QSR1855/1/5/4

Depositions of John Millard, victualler of Luton, Eliza Millard and William Ward, Ebenezer Robinson, tailor of Luton, Ann Wilshere, wife of Thomas Wilshere, George Golds, police constable of Luton, William Farr, victualler of Luton and Edward Godfrey, superintendent of police of Luton. In the case of James Williams of Luton, accused of unlawfully uttering a quantity of false or counterfeit coins.

23 October 1854

From: 1854 To: 1855

Eliza Millard: her husband kept the Black Swan public house in Luton. On 16 October the prisoner came into the bar between 9 and 10pm and asked for half a quarter of gin. She drew him the gin and he laid down a shilling on the counter. It seemed to be a bad one. She went into another room and fetched her husband. When they returned the prisoner had gone and left the gin on the counter. He had not waited for change. She tried the coin in her mouth and a piece of it dropped out. She took the shilling upstairs and put it in her workbox and it remained there until given to PC Golds. The next day she saw the prisoner again in the tap room and told the tap boy to be cautious of the money he received from the prisoner. William Ward: tap boy at Mr Millard’s at the Black Swan. On the 17 October he saw the prisoner in the tap room and his mistress told him to be cautious of the money he received from him. The prisoner asked for a pint of beer and he gave him a shilling for it. The shilling was a good one and he gave him his change. Soon afterward the prisoner called for another pint and gave another shilling. It was a bad one and Ward took it to the bar and gave it to his master. John Millard: On 16 October his wife fetched him from another room and showed him a shilling she had just taken. It was a bad one. He went with her to the bar but the prisoner had gone without his change. On 17 October he saw the prisoner in the tap room and saw his tap boy taken the prisoner a pint of beer. The prisoner chucked down a shilling. Ward picked it up and put it in his mouth. The prisoner asked “what the devil are you after biting that shilling. Do you think it is a bad one?” The boy walked out of the tap room and gave him the shilling at the bar. It was a bad one and he sent for Superintendent Godfrey. He gave Godfrey the shilling and he took the prisoner into custody. He asked the prisoner where he had lodged the night before and he said the Three Swans where Mr Wilshere was the landlord. PC George Golds: he received shillings from Mrs Millard. William Farr: keeper of the Crown & Anchor at Luton. On 16 October the prisoner came into his house about 7 pm and asked for some brandy. The prisoner offered a half sovereign in payment and he saw it was a bad one. He told the prisoner it would not do and told him to take it to the party from whom he had got it. The prisoner went away with it. Ann Wilshire: wife of Thomas Wilshere the keeper of the Three Swans at Luton. On 16 October the prisoner came to the house about 8pm and called for a pint of beer. Her husband drew the beer and the prisoner put his hand in his pocket and said he thought he had sixpence, but then said never mind as he had got more money and gave over a half sovereign. Her husband gave him 8 shillings and she gave him that and 18 pence out of her own pocket and 4 pence in copper, She put the half sovereign in her purse and the purse in her pocket. When she went to bed she put it in a box where there was some silver. There was no other half sovereign in the house. She afterwards gave it to Mr Godfrey and marked it. The prisoner asked if he could have a bed but then went away between 9 and 10pm and did not return. Edward Godfrey: superintendent of police. He took the prisoner into custody on 17 October about 8pm. He told him the charge and asked him where he had been lodging. The prisoner said he had been in Luton 3 days and expected some goods from St Albans. He searched the prisoner and found 11 shillings and 6 pence in good silver and 8 pence in copper. The prisoner said he had no fixed place of residence and had left Folkstone on Sunday. He had heard the prisoner say to Mrs Wilshere that the money he gave her was good. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Williams, James,
Millard, John,
Millard, Eliza,
Ward, William,
Robinson, Ebenezer,
Wilshere, Ann,
Wilshere, Thomas,
Golds, George,
Farr, William,
Godfrey, Edward

LUTON, passing counterfeit coin, victualler, tailor, Luton Black Swan, Dunstable Three Swans, Luton Crown & Anchor