Counterfeit coins

In a previous post, we looked at some crimes and scams that had taken place in Loughborough from 1787 to 1926. The focus of this post is a specific outbreak of activity that happened in Loughborough's pubs in 1884. The Leicester Chronicle of 10 January 1885 led its report on page 11 with the headline:

1883 half-crown, obverse

"PASSING COUNTERFEIT COIN AT LOUGHBOROUGH"

Nothing unusual in that even today! The article goes into some detail:

"John Wilson, 33, labourer, and Ellen Carter, 28, chair caner, were indicted for tendering a false and counterfeit half-crown at Loughborough, on the 5th day of December, and also with tendering on the same day three other pieces of counterfeit coin. 

The prisoners pleaded not guilty. Mr Lindsell prosecuted.

The first witness called, a barman named Daykin, employed by Mr Bailey at the Oak Inn, Loughborough, said that about half-past seven o'clock on the morning of the 5th of December the male prisoner came into the inn and asked for a half-pint of beer, for which he paid with copper coin. He returned after the lapse of ten minutes with the prisoner Carter, and when they had drank together for some time the male prisoner tendered half-a-crown for some drink, which witness placed in the till, and gave the prisoner the change.

Clara Constance Keightley, daughter of the landlord of the Mundy Arms, stated that the female prisoner came to her father's house and asked for two pennyworth of gin. She tendered half-a-crown, and witness gave the woman 2s. 4d. in change.

Mrs Mill, of the Rose and Crown, Loughborough, said that the female prisoner called at her house in December last, and requested to be supplied with two pennyworth of gin. She tendered half-a-crown, and witness gave 2s. 4. in change.

Annie Neale, barmaid at the Neptune Vaults, Loughborough, said she supplied the female prisoner with two pennyworth of gin on the 5th of December, for which she tendered a half-crown in payment of same. She handed prisoner 2s. 4d in change. When she had gone, Wilson came in, and offered a half-crown in payment of two pennyworth of whiskey, but she had the coin examined, and told the prisoner that it was a bad one. He appeared to be surprised, and said he was not aware that it was a bad coin. She then had the other coin examined, and discovered that it was also a bad one.

Mrs Limb, of the Neptune Vaults, Loughborough, said she examined the coins received by the last witness, and afterwards sent for a policeman to arrest Wilson. 

Sergeant Lockton apprehended Wilson, and in pursuing his search for the female prisoner received two half-crowns from two of the public houses mentioned, and ultimately arrested Carter and charged her with uttering counterfeit coin. She denied any knowledge of the coins being spurious, and said 'This is how poor innocent women like me get into trouble'. 

He [Sgt. Lockton] charged them jointly at the police-station, and Wilson replied 'I don't know the woman; I never saw her in my life.' Carter said (pointing to Wilson) 'That is the man who gave me the half-crowns to change, and told me to get tow pennyworth out of each.'

Benjamin Baldwin, silversmith, Loughborough, deposed to examining the coins in question, and finding them to be counterfeit. The prisoners were found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment each.

1887 half-crown, reverse

Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 11 July 2021

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Dyer, Lynne (2021). Counterfeit coins. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2021/06/counterfeit-coins.html  [Accessed 11 July 2021]

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