BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Mayo, Ireland Wednesday, March 13, 1850 LIMERICK ASSIZES Interesting Forgery Case John Graham, alias Henry Dickson, was indicted for that he not being an officer of the Bank of Ireland, had in his possession a plate or piece of metal on which were impressed the words, &c. used by the company in their notes. The indictment contained 23 counts and the presentation was conducted by Sergeant O'Brien and Mr. Brereton. The prisoner, a shrewd, intelligent man, well dressed, and of a mild demeanour, evinced a determination to act as his own counsel, having arranged before him in the dock several manuscript documents. The first witness examined was James Keogh.- He deposed that he met the prisoner in this city in the month of November, 1848; never knew him before; Thady Molony was with him when he met Graham in Brunswick-street; he invited them into a public house and asked them to buy a pound note; witness gave him 7s. for it; they drank three dandies of punch each; when parting Graham appointed a place of meeting should they want to buy any more notes; on the morning after witness bought six more from him for 30s.; bought four more in a fortnight after; saw the prisoner printing notes in a house in Augustinian land; saw the plate with him; he rubbed something dry on the plate, and then sprinkled water on the paper which he laid over it, and got the impression; Graham told him he should fly form the town - that the police were after him, and that he would give him (Keogh) the plate which he did. Prisoner - My lord, I request you will order the other witnesses out of court. I am labouring under debility, having been imprisoned for the last 15 months without being brought to trial, and as I have to defend my own case, it would make it the more embarrassing to me were they present, for one would swear to what he heard the other say. The witnesses were ordered out of the court. Prisoner (to Keogh)- Were not many members of your family suspected, or, I shall say, convicted for passing forged notes? Witness - 'Twas a sorry day to me I ever saw you - my uncle was transported for it, and my mother is under sentence of transportation. Prisoner - And to save yourself you have sworn a false information against me - may the blood of Jesus- Sergeant O'Brien - You said, Keogh, that he gave you the plate; what did you do with it? Witness - I was afraid to take it home, and deposited it in a hole in the well at the dock-yard, north strand; it was rolled in paper; I put a stone in the opening to prevent it being seen; I afterwards gave information to Mr. O'Brien, the stipendiary magistrate, of where the plate was. Prisoner - I never saw you until I was arrested. Witness- You are a danger; you said you were in Clonmel gaol for forgery in 1832. Prisoner - I stand here and am prepared to go before the governor in every gaol in Ireland for identification; I dare say the Bank of Ireland will defray the expenses. Witness- You told me you were a deserter. Prisoner - You swore I was a deserter. Witness - Oh, you are too great a grammarian for me (laughter.) Prisoner - You are here on your oath, and must answer me as soon as you would his lordship. Witness- (astonished) faith you have too many crans for me (renewed laughter) I got enough of you. Prisoner - You say I told you I was a deserter. Now if I said I was an Antedeluvian would you swear to it? (laughter) Witness appeared much surprised and looked his lordship sternly in the face, who laughed heartily. Judge- Can you answer him that question? Witness - Why, then, my lord, (immoderate laughter) Judge - Do you know what an Antedeluvian is? Witness - Indeed, faith. I don't; may be he is one, by gor - (renewed laughter) Prisoner then took up the sworn information of the witness, and with a degree of tact that would do credit to a practised lawyer, cross-examined him at length. Thadeus Molony corroborated the testimony of Keogh, and was also cross-examined by the prisoner. John O'Brien, Esq, R.M. proved having found the plate in the wall at the dock-yard; Mr. Williams, Sub-Inspector, was with him; also Molony. Prisoner then told Mr. O'Brien he held him in too high esteem to offer him the slightest offence, and hoped he would excuse him if the questions he was about to put afforded him any annoyance. He then cross-examined Mr. O'Brien as to the construction of the wall, the aperture where the plate was deposited, and the condition of the metal when found. Mr. Michael O'Brien, son to the former witness, deposed that he exhibited the plate at the office of the Bank of Ireland, in Dublin, where it was pronounced a counterfeit. (The plate here produced was remarkably well executed.) Michael Ryan, of Trough, proved that he purchased a piece of copper, similar to the plate, for the prisoner who lodged in his house; saw him pencil the form and figures of a bank note on it; saw an engraving press with him, which was removed without witness's knowledge. The arrest of the prisoner, and particulars connected with the passing of forged notes at fairs and markets were then given in evidence. James Quinn, sworn- I am a turnkey in Ennis gaol; the prisoner was there in '43 while he was in gaol I saw him engraving his name; he was then called Mullins. I often saw his wife come with words to him. Prisoner - How do you know she was my wife? - Did you ever see her in bed with me? (laughter) Witness- This is all I have to say, my lord. Charles Turner, examined - I live about twenty miles from Limerick, in the county Clare; the prisoner lodged at my house one night; he gave me a pound not to change; I went to change it; John Page brought it to the police. His lordship then asked the prisoner if he would address the court or the jury? The Prisoner addressed the Court at some length in a very able and ingenious manner. The Judge then charged the jury, who were about to retire, when The Prisoner said- My lord, I submit there was no evidence to go before the jury that the offense was committed in the city of Limerick. The Jury having retired for a few minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty. His Lordship, in passing sentence on the prisoner, said he had displayed extraordinary natural ability by the ingenious arguments he had used for his defence and able cross-examination of witnesses.- During his experience he had never met so clever a person, and it was to be regretted he had not directed his abilities to better use. The sentence was that he be transported for life. Prisoner - As I am to be transported for life I must say that the jurors who tried me have put themselves on an equilibrium with the presecutors who swore against me. The convict was formerly a householder in Sackville-street, Dublin, and worked in this city as an engraver.-- Limerick Chroncile. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/