AS part of our weekly Crime Files series, we are taking a look back at the archives to bring you stories from Herefordshire's history.
The following story dates from 1850.
A FORGER was sentenced to 15 years transportation after he was caught out using fake bank notes at shops in Hereford.
George Caldecott appeared before Hereford Assizes in March 1850 accused with forgery and uttering forged notes.
The court heard that Caldecott had entered a draper's shop in Hereford's St Peter's Street on December 22 1849, trying on eight or nine coats and paying for his pick, priced at £1 8s with a £5 note.
He had also used another £5 note to pay for a pound of 'the best' tea from a Mr Wilson, paying 8s and receiving the change, and doing the same again at Mr Huxton's grocery shop, paying 5s for another pound of tea and taking the change.
He had also bought two handkerchiefs from Mr Gethen's drapers shop, paying 8s and receiving the change again from another £5 note claiming to be from the the Monmouth and Abergavenny Bank.
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But his number was up after drapery owner Mr Maclean became suspicious of the note he had been given, taking it to the superintendent of police, Mr Adams.
Following information received, Mr Adams and Mr Maclean travelled to Birmingham, where the shopkeeper identified Caldecott from a line-up of prisoners being held under arraignment by the public court.
In court, it was confirmed by Mr Ashwin, a clerk in the bank of Messrs Crawshay, Bailey, and Co, that the notes were all forgeries.
It was heard that between 6pm and 8pm on the evening of December 22, a busy market day in the city, at least 12 forged notes were passed in Hereford, while more of the same notes had also been used in Monmouth, Bristol, and other places.
The judge said Caldecott was "evidently from a sink of iniquity" and condemned him for his offences, which he said were calculated to bring utter ruin upon respectable and honest tradesmen.
Caldecott was sentenced to 15 years transportation for the offences, in addition to a further 10 years transportation to which he was sentenced at Birmingham.
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