This Days’ Police: Town Hall … Theft by A Trick: Alfred Hallam, shoe rivetter, 2 Queen Street, was charged with stealing 2s 6d, the money of John Pinsent, keeping the Sir Robert Peel beerhouse, Bedford Street, on 30th April. Prosecutor said on Monday afternoon his wife gave him half a crown to change and used the world “Alf.” Witness went into the tap room and asked whose change it was, and Hallam said “Mine,” and the witness gave him 2s 6d. He did not think it was right and went to ask his wife about it. Whilst doing so, the prisoner went out of the house. Witness afterwards went to the Melton Street Brewery, where he saw the prisoner. Told him he had made a mistake and asked for the 2s 6d again. Hallam said he had never had it, and the witness gave him into custody. Mrs. Pinsent said she received a half crown from a young man named Alfred Frith and gave it to her husband, asking him to change it for “Alf.” Meaning Frith. A man who was in the taproom of the “Sir Robert Peel” deposed to seeing the prisoner receive some money from the prosecutor – P.C. Lenton said he received the accused in custody. When he charged him with the offence he replied: “I never done it; I have never had it.” – Hallam now admitted the offence. He was recommended to leniency by the prosecutor, and the Bench imposed a fine of 10s- or seven-days’ hard labour.
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
GRO0229 Tiverton: Elizabeth Johnson: 1837 – 1909
GRO0501 Tiverton: John Pinsent: 1836 – 1899 (?)