Canterbury Journal 25 March 1854.

Assizes: George Stone, for uttering a counterfeit sovereign, well knowing the same to be counterfeit, and having at the same time other counterfeit coin in his possession, at Cheriton, on 1st February. The prisoner is a soldier of the Foot Artillery. He went to the "White Lion" at Cheriton, kept by Mr. Collins, on the day named, and asked for a pint of porter. Mrs. Collins served him, and he then tendered something she supposed to be a sovereign and she returned him change. Prisoner said it was a good one, and he had just taken it from his pay sergeant. She kept it in her purse till her husband came home, and he found it was spurious. He gave information to the police at Folkestone, when Steers, the police superintendent there, apprehended the prisoner. He owned that he had changed a sovereign at the "White Lion" or "Bird in Hand" that morning. He took from his pocket five half crowns, two shillings and the piece now produced resembling the coin tendered. He said he did not know it was bad. Prisoner said in defence that he had received the coins in change. Five months' hard labour.

Maidstone Journal 28 March 1854.

Assizes, Tuesday: George Stone, for uttering a counterfeit sovereign, well knowing the same to be counterfeit, and having at the same time other counterfeit coin in his possession, at Cheriton, on 1st February. The prisoner is a soldier of the Foot Artillery. He went to the "White Lion" at Cheriton, kept by Mr. Collins, on the day named, and asked for a pint of porter. Mrs. Collins served him, and he then tendered something she supposed to be a sovereign and she returned him change. Prisoner said it was a good one, and he had just taken it from his pay sergeant. She kept it in paper in her purse till her husband came home, when he found it was spurious. He gave information to the police at Folkestone, when Steers, the police superintendent there, apprehended the prisoner about 11 a.m. at the "Swan," Dover Road. He owned that he had changed a sovereign at the "White Lion" or "Bird in Hand" that morning. He took from his pocket five half crowns, two shillings and the piece now produced resembling the coin tendered. He said he did not know it was bad. He had received a £5 note from his pay sergeant about two days previously, which he had changed at the foot of London Bridge. Prisoner said this in defence and that he had received the coins in change. He told Mrs. Collins he was going to the "Star," where the inspector found him. He had no witnesses, but produced a good character from his commanding officer. The coins were those well-known medals, having a man on a horse and “To Hanover” on the reverse. The learned Sergeant recommended the jury to confine their attention to the first count, charging him with putting off the piece knowing it to be false. Guilty on the first count. His Lordship, in passing sentence, said that he had a document before him which certainly gave the prisoner a good character, but it also said that the only money he received from the regiment was 11s. 4d., all in silver. Five months' hard labour. The change of the sovereign found on the prisoner was ordered to be handed over to Mr. Collins.

Note: Where was he found? Report is conflicting.