The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-01-10 00:00:00

THE WEYMOUTH SWINDLING 0.48 E.

FreJerick Simmons (M), described On the calendar as
a "traveller," end well-educ med. was indicted for an.
lawfully and by certain falai pre'enare, obtaining of
and from one James lfstthetas, one shirk one collar, one
pair of gloves, and other articles, of the property of
George if amford, with latent to cheat and defraud him of
the lame, at Welmonth, on the 19 h November, 1881.
Prisoner said he wished to make an application. He had
been committal for trial about six weeks, sod when he was
committed he wan practised that if fresh evidence were to
be prodoced, due notice should be given him. He did
not have It till lust On the eve of hie trial, and If this
fresh evidence was to be given he thought it right in the
gods of Justice to Pvitgtene the cues to the Winter Arises,
Kr. Will.: The (rah evidence will only go to show what
the means of the erissfitr have been.

—Th—e Pdecet— er : I elm I defend the present cue If the
fr•eb e•idence Is not Liven.
_ . . . . _

he CS eirro,n Aid net think the c ism c aid he put off.
• ••••

Th. P is iner : Tb.es,. some very serious charm in dui
fr,sh /wily:nor. and I hays may not had Unte. I shall
haws to mend o L004,n.

..ii41.6-617[11;n7 'l'6;l:Saari cannot pat it off. It is
. . .

_
The P.i.noer : Will wow H nour allow the furl to dud
the r verdict on the chars le I am committed upon, and
take the f root a.' dpuirv.d.?
Mr. Will.: Them are so other charge..
The ow wee about to be proceeded with, when tha

dais.

piiioiit requested all Misfires might be ordered out of
Court Ibli 1111 V IMC been Ofelplied with Kr. Wil•
corded to address the jury. Hering briefly opcood ths
ease,
Priemier asked if he imight have • pen.
Kr. Wills: Aortbiair Foe like.
Prison.,: I en) &eking th• Beb
Mfr. : Oh I all right
Tbe errldenee +ea then pirooerded with. and firit of ill
James flambee% easistent to Kr. Komford. era . called,
who said the primmer seam to the shop, • ,a euhod to Its
supplied with • few article.. as hit luszere had oil
ei rived. Ile •sid he had been rec 'impend.' in their
establishment by Kr. Chimera. or Rosin& Villas. Mr.
Okannou was known to thee. being • custom, of theirs.
Raving coasalted wis• It's employee tbs SOode raft

irlsooor : Was ant-V.lllu siud ab ,nt crodit
Wheats : N. I d ni think them waa, nor did you offer
tppr.Y.;nar :I Ai wit ask you that qns.t.on.
Piis mar : Stahl...mg y..tr mailer bad not been in would
yo,!)et me h••• the !mot..

wan.: met a. in }Ai. town,
Plisona I don% want any "hot moo.- Whit mod.
tithi.az I .ant.-cl credit!
Werp

•
WI tOl/1111 : B,cause you did hot offer to pay tor It.
Vri.oser : Wa the 'evoke mat M the time the goods
-*
- • • • -

Wiaaess: I do not believe it was.
Prisoner: You uses a very bed memory in fact.
Witham.: Not particularly so.
Prisoner sod the bill woe sent two or three days
afterwards. and it was taken from him with his other
pawl; when he was emoted. (Toe hill who prature 11.
Prom the evidence of Kr. Thome.' Ch halloo, K. R.C. VS.,
who WM Min sailed, It appeared he first saw the
Prisoner in the latter pert of November, at No.
9, Grange T.irrace, Weymouth. He came to tote
toe booss. He sad his wit, sad luggage would follow
nest day. lb. house was Mt to him in coneequenc ot
his statements. lc worn thought better he should stop next
day, when his wife and Immo wer, to come. The flint
day came, but hi. wife did hot come, neither did his
luggsge. Ho st mood with him till he wee anest,d.
He never raw • Penn/ Piece about him, and thought it •
very peculiar thing his wt. and lusgese had not come.
Trimmer : Can tots evidence be accepted I It ought not
to come out Delors the Court.
Kr. Will. replied he was endeavouring to show there
was an intent to fraud, ae the prieocer had not the means
ti pay.
ler : It is only drawing out evidence which is not
I. the point.
The Cowman : It le a question of means.
Pii,oner : It does not require much means to pay for •
shot oi collar, and • pair os alarm
Kr. Channon proceeded with his evidemoe, but th•
pi-tamer roads a tong striae of objectly ood the case
ems delayed for a CAllideralill time. Mkt' MIN time
Obaitoos continued that his suspicions were aroused,
and he seat his wile to Leaden. He knew Kr. Komford,
hut be hod never authorised prisooer to MAIM use of his
mune. Prue:mei had never disked pommel= to do so.
Prisoner: What was the again date I wag to you I
Witness : It was on • Thursday, but 1 don't molten the
late.
Prisons,: The following day Waa Friday
Whom : I suppose it was. Friday gensrally follow'
Thursday.
Prisons,: Did you show me any shops.
Wit....: I did not show you any allow. I might have
mehtioned Mr. Illusolords end my dealing there.
Oserles William Holdwin, superintendent of the
Prudential Coationy, living at 183, Kenniiagton•tood,
',Aldan, tit, wad he knew the ornerier at the bar. He
ass in his employment tour weeks. lite wage* were LI a
week, and • small commission. The letters (produced/
were in primmer', head writing.
Meaner I object to this withers, as it is three mouths
since I but his employ, and he does not know my MOMS
now.
Kr.
prisoner
know

