The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1876-08-26 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

STOKES, THE WAINWRIGHT WITNESS.  At Worship-street, Police•court, on S .turday, Alfred Philip Stokes, described as a brushmaker, of 34, Baker's Row, Whitechapel, appeared to a summons charging him with havinz obtained goods by fraud from Edmund Martin, also a brushinaker, of 73, New load, Whitechapel. Mr. B. J. Abbott appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Hicks for the defence. Mr. Abbott, in opening the cas2, said that the defendant was the person Stokes, chief witness in the Wainwright murder case. He mentioNed the fact of the defendant's connection with the case, as from the part he took in the detection of the murder, this transaction arose. The goods were obtained by the defendant, who, after the close of the criminal trial, entered into business, as a brushmaker, with a Mr. Vanstries in Baker's Bow, Whitechapel. On the 9th of June he reprasented to the complainant that he had a balance of £145 odd on deposit at the City Bank, Ludgate Hill branch, the money being, he alleged, the proceeds of a subscription raised for him after the Wainwright case. Upon the faith of that representation, he received goods on the 9th of June to the amount of £3O 16s. 6d., and a bill was drawn at two months. That was dishonoured, and the complainant found that, instead of .£145, the defendant had only .C 1 lie. 6d. Since these proceedings, he had been served with a notice of bankruptcy by the defendant and his partner, and he found that a bill of sale had been given by the defendant on his furniture.  _ The defendant was then called, and said that he was a corn merchant, of New !load, Whitechapel. Mr. Abbott) Are you .a _brushmakerl  Witness : No: I carried on the business to get rid of the brushes. Mr. Hicks: What brushes?  Witne : The bruThes made by Wainwright. It was his business, but when he failed I lent him money, and after his arrest I carried it on. Wainwright and this man (defendant were both in ray employment, but this man left me.  At tbis point a question of jurisdiction arose, the magistrate being informed that the complainant's place was out of the district of the court, but eventually Mr Cooke proceeded with his evidence, bearing out the statement of his 6olictor as to false pretence alleged and the delivery of the goods. He added that he was aware that a public subscription for Stokes was raised, and therefore he b alloyed his statement that he had a balance in the bank, but the defendsnt said he had to give notice before he could withdraw it. Within the past week he had received a notice of the defendant's bankruptcy, and learned that there was a bill of sale on his goods. Mr. Cooke asked when the notice in bankruptcy was received, and then it appeared that it was received before the summons was taken out.  The complainant was cross-examined by Mr Hicks, and he said that his business was that of a corn-dealer, but he was acting as trustee of the Wainwright business. He had not purchased the business. Vaustries was emp!oyed by him as well a, Wainwright and Stokes. He discharged Vaustries but not Stokes. The latter went into business on his own account with Vaustries. Witness had had no words with Stokes, and never told him that he would do his best to ruin him because he (z.itolturs) had given up his (complainant's) best friend. Witness had done his best to assist Wainwright after his premises were burned down and bankruptcy followed. He lent him money up to the time of his arrest.  Mr. Hicks was proceeding with other questions as to the connection of the parties and the Wainwright affair, when he was stopped by Mr. Cooke. Eventually the proceedings were adjourned pending the bankruptcy proceedings, Mr Cooke remarking that at present it did not look as if the defendant's statement, now charged as a falie pretence, had been relied upon by the complainant, as he had Liken a bill at two months.  Five hundred persons from the neighbourhood of Leigh and Tyldesley on Saturday availed themselves of a Liberal Club excursion te Hawarden, Mr. Gladstone baying thrown open the old castle and grounds for their inspection. Some disappointment was occasioned by the rain which fell during the earlier part of the day, but the excursionists hal as a body the kindly-expressed sympathy of the exPremier and his lady, and many of them subsequently bad the privilege of a chat with the right honourable gentleman, in this Ay Jyr elica, jog remarks on a few subjects which will not be fa.o.ten.