Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/19

Rh Thus, while we are yet writing, it is placed upon record, that the hangers-on, or helpers, at the great public inns, are engaged in the most dangerous species of cheatery; one of those useful persons, at the Swan with Two Necks, Ladlane, was brought to Hatton Garden office, January 28, 1818, charged with passing bad notes, &c. "He had been in the habit, for four years before, of procuring customers to go by their coaches, for which he received a pecuniary reward," said the clerk at that inn: to this information Mr. John Lees, inspector of bank notes at the Bank of England, stated to the magistrates, "that there was scarcely a coach-office in town but forged notes (similar to that now produced from the Swan) had been passed at, and afterwards brought into the bank."

About a year before this, a "jobber," one George Meacock, who "hung about" the Queen's Head, corner of St. John's Street, for years, under the appearance of a general dealer and smuggler, and was supposed to be rich, since he lived comfortably,—was hanged for the same offence. He was always furnished with good smooth whites; which, according to the time of day, was the flash for bad shillings, as screens is for forged notes of the Bank of England.