QSR1866/1/5/17

Depositions of Martin Skinner, publican of Luton. George James, police constable of Luton. Mary Ann Parrott, wife of James of Luton. John Nottingham, police constable of Luton. William Robinson Raban, silversmith of Luton. In the case of James Leeper accused of uttering counterfeit coin.

11 December 1865

From: 1865 To: 1866

Martin Skinner: he kept the Plume of Feathers public house in Guildford Street, Luton. On Wednesday 29 November about 8pm the prisoner came to his house and called for a glass of beer. He served the prisoner and was given a half crown in payment. As soon as he took the half crown he knew it to be a bad one. He told the prisoner it was bad and the prisoner said “I have got plenty of good money about me” and he wanted to pay for the beer with that. He sent for the policeman. PC James came and he gave the prisoner into his custody. PC George James: about 8pm on 29 November he went to the Plume of Feathers. He found the prisoner there. On searching him he found 1s 6d on goo copper and 10s 6d in good silver. He took the prisoner into custody and charged him with uttering a counterfeit half crown to the landlord. The prisoner said he had plenty of good money to pay for the beer and make it good. He received the half crown from Skinner. It was dated 1816. Mary Ann Parrott: wife of James Parrott, keeper of the Goat public house in Park Street, Luton. About 6.30pm on 29 November, the prisoner came into the house ad asked for a glass of beer. She served him and he gave her half a crown. She had no doubts about it being a good one and gave him a shilling, 2 sixpences and 5 pennyworth of copper in change. She put the half crown piece in the till. There was only a shilling and 4 sixpences in there. PC Nottingham came in about 11pm and asked if she had taken any bad money. She took out the half crown and found it to be bad. She marked the coin and gave it to Nottingham. On 1 December she went to the police station and saw the prisoner there. She knew him to be the man who had given her the half crown. PC John Nottingham: he was given the bad half crown by Mrs Parrott and he saw her mark it. On 1 December he charged the prisoner and the prisoner responded that he knew nothing about it. William Robinson Raban: a silversmith and jeweller in Luton. He tested the 2 half crowns and found them both to be counterfeit. There were dated 1816 and 1844. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Leeper, James,
Leaper, James,
James, George,
Skinner, Martin,
Parrott, Mary Ann,
Parrott, James,
Raban, William Robinson,
Nottingham, John

LUTON, passing counterfeit coin, publican, Luton Plume of Feathers, silversmith, Luton Goat