear now was, as things were growing so warm, that the count would lake alarm and join his companion in flight across the silver streak, and on the Continent seek fields and pastures new for the exercise of his unique and extraordinary talents. The London season was practically at an end, but I was buoyed up by the conviction that he would risk a great deal to be able to remain in England over Goodwood. I kept him well in view, and elicited from him in the course of a friendly chat that it was his intent ion to stay at Brighton, and go over from there each day to the races ; and he strongly pressed me to come down to the Queen of Watering-places and join him. Of course I replied that I woulel use every endeavour to do so if I could get away from the office. In my own mind I could not help being amused at the humour of his proposal thus to "nurse" me, as it, were, and keep me out of mischief, and from prosecuting my search for his copartner. ANOTHER TRACE OF THE HAKE. Chance now again favoured me in obtaining a clue to the whereabouts of the valet, and in a very similar fashion to the manner in which the Gravesond haunt had been revealed to me: for when otherwise disengaged I continued to seek rest and refrcshment in tho tap-rooms of publichouses which were used by his friends and companions. I was on this occasion comfortably smoking my pipe, when a conversation sprang up between some who evidently were ins friends and acquainted with his movements. With an air of innocence I took my pipe from my mouth, placed my head on the table, and pretended to take " forty winks." After a time I heard enough to enable mo to form a very shrewd suspicion that another small .seaside resort on the Thames was being patronised by tho party I was so anxious to interview. I then got up and stretched myself, as if I had in reality enjoyed a comfortable nap, anel left the establishment about midnight. TRACKING HIM TO SODTHEND. The following morning, after attending to other matters, and ascertaining where the count could be found in the event of the capture of his valet, J proceeded with a companion to Southend, a small wateringplace, remarkable for its lengthy pier, nearly opposite Shccrnoss. After making some inquiries at tho police station, I was more than ever convinced that it was in reality tho valet who had recently taken a lodging in the principal street. There were then only three thoroughfares ofanyuccount in the village. We were just in time to secure a bedroom in the hotel at a corner commanding a distinct view of the main street, and retired to bed not so much with the view of courting sleep as of instituting observations from an early hour in the morning, which we did, in turn, till about ten o'clock. Wo had seen nothing hitherto, and were on the point of abandoning all hope anrl returning to town, when a man passed under the hotel window, whom I at once recognised as the long-sought valet. He crossed the road and entered a baker's shop, from which he shortly emerged with something in a paper, anel walked up the street. It might hero be said, " Why did you not arrest him at once?" that would never do ; our object was to watcli him, and ascertain for certain where he was lodging, so that possibly some of the notes might be recovered, or compromising letters and documents found. After walking up the street, a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile from the hotel where we were keeping watch, he entered a house. FLIGHT OF THE VALET. It did not take us long to come downstairs anel follow him ; but wo had hardly got a dozen yards when he came out of the house again and commenced running, turning down a road leading towards some country fields. I naturally concluded that something he had heard in his lodgings had aroused his suspicions, and that ho was meditating a flight, and I at once gave chase. On reaching the top of the T spied our bird, no longer in flight, but sauntering leisurely across some fields to wards the sea. To escape observation, anel to cut off a corner, I elirected my course through a brickfic.d, where some founda-

tions had been dug out for houses in course of erection. In crossing one of these pits on a plank, the timber gave way, and I was precipitated to the bottom—a depth of some eight or nine feet, and lost several minutes in clambering out again. A STRUGGLE AND A CAPTURE. On recovering from this untoward downfall, I soon got in view again. A strong wind was blowing from the sea directly in our faces, and the noise, coupled with the dashing of the waves, was so great as completely to drown the sound of my footsteps as I approached him stealthily from behind. He was walking along with his knife in his hand, whittling a stick to a point, apparently lost in a reverie, or musing on the charms of his barmaid, from whom, I presume, he had that morning parted, when I pounced upon him, and with one hand struck him a smart blow on the elbow, which sent his knife spinning in the air, and with the other seized him by the collar. For a moment ho seemed dazed and thunderstruck, but, quickly recovering himself, showed fight. I threw him down but on Ins promise to surrender if I would treat him like a gentleman, I released my hold and let him got up. I had no sooner done so than he said, " By you shall nob take me," and showed fight again. Though not a very powerful man, he was as active as a cat, and in the scrimmage that ensued we both rolled over, for the ground was broken and uneven. 