TO THE EDITOR OF THE ‟WEST SUSSEX GAZETTE.”
SIR,—To Robert Roe's misrepresentations in your last paper, this is my answer.
He was in my service at 24s. a-week, without any authority to receive money or any excuse for doing so. He had his wages, and those of the men under him, from the London and County Bank weekly, and sent me every week an account of the work done, and wages and expences incurred; and never gave me, in any way, any reason to suppose that he had received anything from any of my employers. My discovery that he had done so was quite accidental, and the first sums that came to my knowledge were obtained from Mr. and Mrs. Rusbridger. I thereupon employed Mr. William Duke as my solicitor, who had him immediately apprehended for embezzlement, and he was remanded for further examination and bailed, and when he came up the second time his solicitor, Mr. Powell, jun., offered Mr. Duke £47, the amount of which I then appeared to have been defrauded, if I would give up the prosecution, and Mr. Duke agreed to accept it, and the prisoner was liberated upon payment of £42 and an engagement by Mr. Powell to pay the remaining £5, which is however unpaid still. I afterwards discovered that he had also embezzled £30 5s. 9d. more, and I give the following names and sums in proof of this statement :—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Mrs. Rusbridger, Chichester | 5 | 15 | 0 |
| Mr. G Rusbridger, Westerton | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mr Cogan, Hampnett | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Mr Tupper, Felpham | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Mr Hayler, Chichester | 6 | 14 | 0 |
| Mr Sadler, Aldinbourne | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Mr Scott, Warblington | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Executors of the late Mr John Osborne | 9 | 10 | 0 |
| Mr Fogden, Appledram | 7 | 12 | 0 |
| Mr G Osborne, Tangmere | 3 | 18 | 9 |
| Mr Baily, Halnaker | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| Mr Kent, Lough | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| The Bank | 10 | 0 | 0 |
He was paid the week’s wages by Mr. Poat, and went unknown to me and drew the above out of the bank.
He has the assurance to represent to your readers that when I sent him about his business he offered to balance accounts with me in three days, though he still owes me the £5 and £30 5s. 9d., and to print other assertions equally unfounded, the value of which I leave to be estimated by the proofs I have given of his falsehood in more material respects, as well as of his roguery.
Roe had been connected, before I engaged him, with a respectable firm, from which he was not separated for any good behaviour; and my object in this publication is to prevent others from acting now with as little discretion as I acted them. He insinuates that I wished to keep him out of employment after what I have experienced and made public, must do without either. There is a little grain of truth in what he says about a present. I did give him some reason to expect one, but it was on an important condition: his previous character being very so-so, I said his wages should not be more than 24s. per week, but if I found him honest I would make him a present. Does anybody think he merits it?
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN CANNINGS.
(See also
15-Oct-1857)