QSR1921/1/5/2c(i) - QSR1921/1/5/5/2c(xiv)

Depositions of Ada Louisa Lawrence and Arthur Bacon (Detective Sergeant) in the case of Percy Bellamy. Statement of Accused: Percy Bellamy. Summary of Other Offences.

11th October 1920

From: 1920 To: 1921

QSR1921/1/5/2c(i)(ii)(iii) Borough of Luton. To Wit} The Examination of Ada Louisa Lawrence of 12 Melbourne Road in the Borough of Luton. And of Arthur Bacon of Police Station in the said Borough taken on Oath this 20th day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty at Luton, in the Borough of Luton aforesaid, before the undersigned , one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said Borough of Luton, in the presence and hearing of PERCY BELLAMY who was charged this day before me for that he the said PERCEY BELLAMY on Monday the 11th day of October One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty at the Borough of Luton aforesaid unlawfully and knowingly by a certain false pretence did obtain of and from Ada Louisa Lawrence the sum of Two Pounds, with intent to cheat and defraud the said Ada Lousia Lawrence of the same. This Deponent Ada Louisa Lawrence on her Oath saith as follows: - I am the wife of John Lawrence and reside at 12 Melbourne Road Luton. I first met the Prisoner on Saturday night the 2nd October 1920 in Castle Street Luton. I was in company of my husband, my brother, Fred Hawkes was with the prisoner. The prisoner was lodging with my brother. The prisoner told us he was going to set up a fish business in Luton. The following Friday, October 8th, he came to our house with my sister in-law, Mrs Hawkes. The prisoner had a horse and trap and he drove up in it tour house. Mrs Hawkes came into the house and in consequence of what she said I went out to the prisoner as he sat in the trap. He told me the horse and trap belonged to him and he would take me and my sister for a drive on Monday. He would come for us at ½ past 2. The following afternoon, Saturday, the prisoner came to my house with my brother, Fred Hawkes. My husband in the course of conversation said he wanted to buy some chickens. The prisoner said we might see some at Totternhoe on Monday. On Monday my sister and I were waiting for the prisoner to come with his horse and trap for us. He did not come until 4 o’clock, then he came rushing in and said “have you got £2 you can let me have. I have bought some chickens in Cumberlands sale yard” He at the same time showed us a paper with Cumberlands sale yard printed bill head. I knew of Cumberlands sale yard. When prisoner asked for the £2 I said I had not got it. He said do see if you can get. I said the only money I have is Two pounds my rent money. He pressed me to let him have that. After some hesitation I let him have it. I believed the Prisoners statement that he had bought the chickens and that he had bought them for my husband and for that reason I let him have the £2. When he went away with the £2 he said he would return at 10 minutes to five with the chickens. He also said he would bring some corn with him. He did not return and I have not seen him since he went away with the money. (signed) Ada Louisa Lawrence (QSR1921/1/5/2c(vi)(vii) This Deponent Arthur Bacon of Luton On his Oath saith as follows: _ I am a Detective Sergeant in the Luton Borough Police Force. On Friday the 19th November i saw prisoner in custody on the previous charge. I cautioned him and charged him with obtaining £2 on 11th October by false pretences from Ada Lousia Lawrence. He replied “that’s right I am sorry” I have made enquiries at Messrs Cumberlands Sale Yard and found that the prisoner did not purchase any fowls or anything else at Cumberlands Ale Yard on the 11th October. I have made further enquiries and find that the Prisoner hired a pony and trap on the 4th 5th 6th and 7th October and I ascertained that he had no horse and trap of his own. (signed) Arthur Bacon QSR1921/1/5/2c(viii) Borough of Luton to wit} PERCY BELLAMY stands charged before the undersigned, one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Luton, this 20th day of November in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty for that he the said PERCY BELLAMY on the 11th day of October 1920, at the Borough of Luton, unlawfully and knowingly by a certain false pretence did obtain of and from Ada Louisa Lawrence the sum of TWO POUNDS with intent to cheat and defraud the said Ada Lousia Lawrence of the same. And the said Charge being read