-Mt. Wills: When was the last time you saw the

Trlsoeu;r: Gan I object to Ude, your Honour I
Tbe Deputy-Coalman : No we cannot. Mummer 1011 don't
ebbe It

was at hie mother's house seeking far
Wu in September, but the laat tiros he saw hun was to
Auguo.
A tatter was produced, and the primmer asked the Chair-
man to read it instead ot its being publicly read. He
adoott it writing it.
Toe Daputy•Uosirgian said be could hardly let it go to
the jell a. it was tam months ago, and it did not bear
sto-naly upon the see.
Catlin ooly the Court allowed a portion t 4 be reed to the
. _

lar4.
The letter was to this effect:—" For two reasons I tun
unable to loc./fad what you ask—hut of all I do not know
Ilia amount. and ssoondly I hat* no mono at present. I
will act honourably if you will allow me tans. I am in
groat difficulties just now, and am very ill. The first
mune. tout comes to my bond I will corn* to your odic..
and I will mitt* wick you, sad if, u you soy, I mu in
dofauit I will settle with you.
Waimea Mid tmon to too prisoner's mother's house. It
woos wretched hole. MI was la default 45 por cut. of the
money that hsd passel tJuough tus hinds. He hod flavor
pond it.
IQ cruet-examination by the prisoner tbe withou .hid:
Al the Woe ho dischsrsed tha prisoner ho fold him Moro
hod boon dithosestias, but to what extant he latul not
ascertatnas.

Msi—Ch—ahnon was next called. but prisoner objected to
her evitenc t. sib. omintsioed she could not tell it be cculd
pity lot the goods. Toe oldeatuo was overruled, sod trim
the evidence gives it appeared the prisoner took her holier,
and in psymeot ef the rent he tendered • chtque She
was about to iota Lendou. and it was written on • bait-
ch.ssotnwpaput. It was for 414. ; of this VI was tor
Me rink and the remainder she understo 4 wati to par
the tratieetemple. At Me tune he gave her the cheque he
elm gate her • letter which was written to We manager
outs B rbeck Bank. It was as follow. —"I: shall t. el
much eblile.l II ou will pay my order enclosed in this
letter to Ise bearer, Mrs. (Ammon- I lett my cheque-
book is my p rustanteau at my mother', house in Loudon.
Being In temporary difficulties, I am obliged to rotors
to this means of obtatalog money. Maiming you for
pest favours I remain, it.t." She entreated bun to tall her
of his tusabsoisd he sud he had SAM • year, mid his wife
.C 1.50. Sas west to L mama, and presented the cheque.
hut it .11S dittos oared.
. . .

-.lidius--oit.---civerk it Oa' Birks& Bank. London.
He uot lino the prisoner at the bar. He had no
aciount et the bank. There eras no account under the
came ot Frederick Suninone. He had errarched the books
for the lad. 10 years. . . .

,--
L Anima Campbell, servant to Mr. Dawson, barrister. of
Shauglra•vsllars. Wandsworth Common. On November
Kt last year be cams to Mr. Dawson's house to aleep. He
bad taken the house for numb montha On the 10th the
pr.soner brourlar • lady to ths bouss,.nd they stayed thin
tall toe following Tuesday. He left in the @meow of that
day. Su had not seen him mace. During the time he
was there he had his goods from the tradespeople, but
they had not been paid tor.
P.C. James Bartlett, stationed at Weymouth, proved
apprehending tbe trimmer. When he searched him he
found noih ng on bun. I, his bag were some newspapers.
a Amt, collars, and • pair of gloves.