1 managed, however to secure the " upper berth," and was, from that vantage ground, proceeding to reason with him, when my comrade, and the chief of the police of the town put in an appearance. He now became as quiet as a child, and after searching his lodgings, without, however, finding anything bearing on tho case, we took him to London, but arrived thero too late to charge him before the magistrate that day. Ho was detained at the station until the following morning, charged, and remanded for a week. OFF TO GOODWOOD Having thus secured the valet, we were at liberty to concentrate our delicate attentions'on the count alone. I had made all necessary arrangements some days previously for tracking his movements and ascertaining whore lie was to bo found at any moment, and the "tip" for that morning, the 29th July, was Goodwood Race course. For the racecourse, therefore, we at once started, leaving Victoria Station by the I p.m. train. On arrival at Chichestcr Station, about four miles from the course, a conveyance was at once secured, and off we drove through the magnificent scenery for our destination. But " there is many a slip" &c., as the proverb has it, and. already late, we were doomed to a further delay, for we had hardly driven a mile when the axle-tree of the carriage broke. There was no help for it, and we had to set oil' and cover the distance on foot, by running or walking, as best we could. ARKKST OF THE COUNT. I was much afraid we should bo too late. The races were ever when we arrived, and the company had commenced to leave. Fortunately, we were just in time to see the illustrious count leaving by the main entrance, and of course he was then and there detained. He said, "I heard you wore on your way down, and if I had had t.ie money I should have been across the water but, as it is, it is all over, and I must stand to it." He was then conveyed to London, charged the following morning, and remanded, to come up with the valet on his next appearance. SEARCHING HIS LODGINGS. The next step to be taken was the searching of his lodgings. This was done, and numerous letters and written documents were found which, when compared with those of the officer whose cheque had been forged, displayed the most striking similarity in the handwriting ; in fact, experts found a difficulty in giving any positive decision as to which documents were written by the count and which by the captain. Naturally none of the notes were recovered, nor were any articles or evidence of importance brought to light, without we make an exception of fifteen full suits ot clothes—most of them nearly new—some never yet worn at all. This ample wardrobe seems to have had its origin in the idea of the owner that he could confuse the minds of the commissionaires lie from time to time employed, by never letting them see him dressed twice alike. On several occasions letters were sent to his friends and familiars, who were instructed to take particular note of the bearers, so as if necessary to be able to identify them as the same men who had been employed in carrying out the forgeries. TRYING TO IMTALK THE COMMISSIONAIRES. I had been duly warned, at an early stage of my investigations, that he would, in cross-examination, at his trial, if arrested, try to impale the unsuspecting commissionaires on the horns of a dilemma in tho following mariner : Should tho witness say that he had not seen tho count since the day of the forgery, his friends would be called to prove they had received letters from him since that date of which the witness was the bearer, and so discredit his evidence. On tho other hand, should he say that he had seen him, the question would naturally follow, " Why then, know- i ing him to have been concerned in the for- ! gery, did you not give him into custody?" I was, early in my investigations, apprised of this probable lino of defence, and duly sought out and informed the commissionaires of the attempt that would be made to confuse and entrap them. I directed them carefully to note the names and the recipients and dates of any letters with which the count, or anyone in anyway resembling him, entrusted them. This the commissionaires did, and I was thus enabled to bring out, as evidence in chief, what the accused had relied upon as evidence for himself in cross-examination, and iii this manner cut the ground effectually from under his feet. THE LAST PLANK GONE. After two remands, they were committed by the magistrate to take their trial at the Old Bailey. At their trial, when one of the commissionaires had given details of the various letters with which the count had entrusted him, and their destination, tho prisoner's counsel, in cross-examina-tion, asked why, recognising him as one of the men concerned in the forgeries (for they were indicted ou both charges, viz., that on the bank and that on the military tailor), he had not, there and then, given him into custody. The ready answer, " Because Meiklejohn told me not to do so," was a poser, and the climax of any attempt at a successful defence. So carefully had the count laid his plans, and so scrupulously had hi* valet attended to his injunctions, that I fully believe, until this answer was placed on the record, they were both confident of an acquittal ; but the laughter in court (of course quickly suppressed) and the evident discomfiture of the eminent, counsel who was defending them, showed that the main fort had been carried, and that their ingenious scheming had been anticipated and met. In every way the evidence against them was conclusive. After a trial lasting tho whole day. September 2(i, 187.">, they were found guilty on both charges, and sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. Society and trade were thus freed from the machinations of as dangerous and clever a forger, in the person of the pseudo-count, as ever put pen to paper. PRESENT WHEREABOUTS. He is now at liberty, but England no longer knows him. He is, I understand, upon the Continent, and in aflluent circumstances ; perhaps not a hundred miles from Monte Carlo. Wherever he may be, I feel convinced that his cool audacity and j transcendent talents, roinvigoratcd by the associations and retirement of a somewhat lengthy sojourn in convict prisons, ! will continue to bear him along in the firs f j rank of fashionable swindlers, and enable j him to hold his own, even when confronted by the highly-vaunted skill of the Continental detective.