In
October 1878 Elizabeth Gough of Llanidloes
was tried at the Quarter Sessions in Welshpool. She had already been in
trouble with the police twice. On this occasion she was accused of passing
on a forged golden guinea.
Witnesses stated that she had tried to change or spend the coin in the
Bell Inn and then the Queen's
Head in Llanidloes. The barmaids in both inns were suspicious
and would not take it. She then tried to spend it at Mrs Harris' shop
in Upper Green. Mrs Harris was also suspicious and refused the coin.
Elizabeth
Gough claimed the coin had been seen by the local jeweller who said it
was genuine. Nobody believed her and she was arrested by Police Sergeant
Tibbald. When questioned she said she nothing to say. This is recorded
in her statement.
Elizabeth Gough was found guilty of passing on a forged coin. As she had already been found guilty of theft the court took a stern view of the crime and the sentence was more severe as the extract from the court records below shows.
