Kentish Gazette, 26 October 1852.
Wholesale Smashing.
Charles Noakes, 22, whitesmith, Charles, Shopcott, 25, tailor, and
Robert Saunders, 24, labourer, were charged with uttering
certain counterfeit coin well knowing it to be counterfeit at
Ashford, on the 28th August last.
Noakes and Shopcott pleaded guilty, the other prisoner not guilty.
Saunders was then placed upon his trial, when Mr. Dawson fully
explained the nature of the case to the jury, and Mr. Horne examined
the following witnesses, who deposed as follows:—
Mary Hunt, lives with her brother at the "Bricklayers Arms" at
Ashford. The prisoners came to the house on the 28th August.
Saunders' wife engaged two beds for them, and said they were all one
party. They left a bundle and went out; that was
about eight. Noakes and Shopcott returns about 9.
By the prisoner:— I can't say how the woman was dressed, but I think
I should know her again. My sister told me the woman's
name was Saunders.
Sarah Hills, the barmaid at the "New Inn," Ashford; on the evening
in question Saunders and Noakes came for 2 cigars, and
gave in payments a 5s. piece. She put the coin into the till;
afterwards took it out upon hearing bad money was passing
hearing, and gave it to Mrs. Tatnell.
By the prisoner:— I can't say which prison have gave me the money.
The prisoner then applied for the witness's deposition
before the Magistrates to be read, as he contended that she had made
a different statement on a former occasion; but upon
referring to them it was evident he had mistaken the witness.
Mrs. Tatnell, landlady of the "New Inn," Ashford, deposed to the
last witness giving her a bad crown piece from the till. She
looked at it, thought it was a good one, and returned it to the
till; in an hour afterwards took it out again; it was the only
crown piece in the till at the time.
By the prisoner:— Did not see you in the house that day.
Henry Epps gave the crown piece to Superintendent Gifford.
The superintendent procured the coin in question. Apprehended Noakes
and Shopcott the same day. Asked them about the
basket left at the public house, but they denied all knowledge of
it. There was a drinking cup, a check, and several shirts in
the basket. Witness took out two of the shirts and began kicking
them about the room. Two of the prisoners then said:— "You
----- they are our shirts you are kicking about."
Hunt deposed to the prisoners leaving the bundle at the house. A
great number of other witnesses were examined,
connecting the prisoner with the others in the uttering of the base
coin.
The prisoner, in proclaiming his innocence, complained that the
money found in his possession, and which was the produce
of the sale of his goods, had been kept from him, and that he was
therefore prevented from obtaining the assistance of
counsel to defend him. He had made repeated applications for it to
the master of the prison.
Mr Fenn, the master of the goal corroborated the prisoners
statement, and said that he had written to the Superintendent
(Gifford) for the money; but he refused to give it up. After a short
consultation between the magistrates, the Chairman
inquired if the prisoner had anything further to urging his defence.
He replied by throwing himself upon the mercy of the
court. The Chairman then summed up, and with respect to the
detention of the money found on the prisoner, and the
committing magistrates were of opinion that it was the produce of
fraud, and that therefore it would have been highly
improper had allowed such money to have been applied by the prisoner
in defending himself against the charges brought
against him. That was the magistrates impression.
The jury after a brief consultation, found the prisoners guilty.
Twelve calendar months House of Correction, hard labour.
The three prisoners, come up with the addition of Catherine
Saunders, were then charged with stealing a silver drinking mug.
William Pennington, Esq., stated that he had in his possession on
27th August a drinking cup. He used it last on Barham
Downs; and when on his road home with his carriage he was told by
his butler of it being taken. He had since compared the
cup with another in his possession, and they corresponded.
John Joy Hunt, landlord of the "Bricklayer's Arms" public house, said
that all four prisoners came to his house on the day in
question, when the female asked him if he could accommodate them
with two beds. On being told that they could be lodged,
the female prisoner consigned the basket into witnesses hand, and he
gave it to his sister, who placed it in the back kitchen.
The cup was afterwards found in the basket.
Several letters for handed in, showing a correspondence they were
carrying on with a gang in and around Chichester.
The jury, with little deliberation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty
in the instance of the female prisoner, and the male prisoners
guilty.
Four calendar month House of Correction, hard labour, from and after
the expiration of their previous sentence.
At the inclusion of this case, we understand that Mr. Pennington
made the Superintendent a present of a £10 note, as a
acknowledgement for his efforts in tracing and obtaining possession
of the stolen drinking cup.
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