Taxi Driver Online

HENRY JOHN HUNTER, Deception > fraud, 28th February 1911.


HUNTER, Henry John (44, motor-driver) , having received the sum of £5 10s. 7 1/2 d., for and on account of the British Motor Cab Company, Limited, unlawfully did fraudulently convert the same to his own use and benefit.

Mr. Muir, Mr. Doughty, and Mr. Ganzoni prosecuted.

JOHN BROWN , timekeeper, British Motor Cab Company, Limited. On January 18, 1911, at 7.21 a.m., prisoner took out cab No. 5,304.

THOMAS WHEATLEY , allotment clerk, British Motor Cab Company, Limited. I produce way-bill of cab 5,304 delivered to prisoner on January 18.

ELIZABETH BRIND , 9, Besborough Place, Pimlico, widow. On November 29, 1910, I let prisoner two first-floor rooms at 8s. a week. On December 8 he borrowed £1 from me, which was repaid yesterday. On January 18 he left, and did not return until January 22, when I heard him come in and go out. I did not see him again until after his arrest.

Police-constable ALBERT STAINES, 180 E. On Sunday evening, January 29, I saw prisoner with cab No. 5,304 outside Romano's Restaurant. I asked prisoner to show his badge, which I found was No. 313, and was that of a man wanted for stealing a cab. I asked him if his name was Henry John Hunter. He said, "Yes." I asked him to stop his machinery, which he did, and got his fare from people who had got out. I told him he was wanted for stealing the cab, and must come to Bow Street. He said, "All right. I know what it 1s. I intended to take the cab back to-night." When charged he said, "I think they have made a mistake saying that I stole the cab. I shall fight it out to the end. I have not been out of the four-mile radius since I had it. I have often had one out for three or four days, and nothing has ever been said about it."

Sergeant GEORGE COLE, B Division. On January 29, at 8.45 p.m., I read the warrant to prisoner for stealing the cab. He said, "Yes, I have had it out before for two or three days. I will admit I have had it out rather a long time, but I do not see how they can call it stealing. I was going to take it back to-night." I found on him way-bill and 13s. 0(d. Ashwood, who was with me, filled in on the way-bill the readings from the taximeter. The cab is now in the same condition. We drove it two miles and found no alteration in the readings on the meter; it has also bean driven here without alteration on the meter.

Cross-examined. Ashwood made no demand on prisoner for the money the company were entitled to.

FRANCIS WILLIAM CHARLES ASHWOOD , assistant traffic manager, British Motor Cab Company, Limited. Prisoner has been employed by my company as driver since November 26, 1910. I produce prisoner's way-bins. On January 3 he had a cab out, and did not return till January 5, when prisoner paid £1 3s. 6d., amount due, and stated that

See original he had been ill, and that the cab had not been working. I passed him to work. I next saw prisoner at Bow Street on January 29, and filled up from the taximeter charges, showing that £7 7s. 6d. had been earned, of which £5 10s. 7(d. was due to the company. I then drove the cab to the garage and also for a five-mile run, and found that the meter did not register, having been tampered with, so that the slipwheel did not act.

WILLIAM WARBEY BEAUMONT , M.I.C.E., 222, Strand, consulting engineer, technical adviser to the Commissioner of Police. On February 27 I examined cab 5,304 and found that the bar of the star-wheel had been bent. (Witness explained the mechanism of the meter). The cab must evidently have been run for 1,000 miles.

Cross-examined. A collision could not have interfered with the star-wheel in any way.

WILLIAM EDWARD EYZARD , meter tester, British Motor Cab Company, corroborated.

HERBERT BAKER , taxi-cab driver, British Motor Cab Company. On January 16 I took out cab No. 5,304, bringing it back on January 17. The meter was in perfect order, and registered my mileage and money correctly.

EDWIN CHARLES WALLER , cab inspector, British Motor Cab Company. On January 29 I inspected cab 5,304 and found the taxi-lamp, which shows the amount of the fare, had been removed.

ALLEN BANNISTER , secretary and general manager, British Motor Cab Company, Limited. Drivers are only permitted to keep a cab out for 24 hours; that rule is strictly enforced. It has been obeyed by prisoner except on one occasion, January 2 to 5, when notice was given to the police, and prisoner was arrested, but he subsequently explained and was re-engaged. I have no doubt that the star-wheel of this taxi-cab has been wilfully disconnected. If prisoner had been earning money at the same rate as before the meter should have shown £17 6s. 8d. for the period he had had the cab out without reporting.

Cross-examined. There is no other case I am aware of where a cab has been kept out without permission.

(Defence.)

FREDERICK PEARCE , cab-shelter attendant. Prisoner, between January 18 and 27, came every night to the Duncannon Street shelter about 6 p.m., except on two occasions.

Verdict, Guilty. Sentence, Six months' imprisonment, second division.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

DONOVAN, Henry (37, taxi, driver) . Having received certain money, £4 3s. 4d., for and on account of the National Motor Cab Company, Limited, unlawfully and fraudulently did convert the same to his own use and benefit.

