A Birmingham Forger

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

A Birmingham Forger

NEW housing development in Birmingham has aroused interest in the romantic past of the city's vanishing northern fringe. Percy Barr's 200-aore farm osta te is to he cut 11 p. The farm was occupied at the beginning i>f the nineteenth century hy William Booth, who was one of the most notorious criminals in the nefarious practices of a forger and coiner. The farmhouse had walled-up staircases, barricaded doors, and. upper rooms reached only by trapdoors and movable ladders. He was brought to trial at Stafford and handed there on Augiiet 15, 1812. Relics of his crimes in the shape of counterfeit coins a7id copper plates for engraving bank, notes have been turned up at intervals in the vicinity of the farm. Booth was one of the few who about this time suffered the capital punishment for crimes other than murder. For it is remarkable to recall that, right up to the beginning of the nineteenth century, capital punishment was inflicted by the law for over 200 different crimes—picking packets, taking rabbits, stealing go(.ds up to five shillings and even smaller offences entailed (lie death penalty. It was not until 18.'i2 that this wr.plty was abolished, in the case of cattle, horse and sheep stealing, and still later on for larceny, forgery, burglary a'ld other crimes. I he offence for which Booth was condemned to death was for forging a silver Bank of Kngland tol.'-n for live shillings. But Booth's fanuli mice at. Queslett was really a factory, where thousands of bank notes and coins were counterfeited. In this way he is said to have amassed half a million pounds. At this period bank notes were issued by hundreds of private banks as well as the Bank of Kngland. Booth is said to have been twice tried, twice hung, and twice buried. The first trial was for the murder of his brother at (or near) Wootton VVawen; this trial took place at Warwick Assizes on April S. ISOS. The judge was against conviction and Booth was released. The first attempt to hang him was frustrated by the rope slipping from the gallows tree, and it was a full quarter of an hour before the drop was again prepared. This time it proved effectual. The body was brought to Handsworth aad was buried near the wall of the parish church. When the reconstruction of St. Mary s took place in lSVti tin? remains were removed and re inter red in that narrow strip of the yard opposite the door of the Wyrley Chapel. <S>