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FANCY THAT! A miscellany of
unusual and interesting THE CONFIDENCE TRICK is a crime whose origins date back to the earliest times when the doctrine of
caveat emptor, or buyer beware, prevailed and is the name given to a swindle involving money or possessions in which the victim's trust is won by the perpetrator. Such crimes thrived particularly in the United States where they were less often brought to light because those caught out, the suckers in American parlance, were often ashamed to admit that they had been a party to such larcenous intent. At one time, these artful swindlers were known as "Jeremy Diddlers", after the chief character in a play by James Kenney called "Raising the Wind" (1803) and the name was subsequently applied to any needy, tricky, constant borrower, or a confidence man, as this news report from the Stamford Mercury of Friday 12th May 1854 testifies: "Two Jeremy Diddlers were staying at the Bull Inn [now the Burghley Arms] last week. They talked very largely and fared sumptuously at the expense of the landlord. When they started, they said they were going to Stamford market but they have not returned to discharge the liabilities they left behind them. They had with them a horse and gig which had been hired at Wisbech and the owner has since sent to Bourn to inquire after it, but too late." The following year, a more sophisticated confidence trick took place and was duly reported by the Stamford Mercury on Friday 5th June 1855: "This town has lately been visited by a person whose mode of conducting business is of a very questionable character. About five weeks ago, George Skinner, alias John Brown, took the shop and bakehouse in West Street recently in the occupation of Mr Daniel Ormond. He intimated his intention to carry on the baking business and also to enter into the corn and seed trade. He professed to have independent means and made high pretensions by having the gas laid on and the shop papered and painted and giving sundry orders to different tradesmen in the town and neighbourhood. Of one, he ordered a new cart, though he had no horse; with another, he arranged for the conveyance of his furniture to Bourn though it is now quite clear he never intended it to come, if indeed he had any. He went out on the Saturday before Christmas Day and took with him a stone of cheap beef to keep Christmas, leaving the journeyman in charge of the business, and he has not yet returned. When at Bourn, he was dressed as a respectable working miller or baker; he is rather beyond the middle stature, has a very shuffling gait and is over 60 years of age. Though he went in the name of Skinner, his letters were addressed to him at the post office in the name of Brown. By his plausible manner and promises, he succeeded in obtaining goods from several tradesmen. The stock in trade being sold out, the journeyman closed the shop on the 27th ult., since which time no business has been transacted there." One of the most successful confidence tricksters during the 19th century was a man called James Partridge who travelled England without a penny to his name yet living a comfortable life at the expense of others.
On Tuesday 21st November 1865, he booked into a lodging house in West Street, Bourne, run by William Taylor, and agreed to pay one guinea a week (over £50 at today's values) for board and lodging, plus extras. He said he was a professional man from the Crystal Palace who had come into the country for two months for the good of his health and that he was not without means, receiving 18 shillings a week from an association in London and in addition, a gentlemen from Bedford, a brewer known as Mr T, had married his daughter and allowed him three guineas a month. He also said that the gentleman referred to would remit by post office order, one guinea a week to Mr Taylor during the time he was staying there. Sir: The person you name in your letter received this morning has no claim whatsoever upon me and he is quite aware that I should not remit him any money. This is not the first time that he has had the impudence to send people to me. If you take my advice, you will confine all your transactions with him in cash. - Yours etc Mr T. Partridge then admitted that he had no means of paying his bill and left Bourne in the direction of Stamford. He was described as being over 60 years old, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall, stooping a little, and had rather a clerical cut, a shuffling gait, and dressed in a suit of shabby black with a white necktie, and carrying a bag which had something of the appearance of having once belonged to a lawyer. The following week, a similar occurrence was reported in Stamford, but by then, James Partridge had moved on yet again to the next town. THE SCREW TRICK SWINDLING LODGING HOUSES was Partridge's speciality but other tricksters preyed on tradesmen and in 1866, such a proposition was presented to various shopkeepers in Bourne in what became known as "The Screw Trick". Wood screws were first made commercially in this country at Birmingham in 1854 and were therefore still a novelty twelve years later when a man professing to be from the ironmongery trade and specialising in screws, arrived in Bourne and began making calls soliciting wholesale orders and he presented a card upon which was printed: "Richardson and Sons, patent screw manufacturers, Broad Street, Birmingham." He then produced a sample of his wares and the prices he quoted were very reasonable. Then, having obtained an order, his plan was to deliver the screws in a few days by horse and trap, stating that the terms of sale were cash on delivery for the first journey and four months' credit thereafter. One of the tradesmen who took up the offer received a
bill with his first bag of screws saying: "Broad Street, Birmingham: Mr
------, bought of Richardson & Sons, Patent Screw Manufacturers: 1 bag of
patent screws, 120 gross, ¾ to 3 inch, Nos 7 to 16, at 6d., £3 paid, May
18, 1866, William Richardson." Shortly afterwards, the buyer discovered
that the bag contained only 45 gross instead of 120. Another tradesman who
purchased 60 gross, obtained only 45. The quality and price therefore were
