QSR1866/4/5/15

Depositions of John Blindell, blocker of Dunstable. James Markham, blacksmith of Dunstable. Charles Smith, labourer of Dunstable. Jane Scroggs, wife to the postmaster of Dunstable. In the case of William Warner accused of 5 counts of embezzling money from his masters the society called The Court Unity no. 4799 of the Ancient Order of Foresters. Includes the warrant against William Warner signed by John Blindell.

26 September 1866

From: 1866 To: 1866

John Blindell: he was the Chief Ranger of the Court of Unity no.4799 of the Ancient Order of Foresters at Dunstable. He was appointed so on 25 June. The prisoner was reappointed Secretary on the same day. It was the duty of the prisoner to enter all the minutes of the proceedings in a book called the Minute Book. He produced the Minute Book which he had obtained from the prisoner’s wife on the Wednesday after he had left home. He looked at the book and found several minutes of proceedings had not been entered. On 30 July Mr George Maitland Laurie was appointed Treasurer. The prisoner was present and proposed Mr Laurie as Treasurer. Up to that time the prisoner had possession of the funds of the society. On that occasion the prisoner said he had out the funds in the Post Office Savings Bank. No order was made for money collected on that night. He was to wait upon the treasurer with the prisoner. He called upon the Secretary and was reminded by him that he was out of order because auditors had not been appointed and he did not go to the Treasurer. He was present at the court held on 27 August, as was the prisoner. The prisoner was asked in what name he had put money into the bank. The prisoner said “mine”. The Society directed money received that night was “to go with the rest of it” until the auditors were appointed. The prisoner did not object to this. The prisoner was directed to summons a meeting for the appointment of auditors to be held on 24 September. He went to the prisoner’s house on 19 September but he was not at home. The summons had not been issued. He went to the Post Office to enquire about the money. In consequence of what he was told at the bank, he went to the prisoner’s wife and obtained from her the book. [cross examination] there were no rules for the Branch Order at Dunstable. The prisoner, for the first 6 months, volunteered to act as Secretary gratuitously and afterwards he was to receive remuneration. The Minute Book entries were in the prisoner’s hand to the 30 July. There was a dispensation from the General Society to the Branch Society at Dunstable. It was dated 22 November 1865. The laws of the General Society were binding on the court. A minute made on 27 December 1865 agreed that until the rules of the society were printed, they should abide by the rules of the Luton court. James Markham: he was one of the Woodwards of the Foresters Lodge at Dunstable. It was the duty of the Woodward to receive monies paid by the member and hand it over to the proper persons. On 30 July he received £1 14s 4d and handed it over to the Secretary, the prisoner Warner. He heard the prisoner say that he had other monies belonging to the Society whilst he had placed in the Post Office Savings Bank. The prisoner was told to put the £1 4s 4d in with the other. The prisoner promised to do so. Charles Smith: on 27 August he acted as Woodward at the Dunstable Society of Foresters. He received £1 5s ad from members and handed it to the prisoners. It was agreed he should pay it into the Post Office Savings Bank. The prisoner said he had put other monies in and would put this in too. Jane Scroggs: she was the wife of George Fisher Scroggs, postmaster at Dunstable. There was a Post Office Saving Bank connected with the Post Office in Dunstable. William Warner was a depositor with that bank. A book was kept in which to enter sums received but names were not entered. The book produced was the pass book of the prisoner and all sums deposited would be entered in the book. The book states no money was deposited by the prisoner since the month of June. The total amount in the bank to the credit of the prisoner was 3 shillings. John Blindell: the book produced contained the rules of the General Society of Foresters. The other book contained the Rules of the Luton court. [objected to by Mr Bailey for the prisoner]. Statement of the accused: nothing.

item

Warner, William,
Blindell, John,
Markham, James,
Smith, Charles,
Scroggs, Jane,
Scroggs, George Fisher

DUNSTABLE, embezzlement, Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society, blacksmith, postmaster, blocker, Treasurer, secretary, woodward, Post Office Savings Bank