The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1862-09-25 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE LATE UTTERING OP COUNTERFEIT COIN. Charles Pointing was again brought up on remand, charged with uttering counterfeit coin at Sherborne. The prisoner, it will be recollected, since he has been in custody has attempted to commit suicide, but he appeared to-day to have quite recovered from the effects produced, and during the hearing of the charges brought against him maintained a stolid demeanour, scarcely raising his eyes from the ground as the different witnesses gave evidence against him. The first witness called was Mr. George Caleb, an innkeeper, who deposed that he kept the George Inn, in the town, and that the prisoner MM.) to his house on the Bth of September, and lodged with him for about a month, paying for hie board and lodging during the time he was there. On Weday, September 10,the prisoner gave witness a half-crown, as he said he was about to leave, but which witness subsequently found to be a counterfeit one, and he handed it over to the police, having previously marked the coin in order that he might identify it. The half-crown produced was the same, and was .of the reign of George 111., the date being 1819. The coin was a well-made piece of money, but it looked rather dark.—P.C. Sims, stationed at Sher. borne, said that on the Bth of September he was sent for by a person to whom the half-crown had been given by Caleb. He saw the last witness, who delivered up to him the half-crown.—Mr. Edward Norman, a silversmith, proved that the half-crown produced was a counterfeit one, and he thought it was composed of pewter and zinc.—Mr. F. Cathery, manager of Messrs. Smith's and Sons book-stall at the Sherborne Railway Station, deposed that he knew the prisoner by sight. On the Bth of this month he saw him at the station, at about half-pant 11 in the morning. Prisoner desired him to give him change of half-a-crown, which witness did, giving him four sixpences, and two three penny pieces. The prisoner left the station by the 11.30 down train. At the time he was giving prisoner change he told him ho thought the money was not good, when prisoner replied "that he thought it was not," and made motions as if about to give another, but witness thought it was all right, and put the half-crown into his waistcoat pocket. Upon further examination, however, when the prisoner was gone, he found that the coin was a bad one, and he delivered it up-to the police. Witness identified the half-crown as the one he had received from the prisoner.—P.C. Sims corroborated portions of the last witnesses evidence.- -The prisoner, in answer to the magistrate as to whether he had anything to say in answer to the charge, replied "That he had nothing to say," and declined to sign his name.— The second charge was then proceeded with, when Mr. James Whittaker, landlord of the White Hart Inn, Greenhill, deposed thaton the sth of September, prisoner came to his house and asked for threepenny worth of rum, but not being able to obtain it, bought a cigar, in poyrnent of which he tendered half-a-crown, and his " MiSSilii" gave the change to I . prisoner, putting the half-crown into the tilL Mary Ann Whittaker, wife of the last witness, said she received half-a-crown which the prisoner had given to her husband in payment for a cigar, and she gave the change to prisoner. On the 10th instant, owing to accounts she had heard of a person parsing bad half-crowns, she looked at the half-crown she bad received from prisoner, and ultimately arrived at the conclusion that it was a bad one.—Mr. Norman deposed that the half-crown produced was of the same metal, and bore the same date and inscription as the former ones.—P.C. Sims said from information which he received he apprehended the pnsoner on the 10th of September at Yeovil station, on the charge of uttering counterfeit coin. After he was in custody he marched him, and found 9s. 2icl. in good money in his pockets, and four counterfeit half-crowns. Both the good and bed money were mixed together in his pockets— The prisoner said "that he had nothing to say," and again refu.ual to sign his name, and be was again remanded until Monday next, the depositions in the meantime being forwarded to the authorities at the Mint.