QSR1881/4/5/2a

Depositions of George Temple of 63 Guildford Street, Luton, Sarah Temple, of the Plume of Feathers public house, John Stanton, police constable of Luton and Matthew Judge, silversmith of Manchester Street. In the case of Thomas Johnson accused of uttering counterfeit coin.

10 August 1881

From: 1881 To: 1881

Sarah Temple: the wife of Solomon Temple of the Plume of Feathers public house in Luton. On 27 July about 5pm, she had been in the bar when the prisoner Thomas Johnson came in. He called for a lemon, and she said she did not have any so served hi with ale. He threw 2 half crowns on the counter and then took one up saying he thought it had been a 2 pence. She took the others and have him 2shillings and 4 pence in change. She did not put it in the till. She thought it was rather white and when she drew her hand across it, it made black marks. She took it to her son and showed it to Mr Freeman who bent it. The man had left when he had got his change. George Temple: son of Sarah Temple. On 27 July he had been in the Plume and Feathers and he recalled the prisoner coming in and asking for lemonade, but hen said he’d have ale. The prisoner threw 2 half crowns on the counter and then took one up saying he thought it had been a 2 pence. Sarah Temple, laid the half crown on the counter over the till and he examined the coin. After the prisoner had gone she also showed it to Mr Freeman, who bent the coin. George Temple went in search of the prisoner and then went for the Constable. [cross examination] he had compared the half crown with one in his pocket. His half crown had been an old one and he said the other looked good and new. He gave the coin back to his mother and never put the coin in his pocket. John Stanton: a police constable of Luton. He was handed the coin by Temple and he marked it there and then. He took the coin to Mr Judge the silversmith and then went after the prisoner. He found the prisoner at the Cross Keys. Mrs Temple and her son identified the man. He was charged and when searched, coins were found. These coins were taken to Mr Judge. He found one other bad crown amongst them. [cross examination] the prisoner said he had come from Bedford and had changed a sovereign on coming into the town. He said he had changed it at the first public house on the right hand side of New Bedford Road. He then changed it to another place. Stanton went o these places and was told they had not changed a sovereign. Matthew Judge: a silversmith of 18 Manchester Road, Luton. On 27 July he was brought a coin by PC Stanton and found it to be spurious metal. He later received other coins and there was a counterfeit half crown amongst them. Statement of the accused: he had changed the sovereign, he believed at Mr Swain’s. The money had had, he had received in changing the sovereign, all but a 2 shilling piece.

item

Johnson, Thomas,
Temple, George,
Temple, Sarah,
Stanton, John,
Judge, Matthew

LUTON, Luton Manchester Street, Luton Guildford Street, Luton Cross Keys, silversmiths, passing counterfeit coin, Luton Plume of Feathers