George Alfred Glover

218

Dianne Jones on 7th April 2021

FOOTNOTE: ABOUT THE ORIGINAL DEATH SENTENCE George's death sentence was commuted to transportation for life as a result of his successful petition for clemency. The summary record of that petition appears below: "HO 17/51/101 ... George Alfred Glover... Crime: Uttering counterfeit coin. Initial sentence: Death. Annotated (Outcome): Sentence commuted to transportation for life. Petitioner(s): George Glover, the prisoner, supported by former employers and others in the building industry. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): The prisoner pleads his innocence of the charge. He has a reputation for being an honest, hard working man. At the time he was charged he was in regular employment and had been paid a week's wages. In view of that, and the fact that he was very conscious of having a previous conviction, he feels sure that the counterfeit coin must have been given to him in change when he spent some of that week's wages, but the previous conviction led to the Judge assuming his guilt. Date: 1831" (see https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16264804).

218

Dianne Jones on 7th April 2021

1832: On arrival in VDL, George Glover - a 32 year old stone mason - was married to Sarah with whom he had four children. His family was in London (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-16$init=CON31-1-16p91). 1850, 30 July: He received a Conditional Pardon.

218

Dianne Jones on 7th April 2021

1831, 20 October: George Alfred Glover, 31, was convicted at the Old Bailey for uttering counterfeit coin and sentenced to death, commuted to transportation for life. Below is a transcript of his trial: "Third Middlesex Jury, Before Lord Chief Justice Tenterden. #1966. GEORGE ALFRED GLOVER was indicted for that he, at the General Session of the Peace of our Lord the King, holden in and for the County of Middlesex, at the Session-house for the said County, on Monday, the 14th day of February, in the first year of the reign of William the Fourth, before Francis Const and others, Justices of our said Lord the King, assigned, &c., he was in due form of law tried and convicted upon a certain indictment against him, of being a common utterer of counterfeit coin, and thereupon it was considered by the Court that he should be imprisoned in the House of Correction at Clerkenwell, in the said County, and kept to hard labour, for one year, and at the expiration of that time that he should find sureties for his good behaviour for two years more, to be computed from the end of the said one year, pursuant to the Statue, &c.; and that he, having been so convicted, afterwards, on the 20th of September, in the second year of the reign of William the Fourth, at St. Luke, one piece of false and counterfeit money, made to the likeness of a piece of good and current money and silver coin of this realm, called a shilling, as and for a piece of good and current money and silver coin of this realm, called a shilling, unlawfully and feloniously did utter to one David Ewart, he, the said George Alfred Glover, at the time he so uttered the said last mentioned piece of counterfeit money, well knowing the same to be false and counterfeit; against the Statute, &c. MESSRS. SCARLETT and GURNEY, JUN. conducted the prosecution. DAVID EWART: I keep a coffee-stall at the corner of Atfield-street, Goswell-street. On the 20th of September, between three and four o'clock in the morning, I saw the prisoner - he had a woman with him; he asked for coffee: I gave him a cup - he gave me a sixpence, and I gave him 5d. change; in about ten minutes they both returned - they had another cup; the prisoner gave me a shilling: I gave him a sixpence and 5d.; I put the shilling into my waistcoat pocket - I had no other money there; they returned a third time in about eight minutes - the prisoner asked for more coffee; I gave him a cup, and he gave me a shilling; I had it in my hand; my suspicions were awakened, and I told him it was a bad one; he said it was a new one, and a good one, and he could find me twenty-five more if I wanted them - I said it was bad; he said he would take it back; I gave it to him, and he put it into his pocket, keeping the good change which I had given him for it - he did not give me any other shilling: he then went away with the woman - I had looked at the shilling I had in my waistcoat pocket before he left me, and told him that was also bad; I described his person to Clarkson, the Policeman, about ten minutes afterwards, and saw him in custody in about twenty minutes - I saw Clarkson search him at my stall; he resisted violently - a shilling was found on him; I went to the station-house, marked the shilling he first gave me, and gave it to Clarkson; I received no payment for the last cup of coffee. Prisoner: Q. Did the woman give you the shilling, or did I? A. He gave it me; nobody else was standing by the first time - I gave the shilling to a woman the third time, and told her to go over the way, and ask if it was bad. Q. Why not detain me then? A.You went away - I am sure the shilling produced is the one you gave me, because I put it into my pocket, where I had no other money - it was the last shilling that I gave the woman to look at; she took it across to a light, brought it back, and gave it to me- I offered it to the prisoner, who took it and kept it. JOHN CLARKSON. I am a Policeman. In consequence of information from Ewart I apprehended the prisoner in Golden-lane, about four o'clock in the morning; I took him to Goswell-street, to Ewart - I searched one of his hands, which he clasped very tight - I suspected he had something in it; he resisted very much: I at last got it open, with great force, and there was a shilling in it, which I produce; I took him to the station-house, searched him again there, and found one shilling, one sixpence, and 7d. in copper, all good money, on him - I took the woman, and found 9d. on her; I received a counterfeit shilling from Ewart, which I have had ever since - he marked it before he gave it to me. DAVID EWART: Here is my mark on this shilling - it is the first shilling I received from the prisoner. EDWARD JOSEPH POWELL: I am an inspector of counterfeit coin to the Mint. The shilling, identified by Ewart is counterfeit; the other is also counterfeit - they are both from the same mould. CALEB EDWARD POWELL: I produce a copy of the record of the prisoner's former conviction, which I examined with the original at the office of the clerk of the peace at Clerkenwell - it is a true copy - (read.) MR. GEORGE LAVAL CHESTERTON: I am governor of the House of Correction, Cold Bath-fields. I know the prisoner - he was in my custody, convicted in February Sessions, sentenced to one year in the House of Correction, with hard labour, and afterwards to find sureties; he was released on the 9th of August, by His Majesty's warrant, in consequence of a certificate of the surgeon of his ill state of health; I was present at his trial, and know him to be the person; his life was despaired of at the time the sentence was remitted.[Oct. 22.] GUILTY - DEATH. Aged 31." (see https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/)