dissolve the coats of the stomach; formér trial three masters had sent but it might operate both ways, and up a good character of her. produce mortification, or such ge- Mr Justice Best observed, that a neral inflammation as would cause charge of murder must be considerdeath.

ed as proved where the death is ocNicholas Churchill.-I am a sur- casioned by the act of the prisoner, geon at Buckfastleigh, and was call- unless the evidence is sufficient to ed to a child at the house of William reduce it below that degree of Veysey, at four o'clock in the after- crime. The only question here was noon of the 24th of October, and found not the degree of guilt, but whether the child breathing with difficulty, the child died by the act of the and unable to swallow. The whole prisoner. If the evidence now adsurface of the body was livid, and duced could have been adduced the surface of the mouth destroyed under the former indictment, then by strong mineral acid : from the ap- she has once been tried, and canpearance of the nose, I am convinced not be tried again ; but this is a it was oil of vitriol. While the matter question to be submitted to the was fresh in my mind I tried oil of vi- twelve Judges. The question for triol on my own finger, and the colour the Jury was, did the poison, by the produced was exactly the same as that means stated, produce the death of on the child. Oil of vitriol, if dropped the child? The learned Judge then on linen, would destroy the texture, commented ably on the evidence, and and turn it brownish; the apron was observed, that many circumstanchecked blue and white, and was ces of small import individually conturned red. The die of the blue is sidered, when occurring together, indigo, and the natural effect of oil acquired a cumulative force, which of vitriol would be to turn it red. I in many cases gave to circumstanthink a person might distinguish oil tial evidence a weight beyond that of vitriol from other acid. I think of almost any single positive testithe child died from inflammation, mony. causing swelling and suffocation, and The Jury, after a pause of a few that that was occasioned by applica- minutes, pronounced a verdict of tion of a strong acid, which I believe Guilty. Objections were then taken to be oil of vitriol.

to the indictment, which the learned Cross-examined. I did not open Judge stated should form part of the the body. If oil of vitriol were pour- case which he intended to submit for ed suddenly into the mouth, it is the opinion of the twelve Judges. possible, but not probable, that it would find its way into the stomach. The throat would contract. If it got to the stomach, it would not so sud

COINING. denly cause death as inflammation of the throat and suffocation would. It Staffordshire Assizes.-Crown Side, would excite vomiting. The child

August. did not vomit, as far as I saw.

Prisoner put in a paper denying Joseph Wilkes, Thomas Earp alias her guilt. She alluded in it to her Reddall, and John Duffield, stood having brought up other children indicted for having, at the parish of tenderly, complained of prejudices Darlaston, in the county of Stafford, against her, and stated that on the feloniously and traitorously made

ness.

nd counterfeited a certain piece of Earp had a parcel, containing 1140 coin to the likeness of a shilling, blanks of a similar kind. Shortly

Mr Jervis, the leading counsel for afterwards Wilkes arrived with an he prosecution, said, that the ass and a pair of saddle-bags, in charge against the prisoners was which were found 2589 base shil. high treason. The principal evi- lings, all impressed, complete and fit Hence he should call was an accom- for circulation. Duffield was not plice of the name of Bolton, whose present; but in his house was found testimony it would, therefore, be the à base shilling, which would be produty of the jury most minutely and ved to have been struck from the carefully to watch, and not to be- same die as those in the saddle-bags. lieve it unless fully supported by On the premises were also found two other and unimpeached evidence. iron presses and a large stamp, inIn March last Bolton went to Dar- struments which he used in his busilaston, where he met Duffield, who With regard to the prisoners lived there, and proposed to walk in Duffield and Wilkes, there could be the fields. When they were there, no doubt as to their conviction, from Bolton asked him whether he knew conversations held by them with the Mrs Bissaker, (a woman lately exe- constables ; and there would be no cuted at Warwick for coining:) He difficulty as to Earp's case, he having said he had known her. Bolton then been seen by Mr Green, on the 17th asked if he would do some work (by of July, to exchange parcels with which was meant coining) for him. Wilkes, and having been apprehendDuffield agreed, and the price to be ed with a large quantity of the paid for stamping the impressions blanks in his possession. upon the blanks was 3s. per gross.

