This Day in History – 22 July 1850

The Curious Case of the Bread Coiner

🧑‍⚖️ The Trial:

On 22 July 1850, Frances Henesey, a 36-year-old widow, stood before the Old Bailey accused of uttering counterfeit coin — not by passing it in a shop, but by shoving it into a baker’s hand and bolting.

---

🍞 The Crime:

Frances entered Mr Ransom’s bakery and asked for a loaf of bread. The moment the baker placed it on the counter, she flung down a fake shilling, grabbed the bread, and fled into the street. Ransom gave chase, calling out, “Stop that woman! She’s given me bad money!”

She was eventually caught — with no bread and no explanation.

---

🎙️ In Her Defence?

Frances offered no defence. No witnesses. No story. When asked if she wished to say anything, she simply replied:

“No.”

The court was unimpressed. The jury deliberated quickly.

---

⚖️ Verdict:

Guilty.

🪙 Sentence:

One year in prison.

---

🔍 Why It Matters:

• Coining offences — passing counterfeit money — were common but harshly punished in Victorian England.
• Frances’s method was unusual: a grab-and-dash, more reminiscent of modern petty theft than organised counterfeiting.
• Her silence in court added to the mystery — was she desperate, defiant, or just resigned?

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)