|
From the Dover Telegraph, 3 January 1863.
Dover quarter sessions.
The general quarter sessions of the peace for this
borough were opened that 10 o'clock on Monday morning, before W. H. Bodkin, Esq,
the recorder.
Passing counterfeit coin.
Mary Ann Elizabeth Harmer, aged 28, (the wife of Jebez Harmer) and Elizabeth
Mepham, aged 30, (wife of William Mepham) pleading "Not
Guilty" of knowingly uttering one counterfeit crown and one half crown piece, on
the 13th November, with intent to defraud. Mr. Poland conducted the
prosecution. The case was fully reported in these columns during the preliminary
examination of the prisoners.
The evidence of Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Kemp, of the "Ale Shades," Snargate Street; Steven Lushington
Crosier, shopman to Mr.
Barnard, Miss Mary Stone, of the "Angel," Charlton; Mrs. Suzanna Dowle, of the
"Elephant and Castle," Charlton; Miss Ann Munday, the daughter of a baker in High
Street; Mrs. Mary Ann Clark, of the "London Tavern," marketplace; proved the passing
of several counterfeit pieces at their respective establishments. The
circumstances which led to the arrest of the prisoners on their return from
Folkestone &c. were deposed to by the police sergeants Geddes and Bayley, and
constables Ash and Smith.
Mr. Charles Woodruff, silversmith, Snargate Street (on
account of the illness of Mr. Bacon,) proved the worthlessness of the eight
coins produced.
Being called on for their defences, the prisoner Harmer
stated that she has received some money from one of her brothers, an account of
a sum to which she was entitled on the death of her mother on the third July
last; she changed a sovereign at one of the stations as she was returning to
Dover from London, for a cup of coffee, and the silver given to her consisted
principally of half crowns and two shilling pieces; on the Saturday her husband
gave her 15s, in half crown pieces, and two of her lodgers also paid her for
their living either in two shillings or half crowns. She had previously borrowed
some money off Mrs. Mepham, and just before they went out on the 13th November,
she repaid her with this money. It was impossible to say where she had got the
money from.
Mrs. Mepham said she had lent Mrs. Hammer a number of things to
raise the money on; the money handed back to her (as Mrs. Harmah had said)
accounted for her possession of the bad coin. The half srown that rolled from her
at the railway station, when police constable Smith apprehended them on their
return from Folkestone, slipped through a hole in her pocket.
Mrs. Batler (of Dolphin Court) was called to prove that she had had monetary
transactions with her neighbour, Mrs. Harmer, and never found her at all wrong
with money matters.
The Recorder in summing up, remarked that the first thing for the jury to
determine was whether the two prisoners were acting concert with each other, and
with one common intent and desire to defraud — it would not signify which of the
prisoners, under these circumstances, issued the coin in question. Every person
was liable to utter a counterfeit that might have been passed upon them either
by design or accident, but where a person of tolerably good character passed a
single counterfeit coin, it was somewhat different to a person going from house
to house on the same day and continuing to pass bad money. Referring to the
evidence, the learned Recorder dwelt upon the circumstance that, when searched
at the station-house, a considerable quantity of good money was found upon the
prisoners, but no single instance had been brought forward, although the goods
they had purchased were for the most part of trifling amount, that a single piece
of sterling coin had been tendered in payment — it was always a bad half-crown
or a bad five-shilling piece. If, however (as the learned counsel for the
prosecution had very properly stated) the jury was of opinion that the prisoners
were not aware that they were phasing counterfeit coin, that doubt ought to
stand in their favour.
With slight deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "guilty" against both
prisoners.
Superintendent Coram produced a large quantity of spurious coin which had been
forwarded to him by various tradesmen, who had taken it in their shops about the
same date as that mentioned in the indictment. Nothing was known of the
prisoners; Mrs. Harmer was the wife of a man who had taken his trial in
connexion with the watch robbery in Sussex.
Recorder:- I recollect the circumstances.
Mrs. Harmer:- Oh! sir; I hope you will have mercy upon us for the sake of our
children!
Mrs. Mepham also pleaded her small family.
Recorder:- What mercy had you upon the tradesmen's children?
Alter some further information from the Superintendent, the Recorder proceeded
to pass sentence. He said this was a most extraordinary case and there was a
deal of mystery in it. Generally speaking these offences were committed by
persons who were well known to the authorities of the Mint; but here the
prisoners were living with their husbands, and were therefore the more
dangerous.
Mrs. Mepham:- Mrs. Harmer called, and asked me to go out with her!
Recorder:- It is no use attempting to impose upon us here with a plausible
statement; but, as there is some little appearance of decency about you, and it
may reasonably be supposed you are not accustomed to pursue the imposition for
which you have been tried, and may probably have been imposed upon by others,
the sentence of the Court is that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for
twelve calendar months.
|