enticing but the trick was to supply a short quantity. THE WEALTHY MEAT SALESMAN A "GENT" of the Jeremy Diddler class, styling himself John Smith Esq., recently visited Bourn. He represented himself as being connected with a large firm of London meat salesmen, and set forth in glowing terms the extent of his means, holding out very liberal promises to all who assisted him in his "business". As a commencement, he made the acquaintance of a kind-hearted elderly gentleman in West Street, who, living on his own and owning the house adjoining, was thought an acceptable friend for this illustrious stranger, said to be worth "nine thousand pounds". With this introduction, suitable lodgings were produced with a "son of Saint Crispin" in the West Street where his worthy landlady for some days did her best to provide suitably for so distinguished a guest. During the day previous to Mr Smith taking his departure, he again visited "his congenial old friend", taking lunch with him and apparently much enjoying the strong ale for which his host's cellar is noted: he also took tea with the family. For the kindness of his friends in procuring him such good lodgings, he said he should treat the gentleman's niece with a new silk dress and patterns were obtained for the purpose. After tea, he asked to be supplied with writing materials, which were accordingly brought, including 18 postage stamps. Two letters were written, one addressed to the Bank of England and the other to a company in Manchester, he "taking care" of the remaining stamps for another occasion. Shortly afterwards, he went into the town to purchase the silk dress but "he never returned". On the following morning, his landlady becoming urgent for payment of her account, and Mr Smith's remittance of £60 which he expected from London not having arrived, he somewhat hastily left Bourn to look after it and has not since been seen here. He is apparently between 60 and 70 years old and rather above the middle stature. It would appear that the same person has lately been paying a visit to the inhabitants of Billingborough. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 23rd November 1877. THE LONG DISTANCE WALKER A YOUNG MAN named Elsom on Monday last commenced walking three journeys a day between Bourn and Sleaford, making a distance of 54 miles daily, which it is his intention to continue for six successive days. The energy and resolution necessary to perform this task of pedestrianism would certainly be much better directed were they applied in an equal degree to some productive and useful employment. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 17th March 1854. FOR THE PAST MONTH, about 220 gallons per week of most excellent soup, costing about 3d. per quart, have been distributed to all the necessitous poor who have applied for it and no doubt good service has been rendered to many persons who have suffered from the late inclement weather and want of employment. The fund raised for this object amounted to £34 15s. 7d. There have been eleven distributions of about 80 gallons each time and the last distribution for the season is intended to take place today (Friday). Each distribution, on an average, was purchased by 324 families, comprising 500 adults and 700 children. The cost of each distribution was about £4 and one third of that sum was received from the applicants at the rate of 1d. per quart. Thanks are due to the committee for the efficient manner in which they have discharged the duties devolving upon them. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st February 1861. A MEETING WAS HELD at the Town Hall on the 7th inst. to consider the desirability of establishing a soup kitchen during the inclement weather. The curate, the Rev J P Sharp, took the chair and a committee was formed, subscription lists opened and on three occasions, on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, about 60 gallons of soup of excellent quality have been served out at a halfpenny a pint to a large number of applicants. About a dozen subscriptions have been opened: one at each of the banks and others with various tradesmen, where it is hoped that those who desire to support the soup kitchen will leave their subscriptions and thus avoid the necessity for a house to house collection, the committee having determined to adopt the former course. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 15th January 1864. EVICTION SECURITY OF TENURE for those living in rented accommodation or tied cottages was unknown during the 19th century and there were many evictions for unpaid rent, because the property was not being maintained satisfactorily or because of disputes over ownership. Such incidents were a cause of tremendous interest in the neighbourhood and whenever the bailiffs arrived, everyone turned out to watch, as reported on this occasion by the Stamford Mercury on Friday 25th April 1856: "On the 17th inst., some excitement again prevailed in the Eastgate, occasioned by the Sheriff's officer executing three writs of ejectment from the tenements in the occupation of Mary Grummitt, William Hewitt and Daniel Cole. The latter two were occupied under Elias Byford, of Spalding, and the former in her own right. Mrs Grummitt was from home when the house was broken open and the things placed in the street. Hewitt and Cole, it is said, surrendered. Some of their goods were removed from the house as a matter of form and the doors locked by the officers after which the parties were allowed to go in again and it is said they have the privilege of being set down tenants of the Marquis of Exeter. These tenements, with upwards of 100 others, are situate in the Eastgate, near the Wharf, on a piece of land which some term the Bedehouse Bank, and which at sundry times and under divers titles has been claimed by the agents of Lord Exeter. It will be remembered that on the 10th and 11th of April, 1854, ejectments were enforced against E Knott, H Norman and W Walker. From that time until the present occasion, the services of the Sheriff's officer has not been put into operation but the time has been occupied in endeavouring to bring the 'hundred-and-one-refractories' to some terms."
