QSR1862/1/5/19

Depositions of Eliza Samuels, spinster of Biggleswade. Lucy Clarke, wife of John Henry Clarke, victualler of Biggleswade. William Seabrook, victualler of Biggleswade. William Bilton, victualler of Biggleswade. James Page Chapman, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of George Smith accused of passing counterfeit coins.

28 December 1861

From: 1861 To: 1862

Eliza Samuels: a servant at the Crown Inn at Biggleswade. On 27 December George Smith came to the kitchen and called for a quarter of gin. She served him and he gave her a shilling which she took to her master, Samuel Mason, who immediately returned it to her saying it was a bad one. She took it back to the prisoner and told him it was bad. He said he was sorry and gave her another. Lucy Clarke: her husband kept the New Inn public house at Biggleswade. On 27 December the prisoner came in to the house and called for a glass of ale. She saw him give her servant a shilling which she gave to her. She suspected it to be a bad one by its appearance and then she bit it. She was satisfied it was bad. She threw it on the table and said it was a bad shilling. The prisoner said he was sorry and took up the shilling and gave her a half crown. She gave him the change and he went away. The prisoner was tipsy. William Seabrook: keeper of the Bell public house at Biggleswade. About 10pm on 27 December the prisoner came into the house and called for a glass of ale. He served him with it and was given a sovereign. He tested it in the presence of the prisoner and told him it was a bad one and he would not take it. The prisoner took it back and put it in his pocket. The prisoner gave him half a sovereign and he gave him his change. William Bilton: keeper of the Catherine Wheel at Biggleswade. On 27 December the prisoner came in to the house with a young man and called for some gin and water. He served them and the prisoner handed him a sovereign. The coin felt light and he took it to the gas to examine it. He told the prisoner it was bad and the prisoner replied he knew it was. He asked the prisoner why he passed it and the prisoner replied it was out of foolishness. He threw it down on the table and the prisoner took it up and put it in his pocket. The prisoner gave him some other money and went away. Abut 11.30pm the prisoner returned and asked for a bed and they talked about the sovereign. A person in the house asked to look at it and the prisoner took it out of his pocket and he took possession of it. When the prisoner asked for it back he declined. The prisoner asked him to destroy it and said he would trust he would do so. A policeman came into the house and heard the exclamations. He handed the sovereign to the policeman and he and the prisoner left together. PC Thomas Page Chapman: about 12 o’clock he went to the Catherine Wheel at Biggleswade. The prisoner was there and said to him that he was glad he was there as he had been accused of passing a bad sovereign. The landlord said he was not only accused of it but had done it at his house and another as well. The prisoner said it had only been a joke. The landlord gave him the coin. He left accompanied by the prisoner. The prisoner asked him to destroy the coin. He went with the prisoner to the police station where he was searched. In his pocket 14 sovereigns and sixpence of good money was found and a bad shilling. Statement of the accused: when he first took the sovereign to Mr Seabrook he did not know it wasn’t a good one. He had taken it in London on Monday and gave change for it. When Mr Seabrook told him it was bad he did not believe him. He did not try to pass it after he came out of the Catherine Wheel.

item

Smith, George,
Samuels, Eliza,
Clarke, Lucy,
Clarke, John Henry,
Seabrook, William,
Bilton, William,
Chapman, James Page

BIGGLESWADE, passing counterfeit coin, victuallers, Biggleswade Catherine Wheel, Biggleswade Bell, Biggleswade New Inn, Biggleswade Crown