Father Prosecuting His Son: At the Kenilworth Divisional Petty Sessions, at Milverton, on Wednesday, before Mr. F. Stanger Leathes and a full Bench, Henry Prescott, accountant, 18, Westminster Road Handsworth, was charged by his father, George William Prescott, formerly a solicitor of Stourbridge, with having, on June 6th, 1891, at Kenilworth, unlawfully and wilfully inserted a certain false entry in the register of marriages, by signing the name of Henry Walker as his natural name to a certificate of marriage between himself and Emily Florence Hands. The defendant was represented by Mr. Hugo Young (of the Midland Circuit), instructed by Messrs. Smith, Pinsent, and Co. The prosecutor made a long speech in opening his case and took a preliminary objection to the presence on the Bench of Dr. Thursfield, on the grounds of that gentleman being a cousin of Mr. Thursfield, of Wednesbury, who married a sister of the prosecutor’s wife. Prosecutor added that he could not tell whether any improper influence had been exercised on the magistrate, and said that the justice who signed the summons was interviewed the following evening. The Chairman: Who signed the summons? – Prosecutor: Mr. Cooper, a Warwickshire magistrate. — … (continues) … Prosecutor: I want the case fairly and honestly conducted. Mr. Richard Alfred Pinsent, solicitor of Birmingham gave evidence as to the defendant having been articled in the name of Henry Prescott Walker, and to his having been always known since 1881 by the surname of Walker. He produced the deed poll and other documents in support of this position. Prosecutor: Was it your firm which induced this young man to commit this fraud? The Chairman: That is not a proper question – we have no proof of any fraud having been committed. The prosecutor then put questions to Mr. Pinsent making certain imputations with regard to the defendant’s mother, which the defendant warmly resented. The Chairman said the allegations had nothing to do with the case. Mr. Pinsent said that the prosecutor’s insinuation was a false and infamous lie, and there was no foundation for his statements. He did not know, when the deed of apprenticeship was prepared, that the defendant was a ward in Chancery. He would not swear that his firm did not prepare the deed. Prosecutor (to the Bench): Do you say that you have made up your mind not to act in an impartial manner? The Chairman: We will tell you how we shall act by and by. You have made a most gross insinuation against a lady, and the witness has contradicted it. You must keep quiet … (continues)…
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
GRO0738 Devonport: Richard Alfred Pinsent: 1852 – 1948