_
- Toe Prisoner, • 'drawee the Jury, eel I no doubt they
would be eurprised to hear the way in ostuch be had croft-
examined the wiuot me+, and perhaps they might have
c,cue to ther c inclunon it is from experience. Ile wished
to clear their minds if that. He hest had a great deal of
legal experience, loving bein clerk to a very clever
criminal barrister. Kr. Warner Sleigh, now dead. That
was where he gained his expenenos. rhe charge which
was brought that day was one of a very extraordinary
nature indeed. He went on to explain, in • certainly able
manna, the nation of a false pretence, and he detailed at
some length his veesion of the circumetaeces under which
the goods were obtained. Addreming himself to the feed
legs of the jurymen, be want on to say: Many of you may
be fathom, and I would ask you to mete out to toe the
same jtuttioe as you would do if your sons were in the saute
position. All the evidence shoeing that I committed other
crimes have nothing whatever to do with toe care at all.
I Cannot And words to express the stupidity of brioging
witnesses down from London to give mice trumpery
evidence. If any of you went to any of the zourts of
Intake in L indoe you would receive justice; 1 am from
London, and I now ask for justice. lam not pleading for
mercy, but foe justice. Don't come to • hasty conclusion.
Hy future lays in your verdict, If ycit find me guilty, I
must go back to the precincts of the prison, where
I have laid for the last six weeks, and don
the garb of the prison. It I am found not guilty,
I can go forth to mix with my fellow•rosin much
better for the lesson I have learnt. 1 stand here as
a beast hunted and brought to bay, and like that beast I
am making one last effort to free myself. My enemies
are mightier than I, but right is stronger than might, and
while I breathe I hope. I have led • vary foolish life; I
have had very good opportunities and very good situa-
tions; I have mixed in society which wee far too high for
ma, and which I could not keep up. He then went on to
speak of hie artier struts and transactions with Kr. Bald-
win, and stated that by the will of his grandfather, Mr.
Glsorge Alex soder Fleming, for many years on the More.
two Adoertimr, he had neon left the sum of £5OO, which
he would receive when he was 11. The prisoner cm-
ein led his address as follows :—I have sailed over the
youthful waves of human passions, and I have been very
foolish but my youthful cup of sorrow is already full to
the brim. It only requires • verdict of guilty from you
to make that cup overflow. Use your common sense, and
beguiled by your coneciences. I shall then be fully astir
fled. I only ask for justice. I have done, gentlemen.
The Deputy. Chairman reviewed the evidence ia a fair
and impartial manner, and stated the real issues which
the jury had to try. After • few Minutes' deliberation,
the jury found the prisoner guilty.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to • previous conviction of
felony, at Cleikenwell, in August, lra. in the name of
Frederick Fleming.
Sergeant Creme, of the Criminal Investigation Depart-
ment, said since that conviction the prisoner had bane
cba-ged w.th his brother at the Old Miley Sessions. His
brother was sentenced to 15 month., and prisoner was
acquitted. The prisoner belonged to a notorious gang of
swindlers in London. His father is on ticket of ham
and also his uncle. II s was at Mr. Warner Sielgh's shout
three mouthe, and it wee soon after that he arrested
. . . . .

The prisoner thaaked the Chairmen for the impartial
way in which he hat summed up. Ile was still younr,
and asked for the clemency of the C slut Ito promised
tu leave the cum.:7 when his seaman. bed expired. The
statement of Sergeant Crews a, to hie Wins connected
with a gang of burglar. was of iarful untruth, and over)!
tm worst caws of perjury ever utters,' in • c oirt of law.
mother wag now watching over the dying bed of his
brother, and he asked for merry so that she should not
have a double blow.
Mr. Willi said he wee informed the police at the
pr sent time would like to know where the mother was.
Tne Deputy-Chairman said the Court were willing to
give him another chance, and be would be sentenced to IS
months imprisonment with hard labour, and police super-
visiou for two years

SIGOOND COURT.-WEDNISDAY

(Bofors H. B.Di:outran, Esq , sod It. A. BANK2II, Esq.)

ALLLOID THIFT.

Charlotte Hannah LSI,* on bail, pleaded not gollty to
an indictment charging her with stealing 30c., the monies
of Henry John Smith, she being a warrant in his empioyi
at Stoke Abbott, on the gin of Deoensbn, 1811.
Mr. tidal prosecuted, and Mr. It F. Lock defended.
Henry John Smith stated that he was • fanner at Stoke
Abbott Prisoner came into his employ in September
Net. In the tag produced he always kept his money. On
8 iturday, the 3rd of December, he paid the wager, leaving
£lO in 'old in the bag, and tut it in the cupboard of the
sideboard. On the Bth of December his wife went out fcr
g mate, and be also west out on the farm. He met • Kr.
Davy and notarised to the house with him. He found to
his swede the keys left on the sideboard. He took out
the tee and found that there was only £710.. In the tag,
he expecting to And SA. He suspected prisoner, and on
the following day he told prisoner that he had lost 1100111
mum, and had reasons to soaped her of taking it. She
denied it, and be told her that Sarah saw her take it He
called Sarah down, but prisoner denied it, and said she
bed not lilt the kitchen the whole time. On the evening
of the 3rd she loft the boas without leave. In the even-
ing he noticed the two gine whispering together.
Cross-examined by Mr. Look: Sarah Fowler was in his
employ at the time.. He never suspected the girl F0w1,,,
he did not think Mr mumble of it. He told prisoner if ahe
would confess eke should go, and pallid/ more should be
said about it. - _ . .

