QSR1858/4/5/4c,5c

Depositions of Elizabeth Cooper, spinster, John Cooper, beershop keeper and Sarah, his wife. James Angel, parish constable and Reuben Pepper, police constable. In the case of William Johnson & Amos Rawlins accused of uttering a counterfeit half crown.

9 October 1858

From: 1858 To: 1858

Elizabeth Cooper: she lived with her father John Cooper, keeper of a beer shop in Lower Stondon. On 6 October the 2 prisoners came in together and called for a quart of beer. They gave her six pence and she gave them the change. When they drank the first quart they called for another and then Rawlins gave her half a crown. She gave him the change and put the half crown in the cupboard and told her mother it was there. There was no other half crown in the cupboard. Sarah Cooper: she saw the prisoners served with the 2 quarts of beer and when they had drunk one Rawlins went out of the house and William Johnson called for beer and tobacco. She served him with it and he gave her half a crown. She gave him the change and he left the house. She was doubtful of the half crown and as soon as Johnson had gone, she showed it to her husband. Her husband said it was a bad one. She fetched the other from the cupboard and gave him both. John Cooper: on 6 October he saw the prisoner in his house. As soon as he had gone his wife showed him 2 half crowns and he saw they were bad ones. He immediately went out of the beer shop and found Johnson. He accused him and Johnson said he had not had one. He told Johnson he should not go until he had his money and Johnson gave him 2 shillings and 3 pence and returned the tobacco. He sent for the constable and gave the prisoner into custody. He gave the half crowns to the policeman. James Angel: a parish constable. William Johnson was given into his custody. He searched him and found no money of any kind on him. He took Johnson to Shefford and handed him to the police. As he was taking Johnson to Shefford he said he thought the landlord was a harsh man, for he had given him the 2 shillings and 3 pence back, and he thought he ought to have been satisfied. PC Reuben Pepper: on 6 October the prisoner Johnson was delivered into his custody by the Shillington constable. In the course of the evening he went to John Cooper and was given the 2 half crowns. Statement of the accused: William Johnson – he thought it was good money. Amos Rawlins – he brought it out of London with him and did not know it was bad.

item

Johnson, William,
Rawlins, Amos,
Cooper, Elizabeth,
Cooper, John,
Cooper, Sarah,
Angel, James,
Pepper, Reuben

Shitlington, passing counterfeit coin, Lower Stondon, beer shop keeper