SWINDLES AT A LONDON RAILWAY STATION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2073, 26 August 1875, Page 3

SWINDLES AT A LONDON RAILWAY STATION.

At the Lambeth police court, John Neavc, Annie Bolwell, and Arthur Keen were brought up, on remand, charged with having conspired together for the purpose of passing a large quantity of counterfeit coin at railways. Frequent complaints had been made by passengers of receiving base coin at several stations on the metropolitan line. They had not given their Addresses, but the Government hoped that many would come forward to further the ends of justice. Many of the officials at the station had been seen drinking with an alleged coiner who seemed to have the run of all the stations, and at Edgewareroad station, used; to make a signal with his stick at the pay-box to apprise the other prisoner (a booking clerk) of his arrival. On Sunday, May 6th, he was in company with Keen, and bhey went out, to a-tavern together. On more than one occasion the f porters had been seen to drink at the. expense of the coiner. On the apprehension of Neaye, tho alleged coiner of the bad money, the detective officer stated iir evidence that Nea/e said —'•I don't kaow why I should suffer when others have been doing better out of it than Ihave. To tell you the truth, I was going to take that to a clerk at the Edgeware Road Station. His name is Keen at the office, but Murrel at his pmate address, 8, Islington Green. I was going to take the coin to him at half-past 3 o'clock, but was too early. I was first introduced to him by a barman, near Aldersgate street station, and he used to supply the clerk on the railway. There was a clerk who absconded from

that station or was dismissed for passing bad money. On account of that the barman was afraid to take any more, and introduced me to Murrell at the end of January or beginning of February. After the introduction I used to take him

bad money three or four times a weefc;, He was removed from varioua stations.

He was a fortnight at the Swiss Cottage. I could not supply him fast enough. He wanted smaller coins, and I told him I did not know how,to make them, and he said, " Why don't you learn ? " I did learn to make them, and supplied him •with as many as I could of shillings and sixpences; Up to the time you took me I have supplied him at the rate of about 500 coins a week. I should not have thought to make the coin only Murrell pressed me, as he could not get sufficient. ' There are several clerks, but I don't know their names, passing bad. money, but one was at the Victoria* Murrell said to me, "Bring me as many as you can on Tuesday, as we shall want a rare lot for Whitsuntide holidays. I shall see the other clerk, and be able to tell : you the quantity we shall want." The prisoners were remanded.