655. WILLIAM STORER proceedingsdefend and MARY JONES proceedingsdefend were indicted for that they on the 19th of September last with force and arms, one piece of copper money of this realm called an halfpenny, unlawfully and feloniously did make, coin, and counterfeit, against the form of the statute .

A second count. For that they on the same day, one piece of false, seigned, and counterfeit copper money to the likeness and similitude of the good, legal, and current copper money of this realm, called an halfpenny, unlawfully and feloniously did make, and coin against the form of the statute.

WILLIAM PAYNE < no role > This name instance is in set 2582. sworn.

On the 19th of last month I went to execute a warrant on the prisoner Storer; I went about six o'clock, the door was opened by a person who said she was Storer's wife; I had the care of her in the parlour: I saw Storer in the passage, I did not see any of the things.

WILLIAM SEASONS < no role > sworn.

I am a constable. I went to the house, No. 28, Red-cross-street , I went in next to Mr. Payne; I saw a woman coming up out of the cellar in the middle of the passage, and Storer was upon the stairs, two or three stairs down, and was coming as from the cellar, after that I went down into the cellar expecting to find some people there, I supposed there were more people in the cellar, and there being no light I tumbled down; I believe there were two people that escaped, I believe so from the number of candles, I found eight or nine candles by the side of the press all hot, but one quite scalded me; I found a fly, and a press, and the dies in one, a little further lay the cutting-out press; there were dies in the stamping press, and several halfpence round it; beyond that was a pile of skeleton copper which the blanks are cut from: between the copper and the cutting out press, there were three bags of halfpence; behind that there were several sheets of copper. (The dies and sheet skeleton copper produced. The halfpence correspond with the dies; Storer's hands appeared black, his sleeves tucked up; he was dressed in a brown waistcoat and slippers on; the women's hands were dirty and appeared to be at work, I believe the woman who opened the door had a candle in her hand, the candles lay on the ground.

What quantity of halfpence did you find? - I suppose about half a bushell of half-pence.

Prisoner's Counsel. You are sure these dies that you produced are not the same that was here on the last trial? - As much as your brief is the same as that on the last trial.

It was the evening when you went to the house? - It was not dark, but sufficient to have candles lighted.

There was a glimmering light? - The light was from her that I saw the parties, sh e held a candle in her hand.

Just now you said you did not know that she had a candle in her hand? - I did not say so.

Yes you did. - I believe she had; I got a fall there, I fell about three or four stairs towards the cellar.

What did the good woman do at the door? - She was in the passage; Payne carried her into the parlour, but not before I had a sight of the parties.

Nobody was below in the cellar? - Eight or nine candles there were; I tried the nearest and pinched it, then I put my hand on the rest as they lay on the ground, and they all appeared to be warm.

Then the tallow was hot? - I did not try the wicks, I put my hand on them as I took them up, there were eight or nine.

This woman is a servant? - The person said so, her hands were dirty, and she was quite in a flurry.

Well she might, seeing you gentlemen come into the house; how soon was it afterwards that Payne got sight of the man? - Payne had the man, I told him to take care of the man and the woman; and he kept in the parlour all the while.

Have you got all the instruments for coining here, or in the yard? - No, they are not.

Counsel for Prosecution. There was every thing compleat for the business of coining? - Every thing; it was supposed to be the best press in London.

THOMAS ISAACS < no role > sworn.

I was at this house with Seasons and Payne on the 19th of September about six in the evening; Seasons and I, and Gates and Payne: Seasons going down the stairs, seized Storer, he said who is that? a man answered us, my name is Storer; I followed Season immediately and took him into custody, I met the woman (the prisoner Jones) about a yard off the stairs, she had a bed gown on, to the best of my knowledge it was a striped one; upon that I took and ordered her into custody, I left them in the care of Payne and another officer; immediately I ran down stairs after Seasons, he says here they are, turn this round, and I turned the fly round, and he pulled out the dies, and round the dies there was a quantity of halfpence ready finished; the candle that had been in it was quite hot, for it burnt the tops of my fingers; after that they took the things down, and went and searched the rooms, in the room of Storer where he said he lay, I found these things in the closet, and one of these dies, the impression of a woman's head; and this handkerchief he owned to be his, and another which lay in the closet where the halfpence was; when I first saw Storer his coat and waistcoat were unbuttoned.

Prisoner's counsel. When you followed your friend Seasons down below, you did not discover any body below, did you? - Nobody Sir, not down below in the cellar.

Have you ever been lucky enough to make any of these discoveries before? - No Sir.

Do you understand the process of coining? - No Sir, I do not, I should be very sorry to know any thing about it; I do not know how many people are necessary to carry on the business, and I do not want to know.

You were unlucky enough to burn your self with the same candle that Seasons took hold of? - Yes.

Pray do you know Barney Brooks < no role > ? - There is a person at the Compter named Barney, but I do not know his other name.

