The trial of arthur wallace, assistant deputy post-master of carlow, for stealing notes out of the post bag, and for forgery..
Dublin.
Published by John Rea, 1800.
First edition.
8vo.
48pp. Disbound. Inked ownership inscription to head of title. Bookseller's ticket of Wildy & Sons Ltd. of London to foot of title. Light scattered staining and spotting throughout.
The sole edition of a witness account of the scandalous trial of Assistant Deputy Post-Master and apothecary Arthur Wallace, of Carlow, Ireland, indicted under the charges that 'on the 1st March, in the 40th year of the King, at Carlow, he feloniously did secrete and embezzle a packet directed to Henry Loftus Tottenham at Ross, which packet was sent by the post'.
Despite the severity of the charges, Wallace received countless recorded testimonies of good character, being described by his own prosecution as 'a man of honour and integrity'. As such, convicting Wallace of defrauding the mail required definitive evidence, which was collected with the assistance of one Mr. De Joncourt, described as a man 'of considerable sagacity’ and a ‘gentleman of considerable trust in the Department of the General Post Office'. In an almost-cartoonish fashion, Joncourt's interrogation of the 'honest, sober, and industrious' Wallace revealed a great deal of repossessed banknotes in 'an inside concealed pocket', which were promptly identified as those missing from Tottenham's package. Wallace was accused of subsequently forging numerous counterfeit bills to replace those stolen, and circulating them across the county; he was sentenced to death, with execution ordered for the 16th of August, 1800.
£ 250.00
Antiquates Ref: 35203
Despite the severity of the charges, Wallace received countless recorded testimonies of good character, being described by his own prosecution as 'a man of honour and integrity'. As such, convicting Wallace of defrauding the mail required definitive evidence, which was collected with the assistance of one Mr. De Joncourt, described as a man 'of considerable sagacity’ and a ‘gentleman of considerable trust in the Department of the General Post Office'. In an almost-cartoonish fashion, Joncourt's interrogation of the 'honest, sober, and industrious' Wallace revealed a great deal of repossessed banknotes in 'an inside concealed pocket', which were promptly identified as those missing from Tottenham's package. Wallace was accused of subsequently forging numerous counterfeit bills to replace those stolen, and circulating them across the county; he was sentenced to death, with execution ordered for the 16th of August, 1800.
