The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-15 00:00:00

APPREHENSION OF A NOTORIOUS COINER

On Tuesday, Christopher Regler, a stout, determined
looking fellow, was placed at the bar of the Worship-
street Police Court, London, before Mr. D'Eyncourt,
charged with having been found engaged in the wholesale
manufacture of counterfeit coin. Mr. James Brennan, a
superannuated inspector of police, stated that he pro-
ceeded
on Thursday last, accompanied by Inspector
Bryant, to a detached cottage at the rear of Montague.
court, Whitechapel. The outer gate, communicating with
the yard, was securely fastened, but he burst it open wit h
a sledge hammer, and having effected an entrance at the
front door of the house by the same summary process, he
rushed in with his party to a back room on the ground
floor, where they found the prisoner. At the moment of
their entrance the prisoner was in the act of receding from
the fire place with something in this hand, which he dashed
down upon the floor and endeavoured to crush with his
feet, but he was dragged back by two of the officers, who
picked up the scattered fragments of an admirably
executed plaster of Paris mould for the fabrication of half-
crown pieces. After a desperate resistance, the prisoner
was secured by the officers, who held him fast while
witness examined the place, and discovered on the fire an
iron ladle, containing metal in a state of fusion, at the side
of which on the hob, was placed another mould in readiness
for use. On further search, a complete galvanic battery
was found upon a side table surrounded by all the usual
adjnncts for the purpose of electro plating the base coin,
of which upwards of 30 pieces, consisting of half-crowns
and shillings, were dispersed about in a finished state for
circulation. A large quantity of plaster of Paris, together
with several bags of white sand for polishing, and utensils
containing a mixture of sweet oil and colouring matter, to
impart a dull appearance to the spurious money, was also
discovered in the apartment. While he was engaged in
the search, the prisoner suddenly broke loose from the
officers, and after striking witness a violent blow in the
face, dealt him a desperate kick on the lower part of his
person, which would inevitably have disabled him for
life, if he had not managed to evade it. After a severe
struggle the prisoner was overpowered and handcuffed,
but it required the united efforts of four constables to
convey him to the station house. Alderman, the gaoler,
identified the prisoner as having been repeatedly at this
court for uttering counterfeit money, and it was intimated
by another officer that he was a well known thief, and
had been several times convicted. The prisoner, who
declined offering any defence was committed to Newgate
for trial. In the course of the afternoon, the prisoner's
wife, Jane Regler, a care worn and attenuated woman, in
an advanced state of pregnancy, was placed at the bar
upon a similar charge. Mr. Brennan stated that on the
previous evening he received information which induced
him to repair to the prisoner's cottage, and having effected
an entrance through the back window, he found that the
place had been again furnished with all the necessary im-
plements and materials for coining purposes. Two moulds
for casting florins and shillings, and a small file which had
evidently been recently used, were found upon the table,
and 37 spurious shillings were also discovered in different
parts of the room. The only person in the place was the
prisoner and two wretched looking children, and on taking
her into custody she anxiously inquired after the fate of
her husband, and declared that she did not care what
became of herself if her hapless family was provided for.
After some further evidence, the prisoner, who exhibited
extreme agitation, was fully committed for trial.