Court. You went immediately after Seasons? - Yes, I believe it might be the space of a minute.

You saw Seasons go down and meet Storer at the stair's head? - Yes.

With his coat and waistcoat unbuttoned? - Yes.

Court. Seasons says he was on the third step, how is it possible, that, between that and the place where you saw him, he could put on his coat? - I do not know, it was on.

Was there any light in the passage? - None till we called for one.

JOSEPH GATES < no role > sworn.

On the 9th of September I went with these gentlemen, Mr. Payne was the first that entered the house, Seasons was the next, I was the next; and as soon as I got in I pushed up about three or four stairs, and they cryed out, we have got them; I pushed down stairs and turned the fly in which Seasons took the very dies out; he said I am as well used to coining business as you are; I turned the fly, and found the half-pence in the closet.

Were all the things necessary for the coining business in that cellar? - Yes certainly.

Prisoner's counsel. Was there any light? - No, there was no light.

Court. Was there any other way in or out of that cellar, where you saw the instruments of coining, but the stairs? - No, my Lord.

You know what is necessary to carry on the business of coining? - Yes.

There is generally three or four employed? - Yes, it was a very large fly.

Court. Was it possible for that business to have been carried on by that man, and that woman only? - I do not think it was my Lord, it is so very heavy.

JOHN NICHOLS < no role > , Monier of the Mint. sworn.

These half-pence are counterfeits, both sets of them.

Are they compleat? - Not very compleat, but in their way they will pass.

PRISONER STORER's DEFENCE.

I could like for Barney to be examined; I was dressed as I am now, he will witness the same; it is all a falsity; if you please to examine him, I subpoened him: I was coming down stairs; I have been very ill, I have been ordered upon duty.

PRISONER JONES's DEFENCE.

I know nothing of the matter; I came to Mrs. Storer the latter and of May, she had a fever; and I was taken ill the latter end of June, myself, and had not been well a fortnight, before these gentlemen came into the house; nor were my hands dirty.

For the prisoner Storer.

BARNARD BROOKS < no role > sworn.

I am servant to Mr. Kirby; I was at this house, and went with Payne and Gates; when we first went in, it was quite dark, we called for a light, I went in after Mr. Payne; and they sung out for a light; I thought it was Mrs. Storer that ran into the parlour; I went on in the dark to she bottom of the stairs; the top of the cellar stairs I listened, and heard some little noise, I said, who is here? a man made answer, a friend; I took him by the collar and brought him in, and it proved to be the prisoner at the bar; he was dressed as he is now, in such a coloured coat.

Court. Did Seasons see this man before you laid hold of him? - To the best of my knowledge, he did not; we were at another house first.

Prisoner's counsel. You are servant to Mr. Kirby? - Yes.

You went with these people? - Yes.

Who went in first? - Payne and Gates, I went in after them two.

Payne went in first, the next was Gates? - Yes Sir to the best of my knowledge, I followed them immediately after.

Then Seasons did not follow Payne? - I believe Gates followed Payne, and Seasons after that, I came after immediately: Payne was the first man that knocked at the door; I do not know when Isaacs went in.

Have you heard what Seasons has said? - I am but just now called in, I think it was Mr. Gates and Payne, and Seasons the third, and I was the next.

When you came in, you could not see any body? - Only the woman that opened the door.

The man you did not see at all? - No, they sung out for a light.

If there had been a light you could not have seen him? - I do not think I could.

Where was this man? - At the top of the cellar stairs.

Did you see him come out of that cellar? - No, I went backwards; I am sure he was either a step down, or else at the top, I imagine he was coming out of the cellar, by that, I made no observation of his hands; I took particular notice of his coat, when I got him to the light, he was dressed in the same coloured cloth coat he is now.

Counsel for the prosecution. In whose custody has he been? - In Wood-street.

In your custody? - Yes.

Prisoner's counsel. He has been under the custody of Mr. Kirby, as good an officer as any.

JONATHAN PARTRIDGE < no role > sworn.

I have been at the house where this person was taken up, I have seen the landlord, his name is his John Dickson < no role > .

Then he as a lodger takes his apartment from the owner of the house? - Yes, here is an agreement.

Court. Does Dickson live in the house? - I do not know.

The prisoner called four witnesses, who gave him a good character.

Court to Brooks. How long is that passage that leads to the cellar stairs? - I should take it about five or six yards, it is a dark passage.

Does it lead to any other place besides the cellar stairs? - No further than up stairs.

(The Jury went out some time, and when they returned)

From Jury. Where did you find the handkerchief that had the half-pence in it? - In the closet up one pair of stairs, I asked Storer, he said it was his.

WILLIAM STORER < no role > GUILTY .

MARY JONES < no role > ' NOT GUILTY .

Tried by the London Jury, before Mr. Baron EYRE < no role > .

[Imprisonment. See summary.]