Commercial Pests Go to Prison: Charge of Conspiracy Dropped and One Man Discharged: Frauds on Merchants: Commercial life is well rid of these two pests,” said Ald. Mantle Hubbard, at the Leicester Police Court today, when he sentenced William Wadsworth, aged 66, agent, lodging at 1, Cromwell Leicester and John Davenport Hulme, aged 57, hawker, back of 201 Belgrave Gate to 12 month’s hard labour for fraud. Also in the dock with these two men was Ernest Pinsent, a 38 year-old dealer, of Archdeacon Lane, Leicester. The men were charged with conspiracy to defraud by inducing merchants to believe that Hulme and Pinsent were carrying on genuine businesses as grocers, and also with false pretenses. All the three men elected to be dealt with summarily, and charge of conspiracy was dropped. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of false pretenses and Pinsent was then discharged. … (continues with discussion of fraud) … (includes) …
On January 31st he received an order from Ernest Pinsent of 18, Archdeacon Lane, for a cask of motor oil priced £5 13s 4d, and a cask at £5 10s. Later he received an order for three casks of lubricant, one at £8, another £6, and the third at £3 16s 8d. … (continues) …. (includes) …
Detective Sergeant Clowes gave evidence of the arrest of Pinsent. At his house the witness took possession of parcels of cotton wool, half-hose, jerseys, and packages of gas mantles etc. Detective Sergeant Ashburner said that the prisoner Hulme occupied rooms at 201, Belgrave Gate, at the back of a grocer’s shop, the occupier of which was Hulme’s subtenant. There was no relationship between them. Not a Shred: Pinsent, the Inspector said, was employed as a dyer’s sorter, and occupied a small six room house in Archdeacon Lane. … (continues at length) … Ald. Mantle Hubbard, the presiding magistrate, after sentencing both men to 12 months hard labour, congratulated the police on the way they had worked up the case.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0272 Tiverton: Ernest “Pinsent”: 1889 – 1966