29 June 1872 – A Man of Many Trades

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From the North Wilts Herald on Saturday the 29th of June 1872.

At the Borough Petty Sessions, on Friday the 21st of June, before the Reverend C Pitt, a man of many trades, William James, was brought up charged with vagrancy.

Police Sergeant Hobbs stated that he saw the prisoner that morning go to Mr. Barnard’s jeweller, near the Market Cross, and afterwards to Mr. S. Hart’s, also a jeweller.

A sunny view of a bustling street in Malmesbury featuring traditional multi-story buildings. The Cherry Tree shop, with a sign prominently displayed, is located at 1 High Street. Pedestrians and a couple with a dog are walking along the pavement, passing various shops, including Lally's Tea Rooms.
A view of The Cherry Tree at 1 High Street in Malmesbury. Saturday 14 September 2024.

He then went down the High Street and called at Mr. W. Scott’s, tailor. Thinking he was an imposter, representing himself to be any trade to suit his purpose, Hobbs went and asked what his business was at Mr. Barnard’s. He there represented himself to be a watchmaker hard up, and wanted a job of work. Mr. Barnard gave him 1 shilling. At Mr. Scott’s he said he was a tailor and wanted work and had 1 and a ½ pence given him. Hobbs then followed him to the Black Horse Inn, at Burton Hill, where prisoner and his wife were having something to eat and drink. When prisoner came out the sergeant apprehended him and charged him with going about representing himself of several trades with the intent to extort money.

Prisoner, in his defence, said he was a watchmaker, a tailor, and also a tuner of pianos, harmoniums and concertinas.

This the magistrate would not believe, and sentenced him to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour as a vagrant.

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