A phrase we frequently come across is ‘uttering’.
Many were found guilty of uttering a forged note or even a coin. Forgery per se is not a crime. The crime is uttering, i.e. using as genuine a fabricated writing falsely intended to pass as genuine the writing of another person.
The newspapers are littered with crimes of this nature (see right). Here in 1849 for example “Two men, who gave their names of Andrew Stevenson and John Morgan, were charged with uttering a piece of coin purporting to be a shilling, and having at the same time a similar piece in their possession. Mr. Alexander Anderson, of The White Hart, Hartlebury, preferred the charge. The prisoners were remanded to give an opportunity of communicating with the officers of The Mint”.
Meanwhile in 1800 The Sussex Advertiser reported “A remarkable occurrence happened on Friday night last, at Chelmsford, towards the close of the Essex assizes: John Taylor had been arraigned and tried on the charge of uttering a forged note, in the name of Bartholomew Browne, for 820 pounds and 10 shillings with the intent to defraud the Bank of Crickett and company at Colchester, of which the jury found him guilty; but just as Baron Hotham was about to put on his black cap, and to pass sentence of death on the prisoner, one of the barristers, not retained on the trial, happening to turn over the forged note, store it signed Bartw. Browne; and throwing his I immediately on the indictment, perceived is written therein Bartholomew Browne. He immediately pointed out the circumstance to Mr. Garrow, counsel for the prisoner, who rose up, and stated the variance as fatal in the indictment; in which the judge concurred, and directed the jury to reconsider their verdict, and acquitted the prisoner; which they did, and was instantly discharged from the bail-dock accordingly”.
Which goes to prove how many errors might have occurred in court that cost the lives of a great deal innocent men and women. Uttering a note was indeed an extremely serious offence that could cost a life and in many circumstances if not death then transportation.
John Taylor was lucky and escaped legitimately by the skin of his teeth.
Ian Waugh
Old British News
