Holograph accounts of three successful trials of counterfeiters, adduced as precedents to show that such crimes could be prosecuted long after they were committed, and could be accounted high treason Isaac Newton c. 824 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 After 13 April 1696, c. 824 words.

[See Craig, NATM, 20-21.]

 MINT 19/1/482, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/482 After 13 April 1696 England English Holograph MintClippers, Coiners and Embezzlers Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Will ScottTagged transcription

At a Sessions held at yethe old Bayly one & his wife were indicted by G. Macy for a misdemeanour for having clippings & clipping instruments found in their house at Elin mare Acton in Middlesex. The evidence for the King were IJohn Whitwood, David Tuccar & a Constable: who deposed that by virtue of my LdLord chief Iustice Holt's warrant they went to yethe said 's house in expectation to find there several Highway-men, as my LdLord was informed were harboured there; But they found no person in the house save yethe man & his wife. The witnesses searched yethe house for arms, instead of wchwhich they found clippings, clipt money, filings, sheers, files &c & brought yethe same together wthwith yethe man & woman before my LdLord Chief Iustice Holt who committed them to Newgate. Vpon their arraignmtarraignment they pleaded not guilty & being brought upon their trial my LdLord Ch.Chief I.Iustice called for yethe Indictment & read it, complaining ytthat yethe crime was of a higher nature then that Bill set forth, wchwhich he ordered to be quasht & commanded yethe sdsaid G. M. to go to Hickses Hall & cause a Bill to be drawn for High Treason wchwhich yethe Iustices there upon yethe Bench were of opinion ought not to be don. Yet upon Macy & Tuccar their making oath it was his LopsLordships command did at last permit it, but it was with great difficulty that they themselves perswaded yethe Gr.Grand Iury to find the Bill. The men & his wife were arraignd tryed & found guilty upon it. In their defence they alledged that these things did belong to persons who frequented their house. And if it were otherwise it could be but circumstantial evidence against them, for ytthat the law required two eye witnesses of yethe matter of fact. My LdLord replied they misconstrued the statute, that these instruments were sufficient evidence the sheers supplying yethe place of one witness, the filings of another the files & rough clipt money of another.

A year & half ago at an Assize at Lancaster a person was there tried before my LdLord Ch.Chief Iustice Treby & convicted for counterfeiting of money upon a bill of Indictment found against him eighteen years before. for that he had fled & lived in Ireland but newly returned was taken & yethe same witnesses being alive appeared against him. Ergo an Indictment is not invalidated by time alone.

482

About 23 or 4 years since one Momforth a Dutchman having acquaintance wthwith yethe Casshire of Monsr Vanderesch who is paymaster of yethe Dutch forces: persuaded or tempted yethe said Clerk (or Casshire) to be confederate with him in clipping on money. Momfort being in private wthwith yethe Casshire proposed how he should quickly get an estate & told him yethe manner by shewing him some clipt money out of one pocket & broad money outin of another, saying this narrow was made so from this broad this very day & I my self did it. Further that yethe young man should be only concerned to furnish him broad money for clipt & should receive only 2s in yethe pound advantage. The Casshire was surprized within himself but did not show it outwardly & as soon as they parted he discoveddiscovered this intrigue to his Master who made it known to Mr Bridgman of yethe Secretaries office & he advised that the Casshire should comply wthwith yethe proposals of Momfort & exchange money wthwith him, but wthwith all to contrive ytthat a witness or two should be in yethe next room to hear & see what was done. And it happend that there was only a wainscot between yethe Room where the Casshire received & paid this mony & yethe other room where the witnesses conceald themselves & through a crevise saw & heard Momfort at an appointed time pay 5℔ in clipt money unto the Casshire in liew of broad money & threw down 4 clipt half crowns for yethe exchange at 2s per pound. But the Casshire returned it saying, Let it alone till the next time. Another day he brought 5℔ more of clipt money & paid to yethe Casshire in lieu of so much broad money together with 8 clipt half crowns for yethe exchange of both summs. This was in like manner observed by the aforesaid witnesses. The third time Momfort brought about 20℔ in clipt money & was exchanging the same wthwith yethe 2 witnesses, rusht in upon them & secured the man (Momfort) & the money. Mr Attorney general Treby directed a Bill of high Treason to be brought against him, & my Lord Ch.Chief Iustice Polluxfin being then upon yethe Bench ordered the statute to be read wher & directed yethe Iury to find him guilty for aiding & abetting wchwhich was as much Treason as clipping. And accordingly he was found guilty & executed.