to the said PERCY BELLAMY and the Witnesses for the Prosecution being severally examined in his presence, the said PERCY BELLAMY is now addressed by me as follows: “Having heard the evidence, do you wish to say anything in answer to the charge? You are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so; but whatever you say will be taken down in Writing, and may be given in Evidence against you upon your Trial. And you are clearly to understand that you have nothing to hope from any promise of Favour, and nothing to fear from any Threat, which may have been holden out to you to induce you to make any admission or confession of your guilt, but whatever you shall now say may be given in evidence against you upon your Trial, notwithstanding such Promise or threat”: Whereupon the said PERCY BELLAMY saith as follows “I am sorry but its drink that done it all”. Rear of Document Taken before me at the Court House, Luton, in the Borough aforesaid, on the day and year first above mentioned. And immediately after obeying the direction of the 18th Section of the Act Eleventh and Twelfth Victoria, Chapter Forty-Two, I, the said Justice of the Peace, did demand and require of the said Percy Bellamy whether he desired to call any Witness: and thereupon in answer to such demand the said Percy Belamy [neither] called or desired to call [any person or persons] as Witnesses. Signed: Edwin Oakley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QSR1921/1/5/2c(ix) Summary of Other Offences: 1. In addition to the three charges against the prisoner Bellamy, he admits that on the 1st October, he obtained three brushes and a tin of blacking value together 11s/6d from Benjamin Whittmore, manager for A. P. Oliver, Sadler, carrying on business at 35 Park Street, Luton. These he disposed of for 5/- stating that he was starting a fish business at 102 Albert Road, Luton, and he had decided to have his horse and cart sent from Grimsby to Luton. 2. On the 2nd October 1920, he obtained 10/- from William Folds, Landlord of the “Hibbert Arms” public house, Hibbert Street, by stating he was starting a fish business at 102, Albert Road, Luton, and he was expecting a cheque through the Bank. 3. On the 4th October 1920, he obtained three fish knives from Lawrence Evans, manager for George Hammett, Hardware and General Dealer, carrying on business at 61, Park Street, Luton. He stated that he was starting in the fish business and being a stranger, would not be able to get his money through the Bank for several days. These he left at a public house and asked the landlord to lend him three shillings on them until his fish came the next day. 4. Two days later he returned to the shop and stated that his money had not come through and obtained a knife and steel saying that he would pay for them altogether when his money came through. The steel he disposed of to a second-hand dealer for 2s/6d. The knives and steel were valued at 6s/6d. QSR1921/1/5/2c(x) 5. On 5th October 1920, he obtained one fish knife value 5s/6d Frank Newbury, a boy employed by Messrs. Gibbs and Dandy, Ironmongers, George Street, [b] Stating that he was starting a fish business at 102 Albert Road, Luton, and ask for the knife to be sent to that address. 6. The next day he called on a rope and stall cloth maker and asked if the would make him a cloth for his stall as he was going to stand in the market with fish. He stated that he was going to the station to get his fish but had no money to pay for the carriage. He borrowed 3s/- saying, “I will call and give you the size of my stall”. He left the knife referred to, and did not return. 7. He also admits obtaining £7 from an employee at the local bank by stating that he expected his wife was coming to Luton with some money as he was stating a fish business in the town. 8. On the 11th October 1920, he absconded from his lodgings at 102 Albert Road, Luton, where he stole a gent’s fawn raincoat value £1, the property of Frederick James Hawkes. He states that he gave this away at Southampton. QSR1921/1/5/2c(xi) 9. On 12th October 1920, he went to Southend-on-Sea where he obtained horse fodder to the value of £3 and £2.10s.0d in money from a Mr. F. Dawes, 13 West Street, Prettiwell (Prittlewell), on the pretence that he was starting a fish business and was waiting for his wife to bring his bank pass book from Grimsby. 