Smith stated that on the 3rd of December she
remembered her husband paring the mutes. Hit left £lO
In the bag. Between this day and the Bth she went our,
taking the keys. During this time she took out £l. Oa
the Ott of December he went foes drive, but she left the
keys by accident Her husband reported the lose tu her.
Rho charged prisoner with taking the money, bat she
&aid
Such Fowler. nursemaid to lira Smith, stated that
primmer was servant In the same house. She remembered
bgrs. Smith going out for • drive, and Mr. Smith went out
also She and prisoner were In the kitchen having their
dinner, the baby cried, and she west to fetch it. When
abs .4 down abs orew prisoner in the dining-room; she
MB her Week the eapheard. take oat the mak and take

o.t two pieces of gold. She saw her with tive alon” to
1. r hand. See (witness) told her elm wish{ not to do it,
▪ prisoner tot I her not to toll anything about
P, then locked up the, cimixierd. snd sews into the
kitcben, but Afterwards went hack to the dining-room.
Sue hesgd pamper talkiog to Carollue fluidly at the
window. She beard prisoner ask which way manor had
gone In in. morulug prieoner said sum -thing was up
for mseter end wistree. believed she had taken this money.
and Limy were eratehiog her. The next winning prisoner
said she wished she warn g 0..; the Wished she cmid Se
that day.
Cruse-examined by Mr. Llck: On Um Thursday she saw
the pnsoner tare the motley, but did sot lay anything to
anyone about it. Whoa ob. was called down oa the Tel-
dsy morning she accused iprisooer of taking the money,
but ebe denied it. She did not hear Kr. or Mrs. Smith es 7
nothing should be mid about it it prisoner would coolers
It.

--Re-examined by Yr. Udal : She bad no enmity saalatt
prisoner. m . .

Carotins &alley, hv.ng at Stoke Abbott. stated that on
the Bth of I) camber last *us saw prisoner at ilia &mar
roost window. priasaer asked bee wawa her inaator bad
gone, and she told her that be had rice dawn the
mr—"ft.^

Cbaffey stated that on Om 9:b of Decemb tr he wont
to Mr. Saitho houas and told prisoner that Mr. Smith
had lost awns mooty, and 'hot Swab Fowler bad moo
her take the moos). Primmer dul not oar anything at
this timsa. but denied it afterward.. Ha atomised
prisoner, b x and LIU bedroom. but did not And any-
thing Mrs. South marched Sarah Fowler's box by his
"ItragL• ock called for the defence

.Tc;t; Lewis. who misted -teawt he we. the father of the
prisoner, woo was 17 year. of age. He remembered going
in prosecutor's house on the be of Deceml,er. He neard
Mrs. Smith may " Why don't you may you maw Sarah
Fowler take ik ' and prisoner said " Samuel don't know
anything about It.
F.nny Lawn., mother 1 prisoner, stated she was mut
for to Mrs. Smith's on the 9.4 ot D.:ember. Mrs. Smith
said her datubtor had been taking some money. She
asked her daughter limb, had. and the replied she knew
nothing about it. Mrs. Smith said "foolish girl not to own
It, for al she w .uld oodus my husband would au nothing
about It." Liter in the day sit. went arum. and Kra
timicts said to pronto. " Why don't yoU My that you gas
Serah Yowler take it.* . . _ .

prisomor at guilty. and A. vas dis-
charged.

STEALING num AT STRATTON.

Richard Lynes (Yak piesded gutty to havine stolen two
shirts. the property of William Danford. at fitratloo, oa
the Lth of October, 11191.
Prisoner eieo plaided guilty to • previous oonviction et
Exeter la 1880.
Mr. Pearce prosecuted,

From". Omer -e-sissauinind to 111 mouths imprisonment and
12 moraine polio. niinn•igioii.

11017116.33,L1.N1Ne AT 111111DPORT IT DOM
Condit Hughes end Sidney Newberry, two boys on bell,
wore charged witla breaking and mummy the shop of one
Thomas HAMS, and therein stealing I on of sweet., 2 mu.
of tobacco, end 3 cigars, M Bridpork on the Bto ofbin Noreen-
_ . .

—lioth boys pleaded guilty, sad were esotenoed to one
clay's imprisonoseat uscousidoratioa of their previous good
obereoter. s s