Ellen Reason

42

Alison Ellett on 25th December 2022

Ellen Reason or Helen Gwynn (an alias), was convicted of uttering counterfeit coin and was sentenced to 10 years at the Quarter Sessions Before Mr Baron Rolfe. 2345. ELLEN REASON, alias Ellen Gwynn, was indicted for uttering counterfeit coin, she having been before convicted of a like offence. Messrs. Bodkin and Espinasse conducted the Prosecution. CALEB EDWARD POWELL. I am assistant-solicitor to her Majesty's Mint. I produce an examined copy of the record of the conviction of Ellen Reason at this Court in the November Sessions, 1841 - I have myself compared it with the original record - (read.) ROBERT HORNE (police-sergeant S 14.) I know the prisoner - she is the person who is mentioned in this certificate - I was present at her trial. GEORGE THORNE. I am nephew to Thomas Thorp, a linen-draper, in Clapham-road. On Saturday, the 16th of July, the prisoner came into my uncle's shop, between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning - she purchased half a yard of linen, which came to 9d., and she gave me a five-shilling piece - I saw it was bad. I showed it to my uncle - she after went and spoke to my uncle, and went away - I followed her to the Devonshire-road, and gave her in custody to Biggs. THOMAS THORP. I saw the prisoner in my shop on the 16th of July - my nephew brought me a bad crown-piece - I was at the opposite side of the shop - the prisoner came over to me, and said she was not aware that it was bad - I asked her name - she would not tell me - she said that she lived five minutes' walk from our house, but she did not know where - I asked her where she got the crown - she said she did not know - my nephew had given it to me - I kept in my hand - I afterwards marked it, and gave it to the policeman. PRISONER. The gentleman punished me five days for the five-shilling piece, I was remanded five days for it, and was turned up by the Magistrate. WITNESS. She went up on Monday, and was remanded five days, and then discharged. JOSEPH BIGG (police-sergeant V 8.) I was on duty in Devonshire-road on the 16th of July - the prisoner was given in charge to me by George Thorne - I received from Thorp this crown-piece - the prisoner was taken before the Magistrate on Monday, the 18th, remanded till the Friday following, and discharged. THOMAS WOOTTEN. My father keeps the Queen's Head, Little Pulteney-street. On the 23rd of July the prisoner came there for half-a-pint of beer, between eleven and twelve o'clock in the forenoon - it came to 1d. - she gave me a bad shilling in payment - I bit it, and told her it was bad - she said she did not know it, and did not know where she got it - I then called in the policeman, and gave her into custody, with the shilling. PRISONER. You put it in the till with more silver, then took it out, bit it, and gave me the change. WITNESS. I put it in the till, but there was no other shilling there, only sixpences - I afterwards bit it. JOHN M'LOCKLIN (police-constable C 152.) I took the prisoner, and received this shilling from Wootten - I afterwards cut it with a knife. MR JOHN FIELD. I am inspector of coin to the Mint - this crown-piece and shilling are both counterfeit. GUILTY. Aged 18. - Transported Ten Years. Henry Buckler, The Whole Proceedings of the Central Criminal Court, held on Monday August 22nd 1842, George Herbert, London, Cheapside, 1842.