Forgery of a Boy: At Devonport, on Saturday last, Wm. Lucas, an errand lad in the employ of an upholsterer in that town, was committed for trial for having forged the name of “John Elliott,” grocer, to a bill for £40 drawn in favour of Daniel W. Stephens, Esq., surgeon of H.M.S. Basilisk, one of the Baltic Fleet. The bill was cashed at the shop of Messrs. Pinsent, and upon receiving the amount the prisoner treated some youthful companions to a ride to Plymouth fair, paid for their admission to places of amusement, etc. A day or two afterwards he purchased a gun and was out shooting with a companion when he was apprehended. The prisoner, at the time of being taken into custody, passed a bag containing £33 over to his companion, which was subsequently restored to Messrs. Pensent. It is not known how the boy obtained possession of the bill, though he himself says that he picked it up in the street.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO1047 Hennock: Mary Ann Elizabeth Pinsent: 1833 – 1868