QSR1864/4/5/2

Depositions of Eliza Williamson, wife of Adam, butcher of Leighton Buzzard. William Champkins, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. Sarah Hart, wife of George, shoe manufacturer of Luton. James Haynes, police constable of Luton. Robert Todd, assistant to a draper of Leighton Buzzard. Annie Goodson, wife of Robert, assistant grocer of Leighton Buzzard. David Carver, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Rosina Gibbs accused of uttering counterfeit coin.

2 August 1864

From: 1864 To: 1864

Eliza Williamson: wife of Adam, a pork butcher in North Street, Leighton Buzzard. The prisoner came to the shop and asked for a pound of sausages. She served her with them and the accused gave half a crown in payment. She tried it and found it to be bad. She returned it to her and she paid for the sausages with a sixpence. The accused asked her not to disfigure the half crown as she could not afford to lose it. This was said because she made a dent it in with her teeth. PC William Champkins: he went in pursuit of the prisoner and came up with her near the railway station. He told her she was charged with trying to pass counterfeit coin and the prisoner replied she was not aware she had bad money. He told they must go back to Leighton. The prisoner had 2 purses in her hand and he took possession of them. He searched her in a private room at the Roebuck Inn and found 5 sovereigns, 17s 6d in silver and a bad half crown. She also had 4s 4d in cooper on her person and in her basket. He showed the bad half crown to Mrs Williamson who identified it as the one tendered to her by the prisoner. Sarah Hart: she resided with her husband, a shoe manufacturer. The prisoner came to their shop at Luton and asked for a bottle of kid reviver for which she paid with a half crown. She told the accused she thought the half crown looked too bright and the accused replied that people often took trouble to polish them. She rung the half crown and gave the accused 2 shillings in change. She afterwards found it was a bad one. The policeman called the same day and she marked the half crown and gave it to him. PC James Haynes: he received the marked half crown from Sarah Hart. Robert Todd: an assistant to Mr Hopkins, a draper. He saw the prisoner for the first time when she came to the shop and asked be to shown some linen collar and cuffs. She bought a set at 9 pence and laid down a half crown and 3 pence in copper. He gave her 2 shillings in change and one taking the half crown he found it to be bad. She told the accused and bit it. The accused said she did not think it was bad. He returned it to her and she paid with good money. Annie Goodson: the prisoner bought 2 ounces of tea in her husbands shop and gave a half crown to pay for it. She gave her change. She suspected the half crown was bad and held it in her hand. The prisoner asked the price of some meat and she told her apprentice to wait upon the accused. She went to the warehouse and showed the half crown to the shopman. He bit it and took it to the shop but the prisoner had gone. She sent the apprentice after her with the half crown and he returned with 2 shillings and sixpence. The half crown produced by PC’s Champkins and Haynes were not the one given to her by the prisoner. PC David Carver: he went with PC Champkins to the railway station to apprehend the prisoner and he accompanied them to the police station. On the way there the prisoner said you may as well have 3 or 4 shillings for your trouble and let me go about my business. When she was searched, 2 railway tickets were found on her. Both were return ticket. One was from Luton to Kings Cross and the other from Leighton to Luton. Statement of the accused: she had no wish to say anything.

item

Gibbs, Rosina,
Williamson, Eliza,
Williamson, Adam,
Champkins, William,
Hart, Sarah,
Hart, George,
Haynes, James,
Todd, Richard,
Goodson, Annie,
Goodson, Robert,
Carver, David

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, LUTON, butcher, passing counterfeit coin, shoe manufacturer, draper's assistant, grocer's assistant