Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 19 September 1907
Goods That Were Not Sent
Mexboro’ Man Committed For Trial.
At Dontaster West Riding Court yesterday, a man named Ernest Walter Fletcher, who has been advertising as “Fletcher and Co., Albert Works, Mexborough,” was charged with obtaining money by false pretences at Mexboro’, and large number of witnesses were called from all parts of the country to prove that in reply to an advertisement they had written to prisoner, enclosing postal orders, and had not received any reply.
Mr. Hall, of Mexboro’ appeared for the prisoner.
It was stated by Superintendent Hicks that the prisoner resided Mexboro’, and for some time past had been advertising in various papers as follows ;
1d. Goods.—To Bazaar shopkeepers and general dealers.—3 dozen 1d. articles with catalogue, post free for 1s. postal order. —Fletcher and Co., Mexbro.’
The result was that people from different parts of the country sent their money thinking it was a genuine firm and expecting to receive the goods, but they received no reply, although in some cases the people wrote several times.
Complaints were made for very long time, and he (Supt. Hicks) deemed it his duty to have the prisoner seen and cautioned. In June last year he sent Inspector Watson to caution the prisoner to the way he was carrying on business, but it had no effect, because the complaints went on, and on the 4th of September he took out a-warrant for the man’s arrest. He was brought before the Court on the 7th inst. and remanded.
In one case the prisoner was charged with defrauding a man named Joshua Parker and since those proceedings were commenced the man had received from the prisoner a packet of what was called “Dr. Buchanan’s great Canadian Baby Powders, United Kingdom Manufacturing Co., Albert Works, Mexboro’.” There was no such manufacturing company at Mexboro’ and no place called Albert Works. In fact, it was not genuine firm, and the firm of Fletcher and Co. was simply a myth, and the whole thing was a fraud on the public.
Joshua Parkin, Belton Road, Lodge Brymbo Wrexham, stated that 7th April he saw the advertisement in a newspaper, and wrote to Fletcher and Co. asking them to forward three dozen penny articles. He enclosed two postal orders for 6d. each, one order being made payable to Fletcher and Co., but he got nothing in reply. On the 19th April he wrote again, but still received no acknowledgment. When he saw the advertisement the paper he thought it was genuine firm, and that he would get full value for his money—in fact he was on the point of sending for £3 worth. He made a complaint to the police and a warrant was taken out and prisoner apprehended and a remand granted. On Thursday he received by post a card of Dr. Buchanan’s baby powders and also a catalogue, Fletcher and Co., Albert Mills
Cross-examined: He did not receive the baby powders until the warrant had been issued against the prisoner.
Hannah Kirkham, widow, 50, Bridge Cate, Retford, shopkeeper, stated that she also sent for three dozen articles, enclosing 1s but received nothing back. She wrote to defendant three times, but could get no reply.
Rupert Tyler Cave, photographer’s agent, Stirling ; Edith Ellen Leng, wife of the Rev. Charles Eoward Leng, of Bardney; George Parker, miner, 153, Mitchell Road, Kiveton; William Taylor, printers agent, Hull; John Wallace Braithwaite, cashier, Blackburn ; and John William Blyth, miner, Micklefield, were all called, and deposed that they had written to the defendant enclosing 1s., and asking for 3 dozen penny articles to be sent, but they got no reply.
Mrs. Leng stated that she ordered the articles for a bazaar, and got no reply to her application after a second letter. Parkin, asked if he would have been satisfied with three dozen baby powders, replied “Well, it would have been better than nothing.” (Laughter.)
Walter Hawkins, assistant superintendent of the General Post Office, Doncaster, proved the cashing of several of the postal orders sent to the prisoner.
Henry Burnham, grocer, Mexborough, proved that prisoner, whom he had known for five or six years, had carried on business at Mexborough, and during the last twelve months he had received several postal orders from him for goods, none of the orders exceeding 1s.
Thomas Laughton, warehouse manager for Messrs. Waddington and Co., glass bottle manufacturers, Mexborough, said prisoner had worked for him in the warehouse as a packer, and was employed there in July.
The signature Fletcher and Co. on the postal order produced was in prisoner’s handwriting.
Police-constable Wrath also gave evidence.
Prisoners’ excuse was that the orders had been overlooked, or that he had not sufficient stock in hand. Prisoner had no place of business other than his private residence. Formerly prisoner had a stall in the Mexborough Market Place, but discontinued it last December. There were no Albert Works nor United Kingdom Manufacturing Company in Mexborough.
Inspector Watson had known prisoner about seven years. He apprehended him on warrant, and charged him. Prisoner replied. “It is more neglect than anything.” Witness had received from 400 to 500 complaints respecting the prisoner from all parts of England, Scotland, and Wales.
Prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the West Riding’ Quarter Sessions on October 14. He was admitted to bail, himself in £50, with two sureties of £25 each