villains

"False pretenses" seems redundant to me. Who ever heard of "true pretenses"? What could be the nature of such a crime? It would seem to cover an awful lot.

Newpaper account: "FALSE PRETENCES AT NO. SHIELDS -- At North Shields, Mustapha Irola (33), an Italian fireman, was charged on a warrant with having obtained by means of false pretences £1 and a quantity of clothing, valued at 10s, the money and property of Constantine Janieries. Prosecutor said he was a boarding house keeper and resided at 60 Borough Road. On the 28th April the accused came to his house and upon him representing that he was to be paid off from a Liverpool ship at New Quay Shipping Office the following morning he, at prisoner's request, advanced him £1 and credited him with 10s worth of clothing. He (prosecutor) sent his step-son to make inquiries as to the accuracy of his statement, and found that it was false, whereupon he caused a warrant to be issued against accused. The step-son was called and corroborated the evidence of the prosecutor. He added that he had known the accused for three years. Mr Walton, superintendent messenger at the Shipping Office, said that no Liverpool ship was paid off on the date named. Sergt. Proud said he charged the accused on the 17th inst. and he replied, "The prosecutor is a liar. I never got anything from anybody. I was in Constantinople at the time." Formally charged the prisoner denied the offence. He said he got the money from the stepson's father. There was evidence that this man died in February, and the magistrates fined the accused 20s and costs with the alternative of one month's imprisonment." --- Shields Daily Gazette, 20 Aug 1904, page 5

Heartbreaking really

very sad

Again I bet it was sheer desperation that made them do it..