Southport Merchant Sent to Prison
Transcript of article from the Lancashire Daily Post concerning the trial of Frank Berisford
Secretary bound over
Found guilty of conspiring to defraud Martins Bank and of fraudulently converting produce and money to his own use, Frank Berisford, aged 48, a dried fruit merchant, of Rawlinson Road, Southport, carrying on business in Stanley Street, Liverpool, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at Liverpool Assizes yesterday.
His 27 year old secretary, Muriel Finch, of Yew Tree Road, Walton, Liverpool, who was found guilty of conspiracy and aiding and abetting her employer, was bound over for two years.
The jury were only an hour considering their verdict, but the trial lasted nine days.
The prosecution alleged that Martins Bank had been let in for £7000 to £8000 as a result of dealings with Mr Berisford in hypothecated goods.
Mr Justice Singleton, sentencing Berisford, said it was a serious case of fraud on the bank by one who had experience of the world, and who ought to have known better. In the ordinary course he would have been sentenced to a long term of penal servitude, but the judge had taken into consideration the fact that Berisford had put all the facts before the court at the finish, and had had an anxious time and long suffering, waiting for the matter to come on, and he had previously acted properly and answered his country’s call.
Addressing Miss Finch, the Judge said he thought that she knew she had done wrong, but was seeking to help a man out of his troubles.
Detective Sergeant Oliver, who was in charge of the case, which involved numerous documents and accounts, complimented by counsel on his conduct of the case.
Date: 4-Jul-1935
Where to find this: British Newspaper Archive
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
