The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-04-26 00:00:00

THE SERIOUS CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY.

At the Dudley Police Court, on Monday, Joseph
Sheppard (17). broker, of High Street, Tipton, and
(lawn Wilson (I 2 Hall Street, Dudley, were charged
befote Mr. Charles Cochrane that they did " unlawfully
conspire, combine, confederate, and agree together, by
false pretences and nubile devices,falsely sad fraudulently
te acquire and obtain to themselves of and from bViilisna
Williams awl others divers emus of money to a large
amount, with intent ta cheat and defend them of the
same."

hir. Stokes having opened the case, called the follow-
ing witnesses :
William Williams, partner with James Palmer Radii
and Frederick Llewelyn Budd, of the Tividale and Brock-
moor Tin Works, deposed: The prisoner, Joseph Shep•
pard, is a metal deeer, carrying on business at Tipton,
and the other prisoner is • machine clerk, in the employ
of the Great Westein Railway Company, stationed at
Brettel Lane, near the Broskmoor Works. Some time
in the month of February, Sheppard saw me and asked
for an order for some scrap-iron turnings. I arranged
with him for to supply 100 tons, 50 tons at each place,
at £6 10s a ton, long weight, delivered. Long weight is
1201 be to the cwt. With respect to the iron to be
delivered, at Broekmoor, I gave instructions to our
machine-man (Samuel Britain) to arrange with the
prisoner Wilson to see that the iron was weighed properly
as we have no machine convanient at Brockinoor.
Shortly afterwards deliveriee of the iron took place
at both places. Our own men weighed the iron at the
ividale Works. About eight or nine days ago, I eeot
Britain with the book iproduceof to Wilson, for him to
mark an account of the weights of the iron delivered by
Sheppard and Buckley. The next day but one—the
11th inst.—l received the book bade with the entries it
now contains. On March 26th I saw Mr. James Buckley.
of Minch...ter, metal dealer, and he agreed to deliver
100 tons of bale hoops and 200 tons of heavy scrap. On
the let of April I was again in Manchester, when Mr.
Buckley jumped out of • cab and touched me on the
shoulder. At that time Buckley had delivered *quantity
of iron to the Brockmour Works. He telegraphed to
me that day, and wrote to me the same evening. Since
then I have ascertained from Mr. Thompson, goods
agent at Brettell Lane Station, the weight of the iron
sent from the Manchester Station to our works by
Sheppard's order. On Saturday last Sheppard came to
oar office for a cheqae for the sum of £1,311 17s 10d for
the iron he had supplied. I told him I could not give
him a cheque. The account is produced by our cashier,
Mr Jouee. I have compared the aceouht produced by
Mr. Jones and the account given by the prisoner Wilson,
and they correspond exactly.
Cross-examination reserved.
_

Samuel Britain deposed I am machine clerk at the
Brockmuor Works. rod live at Brettell Lane. On the
9th April! made the book produced at Mr. Williams's
request, and took it to the prisoner Wilson at the machine
at the Bread' Lane .function. I ...quested him t
enter in the book the numbers on the trucks conteining
scrap iron for our works. the groes, tare, mid net weights
of the iron that he:had weighed from Mr. Sheppard to
Mr. Buckley. I had previously told Wilson that if he
weighed the iron properly I would give him 6d per ton
for weighing it. I received the book back the next
morning, and handed it to Mr. Williams the morning
after.

William Henry Jones deposed: I am cashier at Messrs.
Budd and Co.'. works. On the 16th instant the prisoner
Sheppard came to the office and gave me the account
now produced.
James Buckley deposed : I am • scrap dealer, and live
in Mather-street, Manchester. I know the prisoner
Sheppard, and I have had dealings in the trade with him
for many Tears. I have occasionally lent iron to the
Brockmeor Station for Sheppard. I had on Saturday,
in • book, at Manchester, • statement of the number on
the trucks, and the weight of iron it contained. and it is
there now for anything I know. About the beginning of
March I sold • quantity of iron to Mr. Williams, and I
at once commenced to send the iron to his works. The
letter dated March 21st, 1873, produced by Police-
sergeant Wigley, was gent by authority to Sheppard. It
is the acceptance of • contract for bale hoops, to be
delivered as soon as possible. at A',7 per ton, and it inti-
mated that • portion of the iron was to be delivered at
Brettell Lane Station. I have not the documents
stating the number of the trucks and the weights of
iron lent to Sheppard's crder.
Mr. Stokes asked witness if ha would swear he had not
seen them that morning, and replied, " I will."
Witness continued : I have my brother-in-law with me
here, and he is my assistent.
Mr. Stokes: Will ynu swear that you have no books
or papers about you, or within reach, in Dudley, in say
way connected wills We coos?