QSR1895/4/5/1/b

Depositions of Henry Chamberlain of Luton and William Elston of London. In the case of Williams Syers, accused of obtaining sums of money by false pretences.

27 July 1895

From: 1895 To: 1895

Henry Chamberlain: [Cross-examined] He met the prisoner at the station in St. Albans on 1st June at about 9pm. The prisoner said that he only had an hour and a half to spare. He read the agreement through and signed it. The prisoner said that he must pay the money before the prisoner proceeded. The prisoner did not mention to him that he was to keep the £1 5s until he was appointed and that he may not get the money returned if he was not successful. He met the prisoner again on the 8th June at Luton station. He received correspondence from the prisoner after this date regarding office premises. He wrote a letter on the 19th June stating that he was dissatisfied with a lack of communication regarding coal. William Elston: An insurance agent living in London. On the 30th April he was introduced to the prisoner for a manager role at a coal depot. The prisoner led him to believe that the coal company was in existence and of worth. The prisoner did not mention shares. He met the prisoner again on the 1st May where the prisoner produced a written memorandum of Manager’s Terms of Great Britain Coal Company. The prisoner mentioned shares but not amounts. A couple of days later the prisoner told him that he would have to take 10 shares at £1 each. He paid the prisoner £2 and was told to pay the rest later. He met the prisoner on the 18th May and paid him £5 for shares. He received a receipt from the prisoner. He had previously paid the prisoner on the 15th May the sum of £1 5s as a premium of a guarantee policy of £100 which the prisoner was to obtain. Again he received a receipt from the prisoner which was headed the Bank Assurance and Guarantee Company Limited. He did not receive any guarantee policy. He signed an agreement on the 15th May and on the 17th June he received a copy of the agreement. He did not receive any coal. He worked to get shareholders for the company and received £14 2s 6d from shares which he handed over to the prisoner.

item

Chamberlain, Henry,
Elston, William,
Syers, William

LUTON, London, false pretences