LEE, Charles (Grimwade p.388)

[buckler]

31 May 1786- The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t17860531-84

CHARLES LEE was indicted for that he, on the 1st day of January last,
in the parish of St. George the Martyr, being a working goldsmith, did
falsely, fraudulently, and feloniously remove from four knee-buckles to
four other knee-buckles, certain stamps, marks, and impressions, to wit,
the King's Head and the Lion Rampant, with intent to defraud the King,
against the statute.

FENWICK RUSHFORTH sworn.
I am deputy warden of the assay office -
Mr. Rushforth. These four buckles I produce, had the hall stamps; they are
not put on at the hall in the shape they are; they have the marks of the
Goldsmith's Company upon them, but not the stamps, as put on at the hall;
the two marks on the shoe-buckle; are close together, when we strike them,
one on one side, and one on the other; it has been done so for six or
eight months; with respect to the knee-buckles, they are put close
together; these shoe-buckles appear to me to be marked as knee-buckles;
the stamps are both on the same side, and the marks are bottom upwards; I
really do think that these buckles were not marked at the assay-office;
these buckles are silver.
Court. Before these last eight months, were the marks on shoe-buckles in a
different form? - When the duty first took place, we marked them pretty
near together.
Then, for ought you know, these might be marked then? - I do not apprehend
they could; if they had been marked in a finished state, there would have
been a sink round the stamp.
Mr. Silvester. One is the King's mark, the other is the assay mark? - Yes.
It is a lion passant? - Yes.
Mr. Garrow. Then, I submit there is an end to the indictment, for it
describes it to be a lion rampant.
Court. You must acquit the prisoner.

Verdict: Not Guilty: fault in the indictment,

Mr Garrow - as seen on TV - getting an acquittal on a technicality.