Thomas Joseph Frederick Scutt 1863-1918

[Sat 02 Jul 1892, Whitstable Times & Herne Bay Herald, Kent. EMBEZZLEMENT at SHEERNESS. Thomas Joseph Frederick Scutts was indicted for that he, being employed in the capacity of servant to Mary Ann Beal, did embezzle and steal the sum of �8 15s. lO 3/4d., on 15th April 1891, Sheerness. Mr. A. Tassell prosecuted and Mr. Gibson was for the defence. Mary Ann Beal deposed that she was a widow and lived at Hill Farm, at Minster. In November 1890, she went into a dairy business and engaged the prisoner manager. His duty was to take the milk to the town and sell it and account for the same. He was to have half of the two cows till January, when she told prisoner she could no longer afford that and would pay him a �1 a week, which he agreed to accept. She had a customer named Bardo and she supplied with milk, and about the middle of April 1891, he owed �6 15s. lO.3/4d. She had on several occasions spoken to the prisoner about it. On one occasion he said Mr. Bardo would pay when got money from the Government. In October when she spoke about it to prisoner said he would see about it. In May, this year, she went to Mr. Bardo, and said she had paid Scutt. She never authorised prisoner to keep this money. By Mr. Gibson: She did not make enquiries of Bardo till May of this year. The prisoner had set up in business in opposition to her. The prisoner kept the accounts entirely. Thomas Bardo, Government contractor, of Broad Street, Sheerness, said he dealt with the prosecutrix for milk, and had two gallons a day from January to April. The account put in was furnished to him and he paid it to the prisoner. Samuel Beal deposed that was the son of the prosecutrix, the 25th May he and his mother called on the prisoner and told him if he did not pay he should charge him with embezzlement. He wanted to settle it. Alice Beal deposed that she was the daughter of the prosecutrix. She heard her mother ask prisoner for the money and he said be would see about it, Mr. Gibson said the only witness for the defence would be Frances Ann Scutt. The Chairman said as far as the evidence went he thought it would be a very serious thing to convict the prisoner of embezzlement. He thought it was more a question of disputed account. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.] [Thomas Joseph Frederick Scutt 56 yr. - lived at 22 Alma Road, Sheerness, Kent with his mother Frances Anne (nee Taylor) Scutt. Inquest was held 1918 Nov 30 Ashford, Kent (mother inc.). (Alas, I have no knowledge of the proceedings).]