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West Kent Guardian 06 April 1844.
GRAVESEND POLICE COURT. MONDAY.
(Before L. P. Stall; mayor, C. Spencer, J. Munn, and E. Tickner, Esqrs.)
George Williams, John Anderson, and William Belize, three very
suspicious looking fellows, were brought up by Mr. North,
superintendent of the police, on suspicion of uttering counterfeit coin.
Maryanne Briggs made the following deposition. I live with my father,
Mr. Henry Briggs, landlord of the "Cricketers," Meopham. On Thursday
morning, about 11 o'clock, Williams and Anderson came in. They asked me
to give them half-a-sovereign for ten shillings. I refused. They then
said a five shilling piece and two half-crowns would do. This also I
declined. I thought all was not right. They then ordered a pint of beer,
and prevailed upon me to let them have one half-crown. They gave me
three shillings, and I give them half-a-crown, and four-pence. They drank
the beer and went away in a few minutes. In about an hour afterwards Mr.
Bevan, who keeps the "King's Arm," came in to ask if some men had not
been here offering bad money. I then showed him the three shillings. He
rather thought they were good. Soon after I showed them to my father, he
thought one was good; but the other two bad. They were new shillings,
and the Queen's coin; the four or five which were in the till before,
were old and worn and the King's coin.
Mr. Henry Briggs: When my daughter showed me the shillings, about half
an hour after she received them, I thought two of them very bad. The
shillings now produced I believe are those which my daughter gave me,
and which she had received of Williams. I ordered my horse to the door
immediately, and said, I would go and pursue the men.
Mr. James Briggs l am the son of the last witness, and live with him.
When my father gave me the two shillings I marked them. Those now
produced are them. I said to my father, let me go after the men; I shall
ride faster than you would. When I had got as far as the church, I saw
Mr. Bowers, the constable of Meopham; telling him what I was after, he
says, put your horse into my cart and I will go with you. When we got to
Took-green, we overtook Mr. Bevan, Mr. Ferran, and Mr. Bennett all on
their way to Gravesend on the same business. We took them up, and got
here about two o'clock in the afternoon. We heard at several places that
three men answering the description of the prisoners, were on the road.
They were all apprehended in Queen-street, Gravesend, almost
immediately, and given into Mr. North's custody.
Elizabeth Walker, I am servant to Mrs. Goodwin, of the "Prince of Wales," Meopham. Anderson came in about eleven o'clock on Thursday morning, and
had half-a-pint of beer. He gave me a shilling, which I took to Mrs.
Goodwin. She afterwards found it was a bad one.
Mrs. Goodwin identified the person of Anderson, and the shilling produced
is the one he had paid to the servant.
Mrs. Manley:- I live with my father who keeps a public house at Meopham.
Williams came in about eleven o'clock on Thursday morning, and had half
a pint of beer. He paid for it with what afterwards proved to be a bad
shilling.
Mr. Bevan, landlord of the "King's Arms," Meopham:- Williams and Anderson
called at my house, and Dean, who was with them, walked gently on,
loitering for them. Williams asked for half-a-sovereign for ten
shillings. My wife refused. One of the men. I am not sure which, said, a
five shilling piece and two half-crowns will do. She refused again
suspecting their silver was bad. I was standing by. I watched them some
distance, saw Williams go into the "George." He asked for half-a-sovereign
for ten shillings; but was refused. Had a pint of beer, and offered a
bad shilling as payment, which was refused, and he gave a good one
instead of it. I went in and saw this. I was present and assisted in
taking the prisoners in Queen-street, Gravesend, on Thursday afternoon.
Mr. Furran, schoolmaster, Meopham, I saw all three prisoners in company
walking and talking together for half mile out of the town towards
Gravesend.
Mr. Bennett, of Meopham, who was present at their apprehension, heard
Williams or Dean say, "Look out!" and I heard and saw a shilling fall
on the pavement. Anderson immediately took it up and swallowed it. I
seized him directly. He said, jeeringly, "It is gone old fellow" I said
but you are not gone.
Mr. North superintendent of the police, deposed to taking the men into
custody on Thursday afternoon. The magistrates, without hesitation,
committed the prisoners to Maidstone Gaol to take their trial.
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