QSR1877/3/5/9/a

Depositions and examination - George Pratt, charged with trading under the false pretence of carrying on a business within 4 months of the presentation of a petition in bankruptcy and obtaining on credit cattle from William Harris on 9 April 1877 at Luton, and with attempting to quit England with property valued £20 and upwards on 19 April 1877 with intent to defraud his creditors.

12 May 1877

From: 1877 To: 1877

Henry Ralph Bleeze of Luton – he is clerk to the Registrar of the County Court, Luton. He produces a file of proceedings in Pratt’s bankruptcy. The date of adjudication is 19 April 1877 Edward Anthony Cumberland of Park Square, Luton, auctioneer – he has been appointed trustee under the bankruptcy of George Pratt. He assists his father as an auctioneer. On Monday 9 April 5 beasts, 17 sheep and 5 pigs were sold for the bankrupt for which he was paid £165.13.0. Three beasts and 10 pigs were also offered at the same sale which were bought in at £114.15.0. [Cross-examined] Pratt has been a customer of his, a very fair one. The amount of debts proved £666.17.0 and assets besides the furniture about £260. William Harris of Willington, auctioneer – on Saturday 7 April he had a cheque from Pratt for £99.16.6. On that day Pratt bought stock from him to the amount of £95.16.6. If he had not received the cheque he should not have let him have the stock. The cheque was returned on the following Wednesday. On that day he came to Luton and went for Pratt but did not see him. On Thursday he came again and went to see him. From what he heard he went to Hemel Hempstead where he saw Pratt’s father with some stock. He could not find Pratt and has not see him since. [Cross-examined] They may have had 40 transactions with Pratt. William Pratt of Albert Road, Luton, butcher – he lives with his father and is the brother of the prisoner. He has assisted his brother now and then. On Thursday 12 April he went to Hemel Hempstead, riding in a cart with his brother. He left his brother’s service on Good Friday. He does not know whether his father was there. He stayed there about 2 hours and came back to Luton, leaving his brother. The next day they went to London by the Midland Railway from Luton. They stayed in London and went from London to Liverpool together on the following Tuesday. They took passage to America on the Tuesday. His brother arranged to pay. He came back to Hitchin. He took some notes his brother gave him - £205 altogether – to the Hitchin Bank and asked for cash, but they would not give it to him. His brother had instructed him to get cash for them and he does not know what he was to do after that – they had not made up their minds. He was to take the cash back to his brother if he did not see anybody, but if he did he was to give it up to them to be shared among the creditors. He was to go back to Liverpool. His passage had been taken in the name of George Harvey and William Harvey. His brother paid £12.12.0 altogether for it. Mr Seebohm took them away from him and he stopped a little time. He asked for cash. That was all the money he saw. David Jaquest of Luton, head constable – on Thursday 19 April he went to Liverpool and apprehended Pratt on a warrant. Pratt replied “we shall see about that”. On his way to Luton Pratt said “do you think I shall get my 12 guineas back I paid for my passage in the city of Chester from Liverpool to New York”. He searched Pratt’s box and found£14 in it. He found 9d in Pratt’s clothes [Cross-examined] Pratt was in custody when he got there. The money was in the box. He found a ticket for the passage. George Pratt – he reserves his defence.

item

Pratt, George,
Bleeze, Henry Ralph,
Cumberland, Edward Anthony,
Harris, William,
Pratt, William,
Jaquest, David

LUTON, Luton Park Square, Luton Albert Road, WILLINGTON, Hemel Hempstead, Hitchin, Liverpool, fraud, false pretences, bankruptcy, police constables, Registrar of the County Court, clerks, auctioneers, butchers, Hitchin Bank, emigration