Forgery Act 1861

As to forging Deeds, Wills, Bills of Exchange, &c.:—

20 Forging Deeds, Bonds, &c.

Whosoever, with Intent to defraud, shall forge or alter, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, knowing the same to be forged or altered, any Deed, or any Bond or Writing Obligatory, or any Assignment at Law or in Equity of any such Bond or Writing Obligatory, or shall forge any Name, Handwriting, or Signature purporting to be the Name, Handwriting, or Signature of a Witness attesting the Execution of any Deed, Bond, or Writing Obligatory, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off any Deed, Bond, or Writing obligatory having thereon any such forged Name, Handwriting, or Signature, knowing the same to be forged, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

21 Forging Wills.

Whosoever, with Intent to defraud, shall forge or alter, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, knowing the same to be forged or altered, any Will, Testament, Codicil, or Testamentary Instrument, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

22 Forging Bills of Exchange or Promissory Notes.

Whosoever shall forge or alter, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, knowing the same to be forged or altered, any Bill of Exchange, or any Acceptance, Indorsement, or Assignment of any Bill of Exchange, or any Promissory Note for the Payment of Money, or any Indorsement or Assignment of any such Promissory Note, with Intent to defraud, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

23 Forging Orders, Receipts, &c. for Money, Goods, &c.

Whosoever shall forge or alter, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, knowing the same to be forged or altered, any Undertaking, Warrant, Order, Authority, or Request for the Payment of Money, or for the Delivery or Transfer of any Goods or Chattels, or of any Note, Bill, or other Security for the Payment of Money, or for procuring or giving Credit, or any Indorsement on or Assignment of any such Undertaking, Warrant, Order, Authority, or Request, or any accountable Receipt, Acquittance, or Receipt for Money or for Goods, or for any Note, Bill, or other Security for the Payment of Money, or any Indorsement on or Assignment of any such accountable Receipt, with Intent, in any of the Cases aforesaid, to defraud, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

24 Any Person making or accepting any Bill, Note, &c. by Procuration, without lawful Authority, or uttering any such Bill, Note, &c. so made or accepted, with Intent to defraud, to be guilty of Felony.

Whosoever, with Intent to defraud, shall draw, make, sign, accept, or indorse any Bill of Exchange or Promissory Note, or any Undertaking, Warrant, Order, Authority, or Request, for the Payment of Money, or for the Delivery or Transfer of Goods or Chattels, or of any Bill, Note, or other Security for Money, by Procuration or otherwise, for, in the Name, or on the Account of any other Person, without lawful Authority or Excuse, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off any such Bill, Note, Undertaking, Warrant, Order, Authority, or Request so drawn, made, signed, accepted, or indorsed by Procuration or otherwise, without lawful Authority or Excuse, as aforesaid, knowing the same to have been so drawn, made, signed, accepted, or indorsed as aforesaid, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for any Term not exceeding Fourteen Years and not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

25 Obliterating Crossings on Cheques.

Whenever any Cheque or Draft on any Banker shall be crossed with the Name of a Banker, or with Two transverse Lines with the Words " and Company," or any Abbreviation thereof, whosoever shall obliterate, add to, or alter any such Crossing, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off any Cheque or Draft whereon any such Obliteration, Addition, or Alteration has been made, knowing the same to have been made, with Intent, in any of the Cases aforesaid, to defraud, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

26 Forging Debentures.

Whosoever shall fraudulently forge or alter, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, knowing the same to be forged or fraudulently altered, any Debenture issued under any lawful Authority whatsoever, either within Her Majesty's Dominions or elsewhere, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for any Term not exceeding Fourteen Years and not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.