The
Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser for Saturday 27 October 1827 (quoting from ''Aris's Birmingham Gazette'') reported: FORGERY OF PROVINCIAL NOTES- On Saturday afternoon, the constables of Birmingham, accompanied by Mr Redfern, prison-keeper, proceeded to the house of an engraver named Joseph Lycett, in Bath Row, who was suspected of being implicated in the several forgeries of local bank notes which have lately appeared in that neighbourhood. After making some inquiry, the officer went upstairs, accompanied by Lycett, who, no doubt alarmed at the consequences likely to result, attempted self-destruction by cutting his throat on the stairs, and rushing into the chamber endeavoured to throw himself on the bed. He wounded himself severely near the jugular vein, and bled profusely. In the room was found a portable copper-plate press, with rolls, &c complete, a newly-engraved 1l plate of the Stourbridge and Bromsgrove Bank, with a facsimile of the signature, entry, number and date. He was immediately conveyed to Hospital, and there is every expectation that he will recover from the effects of the wound. His daughter, who was found with him in the house, is in custody, and the press, &c have been removed to the prison-
Aris’s Birmingham Gazette.”
The Globe (quoting from the
Hereford Journal) reported on 22 February 1828: “Joseph Lycett, who was apprehended in October is charged with having in his possession the plates from which forged one-pound notes of several country banks were struck off, died on Saturday at the General Hospital in Birmingham. It will be recollected that while the officers were searching his house, he took the opportunity of attempting self-destruction by cutting his throat; he was immediately removed to the Hospital, and placed under surgical care, and it was for some time considered that he would recover. The wound, subsequently, however, assumed an unfavourable appearance, he became gradually worse, and died on the day above-mentioned. He was a man of extraordinary ingenuity, and had his talent been better directed, he would have formed a valuable member of society. A coroner’s inquest was held before J.H. Wharnley, Esq, at the Warwick Arms, Snowhill, on Monday last, where after a long investigation, a verdict of “died a natural death” was returned. –
Hereford Journal. As above, Lycett died in Birmingham Hospital on 9 February 1828 and was buried in St Mary's Churchyard, Birmingham. A pencilled note in a copy of his
Views in the
State Library of New South Wales, states that, when he was living near Bath, he was again arrested for forgery of some notes on the
Stourbridge Bank. On being arrested he cut his throat, and when recovering in hospital he tore open the wound and killed himself. However, this is not confirmed. ==See also==