John Bolton said, he was originally Many subsequent meetings of the a die-sinker, but had not worked at prisoners would be proved, and that that business for many years.' He on one occasion the son of Mrs knew the prisoner Duffield; he met Bissaker was present. On Saturday, him in March last at the Waggon the 17th of July, the prisoners Earp and Horses, in Darlaston, and proand Wilkes, and the accomplice Bol- posed to walk in the fields : when ton, met in a lane at Handsworth, they were there, he asked him whewhere they were seen by a Mrther he knew Mrs Bissaker. He Green to exchange parcels, and answered, “ Yes.". Witness then were also overheard to make an ap- asked him if he would do the same pointment for another meeting, near for him as he had done for her. The the same place, on the Wednesday prisoner said, “ What's that?” Witfollowing. On that day, the 21st of ness replied, is Stamp some shilJuly, the constables of Darlaston, lings." The prisoner said he would, in consequence of information from and asked when he could send any Green, attended at the New Inn, over? Witness said, in a few days Handsworth, and apprehended the he should come to Birmingham, and prisoners. Bolton and Earp came they agreed to meet at a publicfirst; and, when seen, Bolton drop- house in Livery-street. The prisonped a small parcel into the ditch, er said he would have 6d. per score, which, however, he said belonged but witness agreed to give him 3s. to him. Upon examination, it was

per gross : witness was to find the found to contain 1740 metal blanks blanks and dies. In two or three silvered, of the size of a shilling. days witness met Duffield alone at

the Three Tuns, Livery-street, Bir. places. On Wednesday, the 14th of minghám. He met him again alone July, witness and Earp met Wilkes, at the same place in a few days. in a lane at the back of the New Inn, Shortly afterwards they met a third Handsworth, and delivered him 50 time at the same house, when Duf. lbs, of blanks, to be stamped and field brought Wilkes with him; and brought to the same place on SaturWilliam Bissaker, the son of Mary day following. When witness and Bissaker, was there. Witness, Wilkes, Earp got there on the Saturday,

. and Duffield, met next at the Leo. they found that Wilkes had arrived, pard, in great Hampton-street, and and that he had his son and an ass afterwards at the same place two or with him. They left the lad sitting three times. They drank together on a bank, and went farther down at those places, and paid jointly: the lane, when they received back a there was no work yet ready. A- part of the 50 lbs. stamped, and de. bout two days after, they met near livered to Wilkes 50 pounds more St Paul's Chapel. Witness did not blanks, which he was to bring back then deliver any thing to Wilkes; stamped, on the Wednesday after, but between that place and the and they appointed to meet in a lane, Leopard he gave him a pair of shil- opposite the New Inn, leading to ling dies, and about 30lbs. of blanks, Smethwick. They then went into silvered, and ready for striking with the New Inn, where they saw a perthe impression. Duffield was pre- son, whose name the witness now sent, and witness said he had knew to be Green, sitting on a table. brought the dies and blanks. Duf. On Wednesday, the 21st, the witfield told him to give them to Wilkes. ness and Earp went, between ten and A day or two after witness met eleven in the morning, to the lane Wilkes at the Leopard, and received appointed, and were apprehended by back the 30 lbs. of blanks, stamped the constables of Darlaston. Wit. with the impression on both sides, and ness had a parcel, inside his umbrelpaid L. 3 for them, being at the rate la, containing about 15 lbs. of blanks, of 3s. per gross, as agreed. Two or and Earp had one containing the three days after, he met Wilkes at same quantity. They were taken the Queen's-Head, Handsworth, by to the parlour at the New Inn, where appointment, and took Earp with Wilkes, and the saddle-bags, with him. They delivered to Wilkes a. the counterfeit coin, were shortly bout 30 lbs. more blanks, in the brought. Witness got the dies from same state, and to be stamped as be- Mrs Bissaker-one head and two tail fore. Nothing was said as to what was dies. He delivered one of each to to be done with them, but Wilkes Wilkes, as before stated ; and the otook them : the blanks were wrapped ther tail die (the former having been in separate papers. They had some broken) at Wilkes's house, in Dar. drink, which witness and Earp paid laston, some time after. for. In a few days, Earp and the Mr Twiss, counsel for the prisonwitness received the blanks stamped ers, said, there were here a number on both sides, from Wilkes, who of charges against them, and he brought them on an ass to the same thought it but fair that the one upplace, when another parcel of blanks on which the other side meant to was delivered to him. This traffic proceed should now be named. The was carried on two or three days a. Learned Judge acquiesced; and Sir week for some time, and at different W. Owen, in Mr Jervis's absence,

:

said, they should mainly rely on the Wilkes, whose voice he knew well, counterfeit coin found at the time of say to some one,“ Sit down.” Witthe prisoner's apprehension, and al- ness looked over the hedge, and saw so upon the base shilling found in Wilkes's son with him, and an ass. Duffield's house.

