Cambridge Chronicle 9 Apr 1870: William Dillistone made charge of embezzlement

CAMBRIDGE DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS

SATURDAY, April 2.

(Before the Rev. G. Thornhill and T. V. Webb, Esq)

CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT. — William Edwards, 22, gardener, of Haverill and Impington, was brought up under warrant, charged by William Dillistone, auctioneer and nurseryman, of Sible Hedingham and Trumpington, with feloniously embezzling various moneys, his property, on various occasions, in the parish of Trumpington. — Mr. ELLISON for the prosecution, and Mr. NAYLOR for the prisoner. — The prisoner was manager of the prosecutor’s business on the Trumpington-road, and it was his duty when he sold anything to account for the same in a book, which he afterwards was to produce to prosecutor, shewing the money he had received. According to the theory of the prosecution, Mr. Dillistone had his suspicions arroused that the prisoner was embezzling his money, and steps were taken which resulted in the present charge. The cases in point were as follows: 26th February, received of Mr. John Adams, 6s 11d.: 21st March, received of Mr. Gilbert Ainsley, 1s. (balance of a bill for 9s.); and 29th March, received 5s. 10 1/2d. of Mr. Charles Andrews. Witnesses were called to show that prisoner received the moneys and gave invoices for them, but had not accounted for similar amounts in the cash book. A difficulty, however, presented itself with regard to the case for the prosecution, and after considerable discussion, Mr. ELLISON deemed it advisable to withdraw the present charges, as they were so near the time of prisoner’s apprehension that he might not have had reasonable opportunity of accounting for them, at the same time intimating that there was a probability of further proceedings.