Mr. Muir prosecuted; Mr. Warburton defended.

ARTHUR NEWETT , gatekeeper to National Motor Cab Company, Limited, King Street garage, Hammersmith. Prisoner has been a driver of taxi, cabs for the company since last December. The usual time for a driver to keep his cab out is from 12 to 14 hours. On May 30 prisoner took his cab out and did not bring it back till between 5 and 6 a.m. on June 2. The meter showed gross takings of £5 11s. 2d. and deducting the driver's proportion, 25 per cent., £1 7s. 10d., it leaves £4 3s. 4d. to be paid to the company.

JOHN MARTIN , night foreman. On May 30 I gave prisoner an order for two extra gallons of petrol, which he took. He said he was going to Epsom races.

THOMAS ARTHUR COBOURNE , garage superintendent. I engaged de—I fendant as driver. He did not pay for the cab he brought back on June 2, and I did not see him until the 12th, when I went in search of him. I found he had moved to 11, Lillie Mansions. I asked him what the trouble was and he said he was sorry but he was in diffi-culties and had to use the money to pay the brokers out. I told him to come and see Mr. Greathead, the general manager, at once. He did not come until the 16th.

See original Cross-examined. The payments for the cabs by drivers are occasionally deferred although they are honest men. We do not allow drivers to take a cab out without paying for the last one unless they make an arrangement with the general manager. Prisoner's new address was only about 500 yards away from his old one.

ERNEST IGGULDEN , chief cashier. The sum of £4 3s. 4d. is due from prisoner according to the taximetre. That has not been paid at all.

Cross-examined. It does happen sometimes that a driver gets into arrear and takes out a cab and then pays afterwards.

EDWARD ARCHER GREATHEAD , general manager. One of the conditions of prisoner's employment is to pay to the company 75 per cent. of the fares shown on the clock the morning after bringing the cab back. He then gets a pass which enables him to take a cab out. As prisoner did not return after June 2 I sent Mr. Cobourne in search of him and on June 16 prisoner came to my office. I asked him what he had done with the £4 3s. 4d. due to the company. He said he had used it to pay out the brokers, and he pulled out some papers in proof. I declined to look at them. I said, "You have stolen our money, and I do not care what you used it for." He then asked me if I would let him pay the money off by instalments and go to work that day. I declined, and said I should put the matter in the solicitor's hands if we did not get the money. He then suggested I should take £2 on account, which I declined. He came again two or three days afterwards and offered 10s. down, but I declined and communicated with he solicitor. Prisoner had been in arrear before, somewhere about £1. That has not been paid.

Cross-examined. Prisoner did offer to pay 10s. and to take a cab out, and we should have been paid off directly he got money by the cab. I would not know until the end of the week that the money had not been paid, and I did not trouble until the 12th, thinking the man would be coming back every day. You do not suspect a man of criminal intention right away.

(Defence.)

HENRY DONOVAN (prisoner, on oath). I have held a hackney car-riage driver's licence for 16 years and for a stage carriage for 12 years. During those 28 years I have had no suggestion against my character, or my honesty. I am a married man with nine children. After giving up horse-cabs I became a taxi, driver. I have held my'licence for a year and nine months and have had no complaint as to my honesty during that time. On May 30 a fare engaged me to take him to Epsom Races. I drove him there and he ordered me to wait to take him back to London. I never saw him again. There was 25s. on the meter then. I made enquiries in Epsom but could find no trace of the man and not having the money that was on the meter I kept the cab out until such time as I thought I might earn the money that was owing. I kept the cab out working until the Friday morning, when I took it back to the garage and had the figures on the meter

See original registered in the book and the petrol measured by the gatekeeper. Different people saw me there, and I went away and was unable to get the rest of the money. On June 3 my landlord threatened to distrain and I paid him part payment and got his permission to move. I borrowed £2 and offered that to the company on June 16 and my services free to drive a cab in Coronation week, which would have cleared the debt. I was in arrear with the company also at Christmas time.

Cross-examined. I have never been "bilked" before as a taxi driver. When I was short about a sovereign at Christmas time I gave the excuse that I had used part of the takings for my own purposes, I was engaged first by the General Motor Cab Company and left owing them 19s., which I have since paid. I may have omitted to tell Mr. Cobourne that I had been "bilked" at Epsom, but I think I mentioned the circumstance. I did complain to the police at 'Epsom and took the number of the policeman, but I have destroyed the paper. I know it is the practice of the yard to give time to pay or to excuse payment altogether if a driver proves that he has been bilked, but I did not complain to anybody about it because I was away all the time looking to see if I could find the fare at the place where I picked him up, the Premier Hotel, Dover Street, and summons him. I did not pay the company the money I earned with the cab on the other days because I had not the full amount, and if I had taken the cab back without it they would not have let me take it out the next day. I do bet, but not usually.

Verdict, Not guilty.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

bygone days indeed!

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