Story of a Piano: Yeovil Ex-Manager Sent to Prison: 23 years’ Service: James Pincent, late manager in the employ of Messrs. Godfrey and Co., piano merchants, Middle-street, Yeovil, appeared on remand at Yeovil Police Court, yesterday, on a series of charges of alleged falsification of accounts. Mr. Boxall prosecuted, and the accused was represented by Mr. T. Mayo. Mrs. Tucker said on March 17th, 1925, she purchased a piano from Messrs, Godfrey and Co., the price being £42 cash. The instrument was delivered a day or so later, and she paid £2 and later £40, on or about March 27th. There was never, at any time, anything said about a hire purchase system. No arrangements were made to pay £1 5s monthly. As far as she understood, when she paid the £40 that completed the payments. At the end of June, she received a telegram signed “Godfrey,” from Exeter, stating that he would call.
Pincent called, and he then gave her a receipt for £40. Mr. R. Robbins, salesman to Messrs. Godfrey and Co., said, on the instructions of accused, he delivered a piano to the last witness. She told him to call in about a week’s time, which did, and received £40 which he handed to accused. James Henley Breeze, chartered accountant to Messrs. Charmers Wade and Co., of Yeovil, said he had examined the book of accounts of Messrs. Godfrey and Co., but could find entry of £40 on or about the day mentioned. An entry of £2 was, however, there. Witness said the sum of £40 should have been included with the takings for that day. In a ledger under the hire and purchase system, was an account in the name of Mrs. Tucker in which there was a charge for a piano £57 15s. There was also a credit entry of £34 10s paid by monthly instalments of £1 5s. There was no entry of credit for the £40 mentioned. Mr. W. H. Watson, of Hornsey, London, secretary to Messrs. Godfrey and Co., said Pincent had been in the firm’s employ for twenty-three years, and had been at Yeovil for the last eight years. His salary was £10 per month and commission on all sales, rent and rates of house free. In answer to Mr. Mayo, the witness said at the end of the financial year, ending March 31st, 1927, accused had received the sum of £343, and the previous year £393 in wages and commission. Witness, continuing, said he could find no entry of any amount for £40. The book containing the counterfoil of the receipt produced could not be found. Miss Gladys Robbins identified her handwriting in the different ledgers. Mr. Mayo, for the accused, desired that the case should be dealt with at that Court. Mr. Boxall stated that he would be prepared to withdraw the case of Lombard as it was very complicated. Mr. Mayo pleaded guilty on behalf of the accused to the other six charges. The other cases were then dealt with, the total amount alleged to have been embezzled being £205 19s. According to the evidence, the accused’s methods were to get customers to sign a blank form which he himself filled in later. When completed they were hire-purchase forms agreeing to monthly installments. Mr. Mayo said this had been going on for the last two years. The difficulty in these cases was knowing when to stop. When Mr. Watson came, the accused disclosed everything to him and had given his firm every assistance since. Accused was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment on each charge, the sentences run consecutively.
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