QSR1895/4/5/1/c

Depositions of William Elston, Frank Selway, Richard William Blackhall, Frank Collins and William Chamberlain. In the case of Williams Syers, accused of obtaining sums of money by false pretences.

30 July 1895

From: 1895 To: 1895

William Elston: [Cross-Examined] He did not remember whether he signed the Memorandum of Association. He signed a Memorandum but he did not understand that it was a memorandum of Association. Frank Selway: He became acquainted with the prisoner through an advertisement for a manager position in the Daily News. Some time in May he corresponded with the prisoner. He filled out a guarantee form and sent it along with £1 5s to the prisoner. He paid £5 for his shares and received a shares receipt from the prisoner. He later received a shares certificate from the prisoner. He did not receive a guarantee policy. He did not do any work for the company and did not receive any materials. [Cross-Examiend] He did not commence his appointment as he did not pay his balance for £5 of shares. He was frequently pressed by the prisoner to pay the balance of £5 on the shares. [Cross-Examined] He thought the list of directors was very indifferent. Richard William Blackhall: A stationer with a small shop, living in London. The prisoner was a customer. About the 1st June the prisoner approached him regarding a Coal Company. The prisoner told him that he was a manager to a General Insurance Company and about taking shares in a Coal Company. The prisoner got him to sign an agreement which the prisoner was to take to Somerset House. He received a share certificate from the prisoner. He did not pay anything on the share and the prisoner promised to give me a share if he would sign the paper. He was not aware that he was a director nor did the prisoner say anything about it. He did not attend any meetings with the company. He was not consulted about the affairs of the company. He was not aware that prospectuses had been published. He did not give the prisoner consent to have his name published. [Cross-Examined] He had a large number of prospectuses in his possession, but he did not issue them. He was not aware of a meeting on the 17th June beforehand. The prisoner asked him to be a shareholder and he understood that they were to have a meeting but this did not occur. He received a circular the day before the prisoner was arrested. William Elston [Re-examined] The Memorandum of Association was not explained to me. Frank Collins: A journeyman joiner, living in Highbury. He first met the prisoner during April. The prisoner stopped him and asked him about building he had been looking at. The prisoner told him that he belonged to a company of insurance people in the city and that due to so much business they were looking to extend their premises. The prisoner mentioned a Coal Company and said that they were looking to start a new branch of business. The prisoner asked him to sign a paper which he was going to take to Somerset House. He signed the paper and the prisoner then asked him to take a share. The prisoner said that he could pay for the share by doing some work for him. He did not receive a share certificate. He did not understand that he had been appointed as a director and was never consulted about the affairs of the company. He was not present at the meeting of the 17th June and did not second the resolution made there. He did not authorise his name to be used on the circular. William Chamberlain: A detective sergeant of Luton. He arrested the prisoner on the 6th July on a warrant. The prisoner said that he had not intention of defrauding anyone. He searched the prisoner and found £6 16s 8d on him, a pawnbroker ticket (Document A4) and a newspaper cutting. He then went to the prisoner’s apartment and found no indication of a coal business. He found a large quantity of papers and documents belonging to the prisoner relating to applications for appointments in insurance and coal companies. He found a minute book and a share certificate book. He could not find any evidence of the existence of the ‘Great Britain Coal Company’ in the prisoner’s apartment. [Cross-Examined] He found letters from railway companies to the prisoner with reference to establishing coal depots. [Re-Examined] He did not find any indication of depots being established.

item

Elston, William,
Selway, Frank,
Blackhall, Richard William,
Collins, Frank,
Chamberlain, William,
Syers, William

LUTON, London, false pretences