Catalogue description Report of John Heath on 1 collective petition (67 magistrates, clergy and gentlemen of...

Report of John Heath on 1 collective petition (67 magistrates, clergy and gentlemen of Sussex) on behalf of Edward Ball, artist, convicted at the Summer Assizes of 1807 held at Lewes [Sussex Assizes], for uttering a forged £5 note to defraud the Bank of England. Richard Reed, keeper of a public house at Eastbourne. Evidences supplied by [Thomas Bliss], Inspector of Banknotes and Garnett Terry, engraver of banknotes. At the trial a point of law arose which was referred for the opinion of the 12 judges and after their deliberation the prisoner was convicted at the 'last' Sussex Assizes held at Horsham, Sussex. Grounds for clemency: 1 of the judges Chambre [Alan Chambre] expressed doubt about evidence on a point of law and so it appeared there was a doubt as to the case. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: no mercy as the prisoner has committed many previous forgeries. Folios 99-102.