QSR1859/2/5/2-3

Depositions of Susannah Tearle, single woman of Dunstable. Ann Allen, wife of Edward a victualler of Dunstable. Elizabeth Adams, single woman of Dunstable. James Bowden, bricklayer of Dunstable. Henry Stanley, labourer of Dunstable. William Brazier, gardener of Dunstable. Elizabeth Carter, single woman of Houghton Regis. Ann Tompkins, wife of Henry a victualler of Houghton Regis. Phoebe Pratt, wife of Billington George Pratt a baker of Dunstable. Sarah Valentine, wife of Charles a confectioner of Dunstable. Jeremiah Cuttriss, police constable of Dunstable. George Olney, victualler of Houghton Regis and John Lambert, police constable of Houghton Regis. In the case of Thomas King and Mary James accused of uttering counerfeit florins.

14 March 1859

From: 1859 To: 1859

Susannah Tearle: sister of Mr Jabez Teale, a baker at Dunstable. She kept his house. On the night of 4 March the male prisoner came to her brother shop and bought a piece of iced cake for 2 pence halfpenny. He gave her a 2 shilling piece to pay for it and she gave him change of a shilling, 6 pence in silver and 3 pence half penny in copper. When she took it she did not notice if it was a good one. She put it in the till drawer. There was no other 2 shilling piece in the till drawer. A few minutes later Elizabeth Adams servant to Mr Edward Allen at the Bricklayers Arms came to her brother’s shop to borrow 3 shillings for Mr Allen. She gave her the 2 shilling piece and a shilling. PC Cuttriss came to her the same night and asked if she had taken a 2 shilling piece from the prisoner. She told him she had and directed him to Mr Allen. Mary Ann Allen: wife of Edward Allen of the Bricklayers Arms in Dunstable. On 4 March she sent her servant to Mr Tearle’s to borrow 3 shillings. The servant brought back a 2 shilling piece and a shilling. She sent the servant with the 2 shilling piece to Mr James Bowden. PC Cuttriss came to the house for the 2 shilling piece. She sent her servant to fetch it back and marked it before giving it to PC Cuttriss. A few minutes before she sent her servant to Mr Tearle’s, the 2 prisoners had been in the house and had 2 glasses of gin. The male prisoner gave her a 2 shilling piece to pay for it. She was out of change and went to the Tap Room to ask one of her customers for change. The female prisoner called to her and said never mind, she would pay for it. She gave the 2 shilling piece back to the male prisoner and the woman paid her 4 pence for the gin. Elizabeth Adams: she was servant to Mr Edward Allen at the Bricklayers Arms. Her mistress sent her to Mr Tearle’s to borrow 3 shillings. Mrs Tearle gave her a 2 shilling piece and a shilling. She gave the coins to her mistress and her mistress sent her directly with the 2 shilling piece to Mr Bowden. Soon afterwards PC Cuttriss came to her mistress’s house for the 2 shilling piece. Her mistress told her to go back to Mr Bowden and bring the coin back. She did so and saw her mistress mark the coin before giving it to PC Cuttriss. She had seen the prisoners in the house earlier. James Bowden: on the night of 4 March, Elizabeth Adams went to his house and gave him a 2 shilling piece. Soon afterwards she came and fetched it back. It was the same 2 shilling piece. Henry Stanley: he lodged at the Swan Public House at Dunstable kept by Mr Nicholls. On 4 March he was left in charge of the house. The prisoner came into the tap room together and the male prisoner asked for a bed for the night. He agreed but said they had no single rooms. Mrs Nicholls came into the tap room and the prisoner asked her if he could have a bed and she told him yes. The male prisoner left the house about 5pm and returned about 6.30pm. The prisoners left together about 7pm and came back together about 9pm. They prisoner did not sleep in the house that night. They left before 10pm and he saw no more of them. William Brazier: about 7pm on the 4 March the prisoner came to his house and bought 2 eggs for 3 half pence. The prisoner paid with a 2 shilling piece and he gave him back a shilling, a sixpence, a four pence and a halfpenny. The same night he gave the 2 shilling piece, along with several shillings and sixpences to Elizabeth Carter of Houghton Regis to pay to Mrs Ann Tompkins. Elizabeth Carter: William Brazier gave her some money to take to Mrs Tompkins. There was a 2 shilling piece amongst it. Ann Tompkins: on the night of 4 March she was given money by Elizabeth Carter from Mr Brazier. There was a 2 shilling piece amongst it. She put it in a drawer with a piece of paper. The following morning PC Cuttriss came to her house and she marked the coin and gave it to him. Phoebe Pratt: wife of Billington George Pratt, a baker and grocer at Dunstable. On 4 March the male prisoner came to the shop and bought half an ounce of tobacco. He paid with a 2 shilling piece which she put in the drawer. The following morning PC Cuttriss came to the shop. She marked the coin and gave it to him. Sarah Valentine: on the night of 4 March the male prisoner came to the shop and bought 2 saveloys for 2 pence. He paid with a 2 shilling coin. She wrapped the 2 shilling piece in a piece of paper on the mantle shelf. The following day PC Cuttriss came to the shop. She marked the coin and gave it to him. PC Jeremiah Cuttriss: on the night of 4 March he received a 2 shilling piece from Mary Ann Allen. He afterwards went in the company of PC Lambert to the Swan public house and found both prisoners in the tap room. He took the man into custody. The following day he received a 2 shilling pieces from Mrs Ann Tompkins, Mrs Pratt and Mrs Valentine. He searched the male prisoner and found a 2 shilling piece and other money which appeared to be good. Both prisoners refused to give their name or address but at the police station in Luton the man gave the name of Thomas King of Whitechapel, London but refused to give the name or number of the street. The woman gave the name of Mary James of Camden Town, London but refused to give the name or number of the street. George Olney: he resided at the Bull public house in Houghton Regis. On 4 March the prisoners came to his house and took 2 glasses of gin. The man gave him a 2 shilling piece to pay for them. The woman said told him not to change it as she had a 4 penny piece. She gave him a 3 penny piece and he gave her back the 2 shillings. He told her she had only given him a 3 penny piece and she asked the male prisoner if he had a penny. The male prisoner came back and gave him the 2 shilling piece again. He gave the prisoner his change and put the 2 shilling piece in his pocket. Soon after the prisoner had gone he took out the 2 shilling piece and found it was bad. He informed PC Lambert and gave him the coin. PC John Lambert: he received the coin from the last witness. He accompanied PC Cuttriss in search of the prisoners and found them at the Swan public house and charged them. He asked the female prisoner what money she had about her. She gave him her purse and a bundle which contained a variety of things. Among the things were 2 saveloys and a piece of seed cake. Statement of the accused: Thomas King – he wished to reserve what he had to say until the trial. Mary James – she would say nothing.

item

King, Thomas,
James, Mary,
Tearle, Susannah,
Allen, Ann,
Adams, Elizabeth,
Bowden, James,
Stanley, Henry,
Brazier, William,
Carter, Elizabeth,
Tompkins, Ann,
Tompkins, Henry,
Pratt, Phoebe,
Pratt, Billington George,
Valentine, Sarah,
Cuttriss, Jeremiah,
Olney, George,
Lambert, John

DUNSTABLE, HOUGHTON REGIS, BILLINGTON, passing counterfeit coin, victualler, confectioner, Dunstable Swan, Houghton Regis Bull, baker