QSR1874/1/5/6/a

Depositions and examination - William Cranfield of Leighton Buzzard, commercial traveller, charged with obtaining 64 straw and felt hats from David Southam Panting by false pretences at Leighton Buzzard on 23 September 1873

30 December 1873

From: 1873 To: 1874

David Southam Panting of Leighton Buzzard, straw hat manufacturer – William Cranfield is a commercial traveller and has no fixed residence. He has known Cranfield for about 6 years. In the early part of the year he was introduced to Cranfield in business matters and then arranged with him to sell goods on commission at £5 %. Cranfield was then entrusted with stock, chiefly straw hats, and was to receive money for them and did so. This arrangement took place up to 14th August when all settlements between them were effected. On 14th August he arranged with Cranfield to sell goods from patterns and he was not to be entrusted with goods or to receive money. The letter produced [QSR1874/1/5/6/b] was written by him to Cranfield and sent to Cranfield’s residence in London. Shortly after he had an interview with Cranfield in Leighton and the terms mentioned in the letter were agreed. It was clearly stated Cranfield was not to receive stock or goods. Cranfield took orders from the patterns and goods were sent direct to the customers who sent the money direct to him. On 17 September he received the order produced which is in Cranfield’s hand writing. It was sent to him in the usual way. It was an order for £18 worth of goods to be sent to a Mr Frost and on the next day he received another letter produced enclosing Mr Frost’s address: 30 Nelson Road, Great Yarmouth. He later received another letter from Cranfield urging him to send Mr Frost’s order as it was wanted. On 23 September he sent the order to Mr Frost at the address supplied in the hamper produced. About 10 weeks or 3 months later he received the hamper back by rail with a portion of the goods only. He opened the hamper himself and there were 64 straw and felt hats missing. He had not seen Cranfield from the time he sent the order to Mr Frost until he was in custody. He obtained a warrant against Cranfield on 19th December. On Saturday 27 December he saw Cranfield at the police station in Leighton. He asked Cranfield Mr Frost’s address. Cranfield said he did not know but thought he kept a stall in the market place, that Mr Frost sent the goods back to him at Cambridge after selecting what he wanted, and that he then returned the remained. Cranfield said the goods had been laying at Cambridge 7 or 8 weeks. He asked why Frost did not send the goods back to him. Cranfield said it was because Frost was afraid he would not take the goods back because they were kept so long. He had made inquiries and could not find Mr Frost at Yarmouth and had not received any money from anyone for the missing goods. At the time the goods were ordered to be sent to Nelson Road Yarmouth Cranfield headed the letters sent to him [Panting] “Kings Arms, Yarmouth”. Eleanor Ward, wife of Charles Ward of 30 Nelson Road, Great Yarmouth (Norfolk), lodging house keeper – she has lived at Yarmouth for 18 years. About the middle of September Cranfield called on her and engaged a parlour and bedroom for himself and his wife. They stayed there from Thursday to Monday. Before he left Cranfield said he was expecting a hamper and asked her to take it in. She did so and Cranfield called for the hamper about 2 days after it arrived. She asked his name and he said “Frost”. When he took the lodgings he gave no name. He and the woman were strangers to her. The only person she knows of the name Frost at Yarmouth is a man who carries about fish and mussels. William Knight Clough, police superintendent for Leighton Buzzard division – he received Cranfield into custody on 24th December at Spittlegate near Grantham (Lincs). Cranfield made no reply to the charged. He found the letter produced on Cranfield. On 26th December Cranfield asked to see Mr Panting. They had some conversation together. William Cranfield – he does not wish to say anything.

item

Cranfield, William,
Panting, David Southam,
Ward, Eleanor,
Clough, William Knight

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Great Yarmouth, false pretences, hats, commercial traveller, straw hat manufacturer, lodging houses, police superintendent