THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Man appears before city's police court to answer embezzlement charge

The News Letter reported that William Austin had been brought before the Belfast Police Court the previous day charged with having embezzled a sum of £16 10s which had belonged to man named Peter Coxhead.

The following particulars were given relating to the charge – Mr Coxhead and his young wife had met the prisoner when they had arrived in Belfast by steamer on which Austin had also been travelling on July 12.

Four days later the two met again and the prisoner had asked him if he had been able to find a suitable house in the city.

He told Austin that he had not. Austin told him that he had found a house which was 3s 6d a week.

Austin then offered to share the house with Mr Coxhead and his wife.

He also suggested that the two men should into the musical instrument trade to which Mr Coxhead also agreed to do.

On July 23 the two men had gone to Belfast Post Office to send £16 10s to a musical instrument maker in London and on this occasion Mr Coxhead had given the money to Austin in good faith.

Shortly afterwards the two men had a quarrel and Mr Coxhead’s suspicions were raised.

He then learned that the letter which he had believed had been sent to London had in fact been sent to Lisburn. He then went to Lisburn and found that the post office orders had been cashed by a person answering the prisoner’s description.

Mr Coxhead returned to Belfast and informed the police who were at that time holding Austin at Lisburn Road on a charge of drunkenness.