QSR1894/3/5/1

Depositions of James Phillips and John Nottingham. In the case of Horace Benjamin Jones, accused of obtaining a sum of money, board and lodgings, beer and tobacco by false pretences with intent to defraud James Phillips.

28 April 1894

From: 1894 To: 1894

James Phillips: innkeeper of the ‘Horse and Groom’ public house in Dunstable. On the 15th April, Mr. Hardy, the clerk of the Church, brought the prisoner to him. The prisoner said that his name was Frederick Waters and that he was sent by Philip Waterlow of Finsbury, engaged to work for 6 months at their Dunstable works. The prisoner offered to pay him board and he agreed to take the prisoner on. He boarded the prisoner until the 18th April and during this time the prisoner asked him for money to by some clothes. He let the prisoner have the money by way of a loan and also tobacco and beer to the value of 4d. The prisoner came home to meals and pretended he was working at Waterlows. One day he asked the prisoner why he was late for work and the prisoner replied that he had been told to come into work after breakfast or dinner time as his employer did not have any trucks. From the prisoner’s account he took out a warrant on the 18th April and followed the prisoner along with the inspector and found that the prisoner had returned to his house. The prisoner was then taken into custody. John Nottingham: inspector of police at Dunstable. On the 18th April he found the prisoner at the ‘Horse and Groom’ public house. He read the warrant to the prisoner and asked the prisoner what he name was. The prisoner replied that his true name was Horace Benjamin Jones and that he knew that he had done wrong. The prisoner asked him for writing materials and wrote to his father for the money. He found that the prisoner had gone to ask for work at Waterlows on the 16th April but was not employed by them. Horace Benjamin Jones: He had been unemployed in London for some weeks so he decided to start off for the country to seek work. Having completed an apprenticeship with Waterlow and Sons of Finsbury Market, London, he believed he could get employment with the company’s Dunstable works. However, he was unsuccessful. He took lodgings at the ‘Horse and Groom’ and proposed to wait until Thursday morning and write to his brother asking for money. He tried to get employment from another printer in Dunstable but was again unsuccessful. After his arrest he was allowed no time to prove his intentions. He had no plans to escape. He is deeply sorry and pleads guilty.

item

Phillips, James,
Nottingham, John,
Jones, Horace Benjamin

DUNSTABLE, Finsbury, innkeeper, printers, false pretences, beer, tobacco