The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-06-26 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES
AT PORTLAND.

At the Dorchester Shirai&ll, on Saturday, before
Major-General Henning, C. 8., Mr. David Rosa, of
the firm of Cridland and Roes (boot and shoe menu-
testators, of Bristol), was charged" that with intent to
darsud the said Alfred Henry Gill, unlawfully and
knowingly, by • nertaira fain protean, be did [node
-
lordly mines the said Alfred Henry Gill to swept
three bills of 'mintage for the payment el the sum
of SU se. 91."
Mr. R. N. Howard appeared for the prosecatioe,
and the Hon. Bernard Coleridge (instructed by Mears.
Britton end Preis, of Bristol, and hives's. Atthrews,
Son, and Mutable, Dorchester), for the defence.
The ow is rather a carious one. Gill is • shoe-
maker, of Portland, and the sca of • shoemaker.
Some time ago, when his father was in more Sourish'
log eiroomet•oose, certain boots sad shoes were
ordered of (biased and Roes, of BrietoL Mr. Gill
became embarrassed in his commercial religions, sad,
at the salt of another firm, • distress on his goods
was granted by the Judge of County Cloud. An
auction was held, widths son borrowed of his brother-
in-taw (Mr. Pearson) sailcloth money (C 10 to
purchase the whole of the goods and house furniture.
He forthwith set up on his own account, and having no
business connection with his father. Mr. Roes, one
of the numbers of the firm, west to Portland, and
became incepted at noticing his goods exposed for
saleintheshop of the sca of the man who had never
paid for them. Hs demanded payment, and the
eon stoutly refused. Roes requested him to give him
bills for the amount, 817 se. 91, and, as Gill persisted
In Ms refusal, he threatened to go for • policeman
and have him locked up. Gill, according to the
eviction*, now became frightened, and in his fright
he Armed the bill.; but it would sower alter he had
done so, and when Rose and the constable had dis-
appeared. he toothed his naturel coup/a and,
thinking he had been imposed on, forthwith took
out a summons. A warrant was issued for the
apprehension, and Mr. BON WU brought to Dorches-
ter • week ago, where before Colonel Bingham he was
brought up and remanded till Saturday.
At the commencement of the case Ur. Howard said
the prosecutor had asked him to withdraw the wise.
The Hon. Bernard Coleridge said he appeared for
Mr. David Roe. He had gone carefully through the
evidence which we* going to be submitted to the
Bench, and he did not think it was inch as would
ever convict, and be thought it would be waste of time
to mead the owe to • jury.
Mr. Symonds: In other words you wish to com-
pound.
Mr. Symonds said he should advise the Bench to
bear the case before they entertained any such
proposal. Prosecutor made &solemn deposition upon
oath. If it was true there was an often', if not
there was no alums,
Major-General Henning: We will hear the owe.
Alfred Henry Gill was sworn. He said: I reside at
Portland,aad an • bat and shoe mak,r. and rent my
house of Mrs. White. On Thursday, June Ith last,
I was in my shoo between the hours of 10 end 11 is
the morning. A 'suttee:l,th same Ito my shop.
Defendant is the man. He said I had some goods in
my window which helooged to him. I told him they
might formerly have belonged to him, but I said I
bought them some time ago at my father's
sale. I wilted the gentleman who be was, and
be said Mr. Bose. Hs wanted me to sign a bill for
the boots, a bee dd my father had paid for them.
I refused, and be told me if I did not sign the bills, or
pay for the boots, he should have me locked up. I
refused to sign the bill, or to pay for them, and he then
went away. Be returned in ab iut ten minotn with a
eolicemen. He said if I did pot sign the bills he
eive me In charge, and he had a warrant Jo his
"'et purpose. The policeman beard thie.
•`..4 I &treed three hill, of exchange
Sept, Gale headed lathe
'.Wm.. The total
"- &re say

In ok,g
et for
ot
byte 30,11,..
produced
The bills (produced) were
amount was 217 54. IM I did not we .4.
money, sa I had never had any dealings with
with his Grm.
The kfagistrates' Clerk: Theo what induced you to
sign the ?
Witness : Fright, air. I was frightened.
Mr. Coleridge : Why were you frightened?
Witnesa : Bemuse he was going to lock ma up if I
did not sign.
What for
Bemuse be said I had his goods.
Waage.: I am • shounsker, and au was my father.
We live about 700 yarda apart.
When did you set up mop?
In October last.
What were you doing before that?
I was working for myself before that, but only rot
up indopendimtly three or four months before October
Where did you get the numey to met up shop?
I borrowed it.
Of whom
Of Mr. Pearson.
Is be any relative of your:lf—Fs% brother-In-law.
Ilow much did you borrow of himl—l have had £2O
from him—st two different times.
When ?—Whon ho bought th• goods at my father's
ale and I bought thou of him was once—that warn
OYU MO.