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Fraudster John Salmon – Old Bailey 1894

A solicitors clerk working Bethnal Green is at the Old Bailey charged with deception, forgery, theft and embezzlement, 30th April 1894. Here’s the report from the London Evening Standard – Tuesday 01 May 1894.

London Evening Standard - Tuesday 01 May 1894“John Salmon, a 31, clerk, pleaded guilty to stealing three cheques, of the value of £448, and with forging the endorsements thereto.

Mr Geoghegan, who prosecuted, said in November the prisoner the Prisoner entered the service of Messrs Voss and Co., solicitors, Bethnal Green road, as a shorthand clerk, in the faith of a character which purported to come from Mr Reginald Davis, solicitor, Southend, but which Prisoner had written.

He represented to his employers that certain monies were owing to Mr Davis, a solicitor, on behalf of client named Hart, and cheques were drawn accordingly for £411, made payable to Mr Hart, of Liverpool, and handed to the Prisoner, who forged the endorsements, and opened an account with the National Bank of Australasia, where he cleared the cheques.

He then wrote an impertinent letter to him employers, informing them of what he had done, and stating that he was going to America with the proceeds. A warrant was obtained, which was placed in the hands of Detective Inspector Egan, of the City police, who eventually arrested the Prisoner in Dublin. At that time he had £326 in gold in his possession.

The Prisoner had been twice to Australia and once to India, and had been employed by a solitor in the East-End.

Whilst with Mr Voss the Prisoner made himself acquainted with his employers wealthiest clients, and got their addresses and where they kept their banking accounts, which information he kept in a diary, which was taken from him when arrested. These persons had evidently been sought out as easy prey for fraud and plunder. The Prisoner received 37 shillings and sixpence a week wages.

In extenuation, the Prisoner said he was driven to crime consequent on domestic trouble. He was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude”.

Ian Waugh
Old British News