Arthur Scutt 1869-1950

[Bristol Mercury - Sat 04 Jun 1898. Bristol Volunteer Diary. To-day. ....... Volunteer Rifles - Ist Battalion P.A.S.I.I - Lieut. A. A. Fortt to be captain, the undermentioned gentlemen to be second lieutenants:- Henry George Kersley, Walter F. Long, and Arthur Scutt.] [Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette Thu 11 Jun 1903 Alleged Forgery in Bath. At the City Police Court, on Friday, before Messrs. T. W. B. Cox (in the chair), T. S. Cotterell, Austin J. King, R. Kersley, A. G. D. Moger, and J. Alton Tucker, John Charles Monckton (24), a singer, of 71, Castle Street, Oxford Street, West London, was charged that he, on the 4th inst., feloniously did forge and utter to Arthur Scutt, well knowing the same to be forged, a certain order purporting to be an order from one William J. Hart for the payment of money, to wit, a banker's cheque, for tho sum of £96 10s., with intent to cheat and defraud. Mr. Cannings Collins appeared on behalf of the Wilts and Dorset Bank. He was only prepared to give some evidence that day, and asked for a remand until Tuesday. Arthur Scutt, of Tregenna, Bloomfield Park, a cashier at the Wilts and Dorset Bank, said about 12.30 on Thursday prisoner came into the bank and presented a cheque (produced). He had never seen him before. It was dated June 3rd, 1903, and drawn in favour of Mr. F. J. Hunt, or order, and for £96 10s. It was endorsed "F. J. Hunt." He said nothing when he presented it. Witness asked him how he would take it, and he replied all in notes. Witness had suspicions, and communicated with Mr. Hart before paying the money. In the meantime he had a conversation with prisoner. Witness asked him if he was Mr. Hunt, and he replied no. He then asked who Mr. Hunt was, but he gave no answer. Witness thought he must know something about him, and asked what was his trade or profession, but he got no answer. Prisoner was requested to go into the managers' room. Mr. W. J. Hart was a customer at their branch, and was the only customer of that name. Witness knew his signature, and he thought the signature on the cheque was a very good imitation indeed. The cheque book from which it was taken was used by another customer altogether, and was issued in August, 1901. Prisoner stated that when the clerk asked him about Mr. Hunt he said he dealt in theatre enterprises. Witness replied that this was not correct. When witness volunteered the information that he was a commission agent, he replied that was. William J. Hart, a newsagent, of 26, Union Passage, said he had an account at the Wilts and Dorset Bank. The signature on the cheque was not his, but it was a very fair imitation. He did not know any Mr. F. J. Hunt, and had no dealings with any such person. He had never authorised or given authority for the cheque in question to be drawn. To his knowledge he had never seen prisoner before. D.C. Burge said he was called to the Wilts and Dorset Bank on Thursday about three o'clock. He captioned prisoner, and told him he should charge him with uttering the forged cheque, but he made no reply. On the way to the Police Station prisoner said, "I've got myself into a fine mess over this. If I were in London I could point out the man to you that gave me the cheque. I arranged to meet him at 3.30 on my return. I suppose I shall have an opportunity of defending myself." He afterwards said, "I met a man last night named Frederick Hunt on the corner of Euston Road, Tottenham Court Road. He took me into a public house called the King's Arms, and paid for a drink for me. He then went to the Sole's Arms, Hampstead Road, and he there paid for another for me. Hunt then asked me what I was doing, and I said I had not extra much to do. He then asked me if I would mind collecting some money for him. I said, 'Very well, as I have nothing particular to do I'll do it. Hunt then said, You will have to go to Bath for it, I arranged to meet Hunt the next morning, and I met him in Euston Road at 8.10 a.m. We both went together to Paddington Railway Station, and Hunt took my railway ticket for Bath and return. While we were on the platform Hunt gave me the cheque and told me to go to the Wilts and Dorset Bank, Bath, and cash it for him. He told me Mr. Hart lived in Union Passage, Bath, and was a wholesale stationer. I arranged to meet Hunt on my return to London at the Palace Tavern, Charing Cross Road. I do not know where Hunt, is living or what he is now doing. About three years ago Hunt engaged me as an artist at the Royal Theatre, Edmonton, and I have not seen him since until about three weeks ago. I was engaged about three or four years ago at the Lyric, Bath, with Johnnie Holland, a sketch artiste. On searching prisoner witness found a return ticket for Paddington; also a shilling and a halfpenny. He also had a watch and chain. The railway ticket was dated June 4th. Prisoner stated he could confirm everything that had been said. Enquiries were being now made in Tendon. The magistrates remanded prisoner until Tuesday next.] [Gloucester Citizen Sat 20 Apr 1907 Cirencester. BANK CHANGES. Mr. G. Patrick Smith, for seven years past the local manager of the Wilts and Dorset Bank, has heen appointed to Exmouth, and shortly leaves he capital of the Cotswolds for his new sphere. Mr. Arthur Scutt for fifteen years manager of the Bath branch of the Wilts and Dorset, is appointed to Cirencester. He is known to possess the triple recommendation of marked ability money, musical, and military matters, and it is believed Cirencester may afford scope for the display of all Mr. Scutt's business talents and social influences.] [Western Daily Press - Saturday 21 March 1914. Bridgwater Will Dispute. Yesterday the Court Appeal allowed an appeal from Arthur and Edward Angus Scutt and the Misses Helen Scutt and Florence Evelyn Scutt, all beneficiaries under the will of the late Mr John Scutt, jun., from decision of Mr Justice Neville dismissing an action by them against Thomas Henry Ensor, of Dorchester, the surviving trustee of the will of John Scutt, jun., and against Messrs J. P. Croad of Bosoombe, and T. F. Barham and J. Willshire Croad, Bridgwater (the executors of the late Mr Josias Croad, who was also a trustee of John Scut's will), and against the executors of the will of Mrs Kellaway (previously Mrs Scutt and the relict of John Scutt, who was the third trustee). The object of the action was to get indemnify from the estates of Josias Croad and Mrs Kellaway for losses occasioned to the estate by the retention of shares a Bridgwater cake mill. Mr Jenkins, K.C., for the appellants, said that the late Mr John Scutt, jun., left estate worth £13,000 net. Part of the estate was 100x£20 shares of the Bridgwater and West of England United Farmers Pure Linseed & Cotton Cake Company, Ltd., which afterwards changed its name to the Bridgwater Oil Mills, Ltd. The company paid substantial dividends, but these fluctuated, and eventually the company into liquidation in 1891. All the company's debts and liabilities were paid, and the shareholders received, by way of final divident £3 on every £20 share. The questioned decision was whether there was any breach of trust of the then trustees of the will in holding the shares from the testator's death in 1878, and whether the estates of the trustee in question were liable for the difference between what the shares could have been sold at within a reasonable, time after the testator's death and the £359 received way of final dividend. Evidence had been called at the trial to show that in 1884 the shares changed hands at £18 each. Mr Justice Neville had decided that the trustees were not in a position to realize the shares until after the death of Mr Scutt's widow, but this, counsel submitted, was wrong. Mr Peterson, K.C., for the respondents, argued that the Judge had decided rightly. Their Lordships decided that the learned Judge had approached the matter from an erroneous point of view, and referred the case back to him.] [A S - 81yr.]