Witness observed and listened, and John Bolton cross-examined: shortly after saw two men come aThe last two parcels of blanks found long the lane. On their arrival, upon witness and Earp were about Wilkes got up and spoke to them. 30 lbs. Witness had been in the trade The three men then went further six or seven months altogether ; but down the lane with the ass, leaving had left it off some time before he met the boy sitting on the bank. Witwith Duffield. He did not know that mess then went to the end of the lane, any process was necessary, after which he crossed, and went down stamping the base coin, to harden it, the hedge side till he came within a and make it fit for circulation. Wit- short distance, where he could obness proposed the business to Duffield; serve them without being seen. Boldelivered the blanks to Wilkes, recei. ton and Earp then exchanged parcels ved them back when stamped, put with Wilkes. They appointed to them into circulation, and then in- meet the next Wednesday. Witness formed against his accomplices: he gave information of what he had could not deny that it was so. When heard and seen to Mr Partridge, the witness delivered the dies with the constable. blanks to Wilkes, Duffield was by, Thomas Partridge said, he was a and witness said what they were for; constable of Darlaston. He receiit was the subject of their conversa- ved information from Mr Green, in tion: he did not always say what they consequence of which he went with were for, and, perhaps, he might not Mr Butler, another constable, to the have said it then.

New Inn, Handsworth, on WednesJemima Longmore, daughter of day, the 21st of July, where they the landlord of the Three Tuns, Li- apprehended Earp and Bolton, as very-street, Birmingham; Elizabeth stated in the evidence of the latter. Cox, servant at the Leopard, Great Witness soon afterwards apprehend. Hampton-street; and Hannah Tur- ed Wilkes, who, after some converper, servant at the Queen's Head, sation, said, upon being asked by Handsworth, corroborated Bolton's witness what he had got, evidence, as to his meeting the pri- knowest.” Witness said, “I do." soners at those places; and Rebec. The prisoner answered, “ I wish I ca Tonks, servant to Mr Crockett, did not.” The parcel in Bolton's of the New Inn, proved that Wilkes, umbrella contained 1740 blanks, that Bolton, and Earp, came to her mas- found upon Earp 1140, and those

, ter's house on the 17th of July, and contained in Wilkes's saddle-bags that she saw them there on the day 2589 counterfeit shillings. Witness of their apprehension.

searched Wilkes's house, and, under Thomas Green said, he was a malt- a bench in the shop, found a parcel ster at Darlaston. He knew Wilkes, in an iron pot, covered with a bag, who lived there. On Saturday the containing 1377 blanks. He also 17th of July, about three o'clock in searched Duffield's house, and found the afternoon, witness was in the a counterfeit shilling, and in the shop

a garden at the New Inn, Handsworth, presses and other apparatus which which adjoins a lane, and heard he used in his trade. VOL. XII. PART II.

f

" Thee

William Payne said, he was a moneyer at the Royal Mint. The constable of Birmingham. He was shilling now produced, found in Dufsent for to West Bromwich on the field's house, and that taken from 21st of July, when he saw Wilkes Wilkes's saddle-bags, were both counapart from the other prisoners, but terfeits, and struck from the same many more persons were present, die. The others produced from the Witness told him his name, but used various parcels were also counterno threat, and made no promise. He feits, and from the same die. said, he understood the prisoner was This was the case for the prosecu• taken into custody on a charge of tion. having forged money in his posses. Mr Twiss then rose on behalf of sion, which it was material he should the prisoners, and raised the follow. account for; he was at liberty to do ing objections :- First, that to supas he pleased, but he believed it was port the present indictment, it was found upon him. The prisoner said, necessary to prove the royal prohe would tell the truth, whether for clamation under which the coin was or against him: he had the money issued, to support which objection be from Duffield, at Darlaston. Upon cited sections from various acts: And witness observing that it would take Secondly, that to bring the crime three persons to work such a press, home to an offender, he must be pror. he said, he and another worked the ed, not only to have made the impres. Ay, and Duffield fed it. Witness sion, but to have manufactured the afterwards saw Duffield at Darlas. blank, and vice versa. These objecton, apart from the other prisoners. tions were overruled. He made use of no threat or pro- Mr Justice Richardson then recamise, but said, he understood the pitulated the evidence to the Jury. prisoner was there under a charge He said, that the testimony of Bolton, of coining He then asked him, inasmuch as he was an accomplice, whether he wished to say any thing ought, as stated by the learned coun. upon it, which he was at liberty to sel for the prosecution in his open. do or not. The prisoner said, he ing, to be most scrupulously examiwas a poor unfortunate man, with a ned; and if they entertained any large family, and wanted money to doubt upon it, to be altogether dispay

his poor-rates ; he trusted, carded." But, however it was to be therefore, that mercy would be regretted that he who was not only shown to bim. On being asked by an accomplice, but the prime mover

, witness, how long he had been in could not be put to the bar,-ifit apthat way, he said, only a very short peared to them that his evidence was time; and that he had the dies from supported by such substantial and a 'person who received them from unimpeached testimony as would not Bolton. The witness took up Duf- leave a doubt upon their minds, it field's press, but found nothing sus. was then entitled to its full weight, picious about it: he had examined and they would give a verdict acthe shilling found in Duffield's house, cording to their consciences. and one taken from Wilkes's saddle- The Jury conferred together for bags, before the magistrates, and a short time, and then pronounced a they were both struck from the same verdict of Guilty against all the pridie.

soners. Mr George Atkinson said, he was