QSR1864/3/5/6

Depositions of Mark Clark, widow of Luton. Edward Bassill, manufacturer of Luton. King John Doughty, police constable of Luton. Richard Lambert, police constable of Luton. Receipt for the sum of 11s 2d 1/2. In the case of George Howard accused of obtaining the sum of 11s 2d 1/2 by false pretences.

2 May 1864

From: 1864 To: 1864

Mark Clark: resided at 37 Albert Road, Luton. On 19 April the prisoner came to her house about 11am and asked if she was Mrs Clark. She replied she was and the prisoner said he had called about some important business and asked “your husband is dead, is he not?” She replied he was. He asked if he husband had died in the asylum, and she said he had. The prisoner asked how long her husband had been dead and was told since 27 August last. Howard asked if she had heard there was property coming to her and she said she did not know much about it. He told her that her husband ought to have had it 5 and 30 year ago and that there was £850 each for each of her husband’s children and £48 a year for her. He asked her for a pen and ink and he wrote out her children’s names. He told her she was to get certificates of their births, her marriage and her husband’s death. He told her that if she paid him 11s 2d ½ it would save £6 10s 0d. She paid him the sum because she believed he was going to get her all the property and save her £6 10s 0d. After paying him, the prisoner told her the papers would be sent to her by post on Friday morning from Mr Middleton of Bedford. She thought he said he was sent by Mr Middleton because his clerk was out the day before. The prisoner told her Mr Middleton was a lawyer. He wrote her a receipt [attached] baring the words “This is to certify that I have received the sum of £0 11s 2d ½ for the following papers, one forme of wills 0.10.9 one newspaper 0.0.5½ Mr Howard Raglan, Armes Inn, Bedford. Mr Middleton no.29 George’s Place, Bedford” She paid him the money because she believed what he said and that he had come from Mr Middleton in Bedford. Edward Bassill: a manufacturer living next door to Mr Clark in Albert Road, Luton. On 19 April the prisoner came to the back gate and he went to see what he wanted. The prisoner said he wanted to see Widow Clark on important business. He pointed Mrs Clark’s house out to him and after the prisoner had been there a little time, Mrs Clark came out and asked to speak to him. He went to her house and found the prisoner writing. He sat beside the prisoner and asked what all the property was about. The prisoner replied “Ah isn’t this a nice thing for the old lady” and said she had come into £48,000. He asked the prisoner where the property was and was told Wellingborough and Wootton in Northamptonshire. Howard said there were 16 cottages, 160 acres of land, a mansion and furniture at Wellingborough. The prisoner explained it was a legacy property and they were all to have equal shares and that the rough calculation from Mr Middleton was £48,000. The prisoner said the property was to be sold on 26 May at 6pm in the auction room at Bedford. Howard told her she would the documents and papers on Friday morning telling her what the property was and that she must be in Bedford on 26 May, with her eldest son, at the sale. The prisoner asked her to pay 11s 2d ½ to save £6 10s 0d in expenses which lawyer ‘clapped’ on. The prisoner pulled out a time table and said he must be off as he was going to Bedford by the 12.45pm train. He saw Mrs Clark pay the money. PC King John Doughty: on 20 April he went in search of the prisoner and found him at the Engine public house. He charged the prisoner with obtaining 11s 2d ½ by false pretences from Mary Clark. The prisoner said he had the money. He took the prisoner into custody. PC Richard Lambert: on 26 April he made enquiries at Bedford for a solicitor living there by the name of Middleton, who resided at no.29 George’s Place. He could find no such person and no such place. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Howard, George,
Clark, Mary,
Bassil, Edward,
Doughty, King John,
Lambert, Richard

LUTON, false pretences, widow, manufacturer, Luton Albert Road, Luton Engine