EXTRAORDINARY GARDENING SUCCESS THE GARDENER employed by William Parker Esq., of
Hanthorpe House, near Bourne, was last season rewarded for his cultural
skill with a fruit of Gilbert's Improved Victory of Bath melon weighing 9
lb. and which, when cut, proved of the most delicious flavour. It was
grown by Joseph Rowlett, who has been in the employ of Mr Parker for several
years, and the weight of the fruit in this variety is quite unprecedented
and stamps him out as a gem amongst his horticultural brethren. THE PUBLIC DECIDE A JOB APPLICATION IMAGINE APPLYING for a job today only to find out that five other people also wanted it and the successful applicant would be chosen by public ballot. Such a situation occurred in Bourne during the late 19th century when the office of assistant overseer and rate collector fell vacant and there were six applicants. BOURNE'S GRAND OLD LADY ONE OF THE OLDEST inhabitants of Bourne in past times was Mrs Howarth who died on Saturday 15th January 1892 at the age of 87, at her home in Star Lane [now Abbey Road] where she had lived for 75 years. Her life had been an interesting one as the Stamford Mercury reported the following Friday: "It is a singular coincidence that the deceased entered upon the occupation of this cottage in 1817, about the time of the death of Princess Charlotte, and while in her last illness, received with much concern the tidings of the death of the Duke of Clarence. Mrs Howarth's sons have all died abroad, the death of the youngest, who had attained distinction as a clever detective, taking place recently at Rochester City in the United States. Mrs Faulkner of Bourne is the only surviving member of the family." RUNAWAY CATTLE CAUSE PANIC IN THE STREETS A STAMPEDE OF BLACK CATTLE caused problems at Bourne on Sunday 29th November 1896. About 4 o'clock in the morning, a railway worker heard a great commotion from one of the cattle trucks in the freight yard near the station and found five steers trampling another beast underfoot. Proceeding to liberate the endangered animal, the other five escaped in all directions, careering up the lines, and one madly rushed out on to the road and into a fen drain from which it was, with some difficulty, pulled out later in the day. Two beasts headed towards Thurlby and after some chasing were recaptured. One galloped to Morton and in the afternoon was brought back with comparatively little trouble. Another located itself near the gatehouse in Mill Drove and caused a great deal of trouble but was eventually captured and driven back along the railway line to Bourne but with a mad rush, escaped again and it was not until it had caused a great deal of alarm to pedestrians in the town that towards evening, it was recaptured, securely fastened and taken back to the station in a butcher's cart. The cattle were eventually sent on their way to King's Lynn. LOSING AN HOUR CLOCKS throughout Britain were put forward by one hour at 2 am on Sunday 21st May 1916 to launch daylight saving time, as it was officially known. Britain was then involved in the Great War of 1914-18 and the government told MPs that hundreds of thousands of tons of coal would be saved by the change in an attempt to help the war effort. The prospect of lighter evenings was widely welcomed, with the clocks being put back again in October, although not everyone was happy with the new arrangement as the Stamford Mercury reported on Friday 26th May 1916: "Farmers in the Bourne district are not putting the new Summer Time Bill into operation but are retaining the former times for commencing and leaving off work. In all other business concerns, the new times have been worked with general advantage. Various comments had been made as to the proposed change, there being some who declined to alter their clocks and looked upon the proposal with suspicion that it meant another hour’s work a day with no corresponding recompense." A STEP IN THE DARK THE DARK NIGHTS have been responsible for three unpleasant experiences which, fortunately, have not proved serious, reported the Stamford Mercury on Friday 24th November 1916. Three people who were just leaving M George Bett's shop in Eastgate (later Kinnsway, now unoccupied) on Monday evening took a wrong turn and walked direct into the river which runs opposite. Fortunately in each instance, assistance was immediately forthcoming and the parties, two of whom were ladies, were happily little worse for their immersion. The darkness of the past few nights has been intense.
BOURNE WOOD has just had its first wedding, according to The Local newspaper on Friday 12th September 2003. Sally Ann Inkel and Martin Livingston, both aged 29, decided on a spiritual occasion rather than the traditional church marriage, and after tying the knot at the registry office in Lincoln the previous day, they celebrated in a less orthodox fashion when friends and family formed a circle amid the trees and joined hands with the happy couple standing in the middle for a pagan hand-fasting ceremony. The usual reception was not forgotten and a marquee had been erected for the wedding buffet with a harpist to provide the music. "I have loved Bourne Wood for many years and used to play here as a child", said Sally. "It was always my dream to have this ceremony and it turned out to be a magical day." The occasion needed special permission from the Forestry Commission who were pleased to co-operate. Forester John Wilcockson said it was a first for the woods that provided a great setting for a great idea.
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