The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

70.   ROBERT HOLT , Unlawfully uttering counterfeit coin.

MESSRS. LLOYD and WILKINSON Prosecuted.

  ALFRED HAYE . I am barman at the Centurion, Deptford Broadway—on 25th October, between 3 and 4 o'clock, the prisoner came in for twopennyworth of rum, giving me a florin, which I discovered was bad before I took it off the counter—I said "This is the piece you gave me; this is no good"—I bit it in two—he said "Let's look"—I laid one piece on the counter and turned round to my governor, and when I looked round the prisoner was gone—there was no one else in the compartment—I and my governor went and looked out of the door, but could not see anything of him—on the following week I was taken to Woolwich Police station, and picked the prisoner out from seven or eight other men—I had previously given a description of him.

Cross-examined. You had only to open the door—you were standing about a yard and a half from it—we were going to apprehend you.

  ARTHUR HENRY COE . I am barman at the South-Eastern Distillery, New Cross Road—on 31st October I was in the bar about 11 a.m., when the prisoner came in for twopennyworth of rum, giving me this florin—I gave him a shilling, sixpence, and 4d. bronze change—I had suspicions

of the florin when I did so, and afterwards showed it to the manager, and we sent King, the potman, after him—he had gone out directly he got the change—he was in the house about three minutes—he drank the rum.

Cross-examined. I had not seen you before that morning; I did then—I was not certain at the time I took it that it was bad, and went to ask the manager about it.

  ALFRED KING . I was potman at the South-Eastern Distillery at Deptford on 31st October—I saw the prisoner served about 11 o'clock, as I was going through the bar—I saw no coin pass—soon after he left the barman gave me a bad coin, and said something in consequence of which I followed the prisoner into the Royal Albert, and went for a constable, as they were talking about the two-shilling-piece he had passed there—I found a constable at the corner of High Street, and coming back with him we met the prisoner on the road, and I gave him in charge—he was taken back to the Royal Albert, searched, and 1 1/2 d. was found on him.

Cross-examined. You were apprehended about 30 yards from the Royal Albert.

  MARY EMPSON . My father keeps the Royal Albert, Deptford—at five minutes past 11 on the morning of 31st October I was serving at the bar, when the prisoner came in for twopennyworth of rum and gave this florin in payment, which I discovered to be bad—I said "It is a bad one; where did you get it?"—he said "I do not know," and went out when my back was turned—King came in two or three minutes afterwards, and then the constable—King brought the prisoner back, and he was taken away—I gave the florin to the constable.

Cross-examined. You said you were sorry for the mistake when I told you it was a bad one.

  ALFRED ATTREE (Policeman R 318). The Distillery is about three minutes' walk from the Royal Albert—a little after 11 on the morning of 31st October King spoke to me, in consequence of which I went in search of the prisoner, and found him about 20 yards from the Royal Albert, going towards Deptford—I said to him "You have been passing bad money"—he said "No, not me"—I said "You will have to go back with me"—I was about to take him back to the Distillery when Ernest Collard came up and spoke to me, and I then took the prisoner to the Royal Albert—the last witness gave me this bad florin which I have produced—I asked the prisoner how he came by the money—he said he had it given him for doing a job of work yesterday—he did not say where—I took him to the station and searched him, and found 1 1/2 d. on him.

Cross-examined. The Royal Albert is 20 yards from where you were apprehended.

  ERNEST COLLARD . I am a baker, and live at Greenwich—on 31st October, about 11, I was in the Distillery having a glass of ale, when the prisoner came in for twopennyworth of rum—after he went out the barman found it was a bad coin, and I followed him with Kong—I saw him go into the Royal Albert, and detained him there till King fetched the constable—he was quiet when I detained him, and argued with the landlady about the coin, and then five fellows came in, and he said to them "This man charges me with passing bad money," and they said "You had better missle off; old man," then he went out, and I followed him till I met the constable and potman.

Cross-examined. I did not appear at the police-court—I was subpœnaed to come here.

  WILLIAM JOHN WEBSTER . These coins are both bad, and from the same mould—I could not break a good coin in my teeth; I believe it has been done.

The prisoner in his defence stated that he was a hawker, and a stranger in London, and that he was guilty of offering one which he had had the day before.

GUILTY .— Twelve Months' Hard Labour.

Before Robert Malcolm Kerr, Esq.