Читать книгу The Fatal Cup: Thomas Griffiths Wainewright and the strange deaths of his relations - John Price Williams - Страница 52

than the interest from his grandfather’s will was and whatever pittance he got for his occasional writings and articles in the London Magazine. His last article had appeared in January 1823.

To pay off his debts and to continue funding his extraordinary lifestyle he took the first step in an audacious fraud that was to lead to his banishment to the other end of the world.

On May 12, 1823, he went into the Bank of England with a power of attorney that entitled him to withdraw a lump sum of £2,250 in New 4% annuities from the trust fund left by his grandfather. The annuities had been converted only ten days previously from the original Navy 5% of £5,000 and were now worth £5,250.

But the power of attorney was completely bogus and the signatures of the three trustees - all his relations - were forged by Wainewright, as were the made-up names and signatures of the witnesses to the signing of the power of attorney.

The document2 said that Robert Wainewright of Grays Inn, Edward Smith Foss of Essex Street, Strand and Edward Foss of Russell Square “all in Middlesex, Esquires” had appointed Thomas Griffiths Wainewright of Great Marlborough Street, Artist, as their attorney to sell, assign and transfer all or any part of the £2,250. One of the Bank’s clerks, a Mr Catteron, witnessed the transfer and half of his grandfather’s bequest was handed over.

Wainewright was to argue later, quite speciously, that it was his money after all and he was entitled

2. National Archives. Crim4/64

THE FATAL CUP

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