10. He also visited a Mr. F. Wilding, Harness Maker, 7, West Street, Prettiwell (Prittlewell) Southend-on-Sea, where he ordered goods to the value of £1.3s.1d, stating that he was waiting for his wife to send him money from his bank at Grimsby. He wanted to take the goods away, but Mr Wilding would not agree until they were paid for. Belamy returned the following day and again tried to obtain the goods on the same pretence but failed and went away. 11. Between the 13th and 18th October 1920, he obtained from a Mr. Parr, of Southend-on-Sea, £6.3s.2d in money and food to the value of £1.10s.0d, on the pretence that he had a big fish business in Grimsby and was starting a business in that town, but his sister was in possession of his bank pass book and he was unable to draw his money from the bank at Southend-on-Sea. Bellamy sent three telegrams to some address in Grimsby in Mr. Parr’s presence asking for his bank passbook to be sent on but on being pressed for payment on the 18th he absconded and was not seen again. QSR1921/1/5/2c(xii) 12. On the 6th November 1920, he obtained the sum of £2 from the Manager of Barclays Bank, Southampton, by representing that he was starting a fish business in Southampton and had an account at Barclays Bank, Grimsby, but his cheque book had not come through from that bank to him. 13. On the 8th November he again obtained £6.10s.0d, the bank manager by the same means. 14. About the same date he obtained from a man named James Dynatt, 15 Bernard Street, Southampton, 2 knives, 1 steel and 1 mallet, value together £1.2s.6d, by starting that he was going to start a fish business in Southampton and that his cheque book had not come through from his bank. He then asked Mr. Dynatt to send the articles to his lodgings the following morning and he would pay for them. Mr Dynatt sent a messenger boy with the articles but before the boy reached Bellamy’s lodgings he was met by Bellamy who took the articles from the boy and absconded. To colour the statement that he was opening a fish business he bought a brush and curry comb to clean up his horse, which he informed persons he had in a stable in another part of the town. QSR1921/1/5/2c(xiii) 15. On the 10th November 1920, he hired a bicycle, value £5, from a man named John Kemp, of Tillingham, Essex. This he disposed of. Warrant Issued. 16. On the 10th November 1920, he obtained 2 boxes of harness composition, 1 tin of brasso, 1 spoke brush, 1 dandy brush, 3 boot brushes, 1 compo brush, 1 curry comb, 1 mane come, 1 bass broom, 2 halters, 1 curb bit and 1 pint of black harness oil, value together, £2.2s.0d, the property of Frederick Charles Rayner, Bradwell-on-Sea. Warrant Issued 17. On the 11th November 1920, he obtained 2 front cart lamps, 1 rear cart lamp, 1 knife steel, 3 knives, 1 hurricane lamp, 1 pair horse clippers value £2.2s.0d., the property of Arthur John Nunn, Southminster. Warrant Issued 18. On the 11th November 1920. Bellamy called on Mr. Dart, Manager of Lloyds Bank, High Street Portsmouth, and stated that he came from Grimsby and was going to start and fish business in that borough and that he had an account with Lloyds Bank Grimsby and was waiting to have his book sent on. He induced Mr. Dart to lent him £2. Believing his story to be correct Mr. Dart lent him £2. QSR1921/1/5/2c(xiv) 19. On the 11th November 1020, he obtained 1 spoke brush, 1 dandy brush, 1 water brush, 1 body brush, 1 mane comb, 1 curry comb, 1 whip, 1 halter and 1 tin of harness paste, value £1.1s.0d. from Fred Smith, of Southminster. Warrant Issued. From the 1st October 1920, to the 11th November 1920, the prisoner Bellamy has obtained money and goods by false pretences, including the three charges, together with other charges, 22 in all, to the value of £53.11s.6d, and wished the other charges to be taken into consideration at his trial.

14 pages

item

Bellamy, Percy,
Lawrence, Ada Louisa,
Lawrence, John,
Hawkes, Fred,
Bacon, Arthur,
Oakley, Edwin,
Whittmore, Benjamin,
Oliver, A. P.,
Folds, William Charles,
Evans, Lawrence,
Hammett, George,
Wilding, F.,
Parr,
Dynatt,
Kemp, John,
Rayner, Frederick Charles,
Dart, Mr.,
Smith, Fred

John & Sons Cumberland, Gibbs & Dandy, Barclays Bank Limited, Lloyds Bank Limited, hardware merchant, stealing, fraud, horse, brush, , fowl, fish, knife, carriage, money, cheque, sadler, ropemaker, cloth maker, harness maker, coat, LUTON, TOTTERNHOE, Southampton, Luton Park Street, Luton Albert Road, Grimsby, Luton Hibbert Street, Luton George Street, Southend-on-Sea, Prittlewell, Southampton, Tillingham, Essex, Southminster