Alleged False Pretenses at Newton: Collecting a Gas Account: Albert Lakin, a stranger to the district was charged before Messrs. J. W. Ley (chairman), and R. Vicary, at the Newton Abbot Police Court Thursday, with endeavouring to obtain the sum of £2 by false pretences from Mrs. Pinsent, 6, Devon-square, Newton, on the 22nd January. Mary Pinscnt, widow, residing 6, Devon-square, said the prisoner called at her house between 7.30 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday night. When she went to the door he said: “I have called for the settlement of your gas account.” She said, “I can’t pay it, because there is some mistake about it.” She believed he then asked how much was due, and she said the amount was £5 6s for the three months, he then said. “I believe the Gas Company is robbing you. I could easily tell if you let me see.” She then asked if he was Mr. Clarke, the manager, and he said, with Cockney twang, ‘‘My name is Mr. White,” He looked at the gas in the hall and the dining room and said it was all right. She then got a candle, and the prisoner went down to the basement to examine the meter. When he was at the foot of the stairs, she asked him if it was all right, and he said “You can see for yourself if you come and look.” Just after this a policeman, in plain clothes, came into the house and arrested him. Prisoner: Were there any policemen in your house at the time? Witness: Certainly not. The prisoner said the witness had stated several things that were not correct. P.C. Real said about 6.45 p.m. on. Wednesday he was in Queen-street in plain clothes in company with P.C. Horne. He received a complaint that a man had been peddling in Courtenay Park and using abusive language. He went in that direction and met a gentleman who gave him the description of a man who had been there peddling. Witness then went into the front bar of the Queen’s Hotel, where he saw the prisoner. He came outside and he informed Horne of what he had seen, and again he went back into the bar. He stayed there with the prisoner until about ten minutes past seven. Lakin then came out and went up Queen-Street and turned by the Oak Tree towards Devon-square. He saw him go to several houses, offering bootlaces for sale. When he called at Miss Pinsent’s, the witness crept up behind him, and hid in the bushes. He knocked at the door, and when Mrs. Pinsent came out, he said. “Good evening, madam, I come from the Newton Gas Company for your gas account.” Mrs. Pinsent said, “Oh! is it you Mr. Clarke?” Prisoner said, ‘‘No, my name’s White but I am sent Mr. Clarke.” Mrs. Pinseut said she could not possibly pay then, as it was too exorbitant, and there must be something wrong with the meter. She wondered if the prisoner would come in and look at it. “Ah, madam,” he said, “there is doubt the Gas Company is robbing you, the same as they are other people Newton.” Prisoner then went into the house. She gave him a candle, and he went down the basement. When he saw him disappear down the basement he slipped into the hall, as also did P.C. Horne. I told Mrs. Pinsent he was a police constable, and then went into the drawing room which was right facing the door leading to the basement where the prisoner went down. When he came up with the candle in his hand, the accused said: “I can’t find anything the matter with the meter. Madam. It’s not my place to tell you, but no doubt they are robbing you. Of course, I have been sent for the gas account.” Witness then came out of the room and said to the prisoner; “I have been watching you for nearly an hour. Are you in the employ of the Gas Company?” He said “No.” He then charged and cautioned him. He then asked him if had a peddler’s license, and he again replied in the affirmative. Prisoner further said: “You have got a long way to go to prove a charge of that sort against me’’ I took him to the police-station and, searching him, found a peddler’s certificate. Cross-examined by prisoner. He did not say he would show the certificate to him when he got to the police station. P.C. Horne corroborated. Joseph Clarke, manager of the Newton Gas Co., said the prisoner had never been, in their employ, and had no right whatsoever to collect accounts on the Company’s behalf. In reply to the Chairman, witness said they had a man named White in their employ who examined the meters, but he was in no way connected with the prisoner. P.C. Creech- asked for a remand until Monday, to enable the police make inquiries, and the Magistrates remanded the prisoner to Exeter prison until that day.
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