QSR1863/4/5/7b

Depositions of Ann Pakes, wife of William, a groom of Luton. George James, police constable of Luton. William Robinson Raban, silversmith of Luton. In the case of Samuel Turner accused of uttering a piece of counterfeit and false coin.

7 September 1863

From: 1863 To: 1863

Ann Pakes: wife of William and they kept the Tap at the George Hotel in Luton. On the night of 24 August the prisoner and another man came to the house. They were both strangers. The prisoner called for a pint of three penny ale and she served him. He have her a 2 shilling piece and she gave him a shilling, sixpence and 3 penny pieces in change. She suspected it but put it in the drawer. The men went as soon as they had drunk their ale and as soon as they had gone she took the 2 shilling piece out of the drawer and showed it to her husband and others in the taproom. They found it was a bad one. She sent for a police constable and James came. She marked the coin in his presence and gave it to him. She saw the prisoner in custody the same night and knew him to be the same man who had given it to her. PC George James: he received a counterfeit 2 shilling piece from Mrs Pakes. He searched for the prisoner and found him at the Duke of York lodging house, in Duke Street about 11pm. The prisoner was searched but no bad money found on him. He took the prisoner to Mrs Pakes who identified him as the man who had given her the 2 shilling piece. He charged the prisoner who said he had never been in that house in his life. The prisoner said he had come from London. William Robinson Raban: he was a silversmith. He identified the florin and not silver and as counterfeit. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say.

item

Turner, Samuel,
Pakes, Ann,
James, George,
Raban, William Robinson

LUTON, passing counterfeit coin, groom, silversmith, Luton George Hotel