The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-17 00:00:00

DOW-STREET.

Yesterday Thomas Joltnson, Mary Johnson, and
John Reilly, were placed at the bar, before Mr.
BECKETT, a county Magistrate, charged with haw-
ing in their possession several counterfeit shillings
and sixpences.
Mr. Thomas, the superintendent of police, in
consequence of information he received, proceeded.
at nine o'clock that morning, accompanied by Ser.
Jenne Lovegrove and two police constables, to the
first floor of the house No. 37, Dedfordbury, in
which he was given to understand that coining was
going on. Upon bunting open the door, some
person within tittered a cry of terror. The three
prisoners were in the room, and .Tohnson had an
open knife in his hand, which he raised in a me-
nacing manner, as if with an intention of striking
Mr. Thomas. He immediately put a loaded 11,s-
tol to his head, and told him to surrender, or he
would blow his brains out. He then seized the
knife, and wrenched it from the grasp of the pri-
soner, and in doing so cut his hand slightly. Six-
teen shillings and thirteen sixpences (all counter--
kit) were found on the table and about the persons
of the prisoners.
The coin was here produced by Mr. Thomas and
his assistants. The shillings in particular were ad-
mirably executed, end but for a slight deficiency in
height were calculated to impose upon the most
cautious persons.
At the suggestion of Mr. Powell, jun. who with
Mr. Field, the Mint Inspector, appeared on behalf
of the prosecution, the prisoners were remanded
until Mr. Halls (who was subpoenaed to the Court
of King's Bench) should be in attendance to receive
the evidence.

The prisoner Johnson, who is an elderly grey-
headed man, has been nearly all his life engaged in
the desperate trade of coining and uttering ba,e
money. lle has been several times in custody
both at this office and elsew here, and has appeared
at the bar of the Old Bailey. on many occasions.
On his last appearance there, he was charged with
coining, but although the evidence tended strongly
to prove the fact, and notwithstanding that the
Judge (Mr. justice James Parke) charged the
July to find the prisoner guilty, he was acquitted,
the Jury having taken up an impression that un-
fair means had been resorted to for the purpose of
entrapping the prisoner, and causing him to be ap-
prehended at the particular moment when he was
engaged in the business of coining. (The trial oc-
casioned arthe time a good deal of-comment.) The
female, who bears his name, and who we believe
passes as his wife, although she might well. be his
daughter, appeared at the bar yesterday dressed in
a handsome slk gown, large black lace veil, and
muff and tippet. She is well known in the saloons
of the theatres, arid when taken into custody, a
letter from one of her admirers was found in her
.pocket. It is said that she lately came into posses-
sion of 8001., the.greater part of which is supposed
to have been expended in carrying on the trade of
coining,
. . . .

Mr: Field, the inspector, observed that coining
was on the increase to an alarming degree, which
xvas owing principally to the small capital now ne-
cessary to.earfy on the trade, compared with what
was fwmerly required. The white metal of which
modern base money as composed could be had for
tr-mere trifle.

After the prisoners had been removed, a little
Creole named John Middleton, who belongs to the
same gang, and lives with them, but who is charged
with a distinct offence, was also brought before Mr.
BECKETT by William Rich, a police constable, who
apprehended him in the neighbourhood of Bedford-
bury, akout an hour after the other pisoners were
taken into custody. He is well known as a
" smasher," or utterer of base money, and has ap-
peared at the bar of this office five or six times with-