Speaking of the site newspapers.com, here is a clip from the 1732 Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia). Note that at the time cue sticks did not have tips and the Piftols were loaded by hand. The story seems to have come from Bath, England and the perp had been a fellow at Oxford.
A half crown would be 2 1/2 shillings or 1/8 of a pound.
A half crown would be 2 1/2 shillings or 1/8 of a pound.