Bicester Herald - 7th March 1879
Charge Against Bank Directors at Chesterfield - Before the borough bench of magistrates at Chesterfield, Mr David Hawkins, Mr Joseph Elliott, Mr Roger Wall, Mr James Burt, and Mr George Walker, directors, and Mr Edward Holland, manager of the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking Company, were charged with making and causing to be published a fraudulent balance sheet and report of the affairs of the bank on the 11th Feb 1878, well knowing the same to be false in five material particulars. Mr Lawrance Q.C. and Mr Carter prosecuted; and the directors were defended by Mr Barker, barrister, Mr Gatty, barrister and Mr Clegg and Mr Binney, solicitors all of Sheffield. Mr Harold Thomas, who represented Mr George Walker, said his client was unable to attend in consequence of illness, and asked that no proceedings might be taken against him until he could attend. Medical testimony was also given to show that Mr Edward Holland was unable to attend through the same cause, and, after some discussion, it was decided to proceed only with the case against the four directors. Mr Lawrance, in opening the case, stated that Mr Hawkins had been a director since 1865, Mr Elliott since 1873, and Mr Wall and Mr Burt since 1877. He should, he said, be able to show that these gentlemen, well knowing at the time the financial position of the bank, published the balance sheet of which the prosecution complained and a favourable report, which had induced persons to invest their money in the bank as shareholders to their loss and in some cases their complete ruin. He should show that in the balance sheet complained of the assets were misrepresented, and wilfully so, to the extent of between £20,000 and £30,000, and that while the directors had declared the usual dividend of 10 per cent. there was not a single farthing with which it could legitimately be paid, the whole of the surplus fund having disappeared, and nearly the whole of the paid-up capital of £35,000. Not one of the directors, he contended, could escape by saying he knew nothing about it. Nor was it enough for them to say they did not see the accounts, for they knew the nature of their duties and had access to the books. The first witness examined was Mr Tansley Witt, the liquidator, whose evidence was to the effect that there was a memorandum book kept in which many entries were made and thus kept out of the ledger, that it was of the highest importance to the manager that this book should be kept from the knowledge of the directors, and that it would be almost impossible to ascertain the true state of the affairs of the bank without it , inasmuch as the figures in the ledger and the balance sheet corresponded. Peter Redfern Gladwin, a clerk in the bank, was the next witness. He said he had not a current account with the bank, but had loans occasionally which amounted in the aggregate to £1500, which he had not repaid. Charles William Silversides, another clerk, admitted having had advances to the extent of £1200, and none of these amounts had appeared in the ledger, but only in the memorandum book. Neither of these witnesses informed the directors of the financial position in which they stood towards the bank until after the failure. The case was afterwards adjourned.
Echo & Times - 14th November 1879
The Chesterfield Bank - In the Court of Chancery, a petition has been presented by Messrs. Crompton and Evans, Union Bank, Chesterfield, praying that the voluntary winding up of the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking Company might be continued under the supervision of the court, and that the provisional liquidator might be continued in office. Mr Spallard, who appeared in support of the petition, stated that in the process of winding up it was found that it would be highly desirable if the assistance of the court could be obtained. Mr Field appeared for the liquidator, and supported the petition, when a gentleman named Blandy, sitting in the body of the court, said he was a shareholder of the company, and he and a large body of shareholders whom he represented, were dissatisfied with the manner in which things had been carried on under the voluntary winding up. They did not oppose a supervision order being made on the petition before the court; but they were desirous that there should be a full investigation of the affairs of the bank, and into the acts of the directors and the officials of the bank. Mr Blandy proceeded to make a statement charging fraud against certain persons in the conduct of the bank's affairs, when his lordship inquired whether he had filed an affidavit setting forth his allegations, Mr Blandy said he had not, whereupon his lordship declined to hear him further, saying that the interests of all parties would be fully protected by the order for supervision which the court would make on the petition. A supervision order was accordingly made, with the usual direction s to costs.
Worthing Gazette - 23rd April 1924
Easter Vestries - Rector of Heene lll
In the absence of the Rector (the Rev. JP Fallowes) through illness, the Rev. LS Blenkins took the chair at Heene Vestry meeting on Easter Monday, and he read a letter form Mr Fallowes in which the latter touched upon some aspects of the business to be done and expressed his disappointment at being incapacitated at such a time. There was a good attendance.
There was no submission of Church accounts to the Vestry, it being pointed out that these had already been published in the Parish Magazine.
The chairman reported that there were 581 communicants on Easter Day, and that the Rector's Easter Offertory totalled £88.11s.6d. The Electoral Roll of the parish had increased from 1,246 to 1,286, 12 names having been removed by death, and 32 taken off for other causes, and 84 members added.
In his letter the Rector nominated Mr JB Sams as his Churchwarden, remarking that he had served a year in that office with great satisfaction to him (the Rector), and he thought also to the congregation; and Major General Sir James Maher, C.B., K.C.M.G., was unanimously elected People's Warden, on the proposition of Mr HC Newton, seconded by Mr W Sams J.P., the latter remarking that he was a man in full vigour of health who had identified himself with the Church work since he came into the parish.
The sidesman were re-elected, with the addition of Mr CW Silversides (who is an old Churchwarden) and Mr WG Rodway (who has been Churchwarden of the Cathedral Church of Birmingham).
Sympathy and Thanks - Major General Sir James Maher, Mr HC Newton, Mr RW Charles, Mr WG Rodway, and Mrs Towers were elected representatives of the Diocesan Council; and Mr F Cory, Mr GH Poulton, Mr CW Silversides, Miss Holmes and Miss Doris Dobree were elected to serve on the Ruri-decanel Council.
The Vestry recorded their appreciation of the long service to the Church of the late Mr AS Roberts, "a good Churchwarden, a loyal colleague, and faithful friend," and tendered respectful sympathy to Mrs Roberts and family; and on the initiative of Mr H Nelson offered condolence to the Chairman for the serious illness in his family and also to the Rector and Mrs Fallowes.
Thanks to the Secretary for her services were proposed by Sir James Maher, who alluded to the amount of work for the parish done by Mrs Towers; and Mr Newton, in seconding, remarked that but few of them realised the amount of work Mrs Towers took upon her shoulders.
Grateful tribute was paid to Mr Gibbs for the work he had done for the last 20y years, particularly in connection with the finances of the Church, the vote being moved my Mr Cory to "his predecessor" and warmly supported by Mr EW Bennett, Mr Newton and Mr W Sams.