ABSTRACT
A woman was brought before Mr. Chambers by Hall and Goff, charged with forgery, under the following circumstances:—Two women named Bridget Milhoran and Mary Macguire, soldiers’ wives, whose husbands are absent, having accumulated between them sufficient money for that purpose, purchased 40l. stock in the 5 per cents. Having afterwards occasion to go one to Scotland and the other to France, they were at a loss how to deposit their treasure safe during their absence; at length they determined to pack up some clothes in a small box, put their stock receipt, three one pound notes, two guineas, and some silver into it, and pledge it for a trifle with Mr. Barber, a respectable pawnbroker in the Borough, in whose custody it might remain safe till their return. This was accordingly done; Macguire departed for Scotland, taking the duplicate with her, and Milhoran went to France, having in her possession the key of the trunk. Thus things remained for a time, when Mrs. Macguire having occasion for something which the box contained, wrote to Mrs. Milhoran desiring her to send the key of the trunk to their mutual friend Mrs.—in London, to whom at the same time she also wrote, inclosing the duplicate. Mrs.—, on receiving these letters, applied to Mr. Barber, and redeemed the trunk; but proceeding further than her instructions warranted, she minutely examined its contents, and discovering the stock receipt carefully pinned up in the tail of one of the gowns, it immediately occurred to her that she could turn the money it would produce to advantage; she therefore procured another female to go with her to the Bank, where they personated Mesdames Macguire and Milhoran, signed the necessary documents as such, and sold out the stock. On this circumstance being discovered, the present charge of forgery was preferred, and the prisoner was apprehended by Hall; the other woman is not yet in custody. The prisoners was therefore remanded.
