The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

1342.   ANN DUKES was indicted for a misdemeanor.

MR. BODKIN conducted the Prosecution.

  ELIZA HOCHER . I am barmaid to Mr. Bradford, who keeps the William the Fourth, in Beauchamp-street, Leather-lane. On the 17th of April, about half-past two o'clock, the prisoner came for half a pint of beer—I served her—it came to 1d.—she offered me a bad sixpence—I took it into the parlour and bit it in halves—I told her it was bad, and gave it to Mr. Bradford—he told her, if he was well enough, he would give her in charge, as he knew that she had passed bad money before, and she had swallowed two bad shillings about a fortnight before—she said nothing, but appeared confused—she gave me a good shilling.

  JOHN BRADFORD . Eliza Hocher came to me about a six pence—she put it on the counter—I took it up myself—I bit one half in two again, and then put them on the shelf, where the casks were standing—when I came in and saw the prisoner I recollected her as passing a bad shilling at my house, and I then watched her to another, and she swallowed two shillings at that time—I told her of it—she seemed confused, and said she was not the person—Ayres, who was there, followed her by my desire.

  ANN WILLIS . I am the wife of Mr. Willis, who keeps the White Swan, in Farringdon-street. On the 17th of April, about three o'clock in the afternoon, the prisoner came with another woman—she called for a pint of beer, which came to 2d.—she gave me a bad sixpence—I broke it, and threw the pieces on the counter—she then gave me a good sixpence—Moss, Ayres, and another man came in, and took possession of the broken sixpence—my husband marked it—she was taken into custody—I had seen her about a fortnight or three weeks before.

  WILLIAM AYRES . I live in Baldwin's-place. I was at Mr. Bradford's—

he desired me to follow the prisoner—she went down Leather-lane and Brook-street, and then joined another woman—they crossed the road, and went down Castle-street, Chancery-lane, and to Farringdon-street—I saw the prisoner go into the house of Ann Willis and offer a sixpence—Stace, the constable, and Moss were with me—we all went in, Stace took the sixpence and the prisoner, and the other woman was taken, but she was discharged.

  JAMES STACE . I am a constable. On the 17th of April I saw the prisoner in Chichester-rents, Chancery-lane, about three o'clock, with another woman—Ayres was following them—I them joined, and went to Mr. Willis—on my entering, the prisoner put something into hermouth, which, on my trying to get out, appeared to me to be a sixpence—she bit me, and I could not get it from her.

  ROBERT MOSS (City police-constable 16.) I have these pieces of a sixpence, which I got from Bradford.

  JOHN FIELD . I am inspector of coin to the Mint. These are both counterfeit, and from the same mould.

GUILTY . Aged 25.— Confined One Year.