| Reference Number | t19090907-75 |
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| Verdict | Guilty > unknown; Not Guilty > unknown |
| Sentence | Imprisonment > hard labour |
| Related Material |  |
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| Actions | Cite this text Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 07 June 2023), September 1909, trial of JOHNSON, Charles (35, engineer) NUTLEY, Henry (30, horsekeeper) (t19090907-75). | Print-friendly version | Report an error |
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JOHNSON, Charles (35, engineer), and NUTLEY, Henry (30, horsekeeper) ; both uttering counterfeit coin, possessing counterfeit coin. Johnson, making counterfeit coin.
Mr. Herman Cohen prosecuted.
Detective-sergeant CHARLES HAWKINS, W Division. On July 25 I was in Clapham Park Road with Divisional-inspector Ward. About eight o'clock I saw both prisoners enter the King's Head" public-house in that road. They left there after about 20 minutes and went towards and entered the "Coach and Horses" in the same road. After they had been there some time the left and went towards Brixton. When they got to the "Crown and Anchor, Acre Lane, I saw Johnson enter, the other man entered the tobacconists shop a few doors further on. I went in to the public-house and spoke to Johnson. I said, "I am a police officer. What were you doing acting so suspiciously in Acre Lane?" No sooner bad I uttered those words than he struck me a violent blow on the chest and tried to escape. I closed with him. As I was doing so he put his hand in his pocket and threw out a small parcel containing 13 florins and 15 shillings. I searched him at the station, and found two florins in his left-hand trousers pocket, a sixpence in his righthand trousers pocket, and some good money. I have not made a note of the good money I found.
Cross-examined by Johnson. I saw you go into the public-house where I arrested you, and Nutley went into the tobacconist's shop. You wrote me a letter asking me to arrest a man named Carroll, I have not arrested him because I had no evidence on which to arrest him.
Inspector WARD. I was with Sergeant Hawkins when prisoners entered the "King's Head." They stayed there a quarter of an hour. They came down towards Brixton and entered another little house which I understand is called the "Coach and Horses." I am not well acquainted with the district; I have not been there long They left there and went down towards another public-house Johnson went in there. Nutley went into the tobacconists. I went after Nutley. He came out of the tobacconist's, went across the road and into a public-house opposite to the one in which Johnson had gone. He remained a few seconds only, and as he came out I arrested him. I asked him what he was doing about here. He said, "Nothing." I took him across the road to Johnson, and in consequence of what he told me I conveyed them to Brixton. I felt in Nutley's pockets in the road. He had some money. I did not take it from him. I subsequently took him to the station and searched him. In his waistcoat pocket, I think it was, there was a
counterfeit shilling, and one in his trousers pocket in a handkerchief. They were charged and neither made any reply.
Cross-examined by Nutley. I went to the tobacconist and asked if they had had any bad money passed there; they said no, they had given some change just then. This was not long before you fist in.
CHARLES HENRY HOWE , "King's Head," Clapham Park Road. On July 25, at the request of Inspector Ward, I looked over my till and found a coin which I gave him, a sixpence. It was marked in ay presence. I should think it was paid in about seven o'clock, as up to that time 1 had a young lady in the bar, who was more likely to take it than anybody else. I do not know either of the prisoners.
WILLIAM CHARLES SMITH , "Coach and Horses," 175, Clapham Park Road. I have never seen prisoners before. In the evening of July 25 I looked into my till and saw what I thought was a counterfeit sixpence. I gave it to the police, who marked it in my presence. It would have been taken, I should think, on the Sunday sight, while I was out, about seven o'clock. It would be taken between seven and ten.
WILLIAM JOHN WEBSTER , Inspector of Coins to His Majesty's Mist, deposed to the coins being all counterfeit.
(Defence.)
CHARLES JOHNSON (prisoner, on oath), examined by Nutley. I had not seen you for nine weeks on July 25. You were not aware of what I had in my possession. I asked you to have a drink. After we had a drink I asked if you were going to walk as far as Old Town, Clapham, as I had a friend to meet. I met my friend there. You did tot know him.
Cross-examined. I have known Nutley about three years. Previous to my arrest I bad not teen Nutley for nine or 10 weeks. He wants to show that it is a put-up job by Carroll. Carroll is the man that ought to be here instead of him.
HENRY NUTLEY (not on oath.) I saw Johnson on this Sunday about Half-past seven outside the "Nag's Head," to my surprise, and he said, "How are you going on?" I told him I was going on all right. He asked me to have a drink. We went into the "Nag's Head" and had a drink. I said, "Which way are you going? I am going as far as Old Town, Clapham." He said, "I am going that way. I have to meet a man at 'The Plough' at eight o'clock, you can have a walk up with me." I accompanied him with his wife up to "The Plough." On arrival there Johnson's wife laid, "Here 11 that man across the road that came down home at dinner time." I see Johnson look across the road in the direction the man was taking, and this man beckoned. Johnson went over and some conversation took place. After a time Johnson's wife went and spoke to two women she knew. Johnson then came to me and asked where
his wife was. I said, "There she is, speaking to them two young women there." He then said, "You might tell her that I am going down to the" King's Head "with this man. You can have a walk down if you like." I said, "Very good." They went on towards the 11 King's Head." I waited three or four minutes for his wife. She said, "Very good. I will be down in a few minutes. "I walked down to the 'King's Head. There I saw Johnson with another man, who I've heard is Carroll, standing at the bar of the public-house. Carroll asked me to have a glass of ale. I said, I didn't mind. After two or three minutes I heard Carroll say to Johnson, "Will you have a walk round the corner with me?" Johnson said, 'All right." They went out and returned about 10 minutes after that. The 2s. found on me was given to me by Carroll. On arriving at "The Open Hand "public-house, he said tome, "Don't you come in here as I have a friend to meet," and he dropped the 2s. into my hand. I do not know whether it was to do me a good turn or whether it was a trick to bring me here. I put it in my pocket and took no more notice of it. The man took me into the tobacco shop, where I purchased tobacco and asked if they had taken had money. I have a good character. I have a letter here from my last employer. I have been with him five years. I had been out just three weeks. There was little call for horse cabs and he sold them up.
Verdict: Johnson, Guilty; Nutley, Not guilty. Several convictions were proved against Johnson.
Sentence, Twelve months' hard labour.