Stephen Pilcher File was indicted for, that he being a servant to Joshua Cox and William Ellyett, making false entries in certain books of accounts, the property of his employers, with intent to defraud on the 9th July, 26th July, 24th August, 19th September, and 28th December, 1889, and on February 7th, 1890, at Elham. Mr. Gore and Mr. Arthur Gill (instructed by Mr. R. M. Mercer, Canterbury) prosecuted, and Mr. Lewis Glyn and Mr. G. Thorn Drury defended. The clerk of the Peace mentioned that there were several gentlemen from Elham on the petty jury, and counsel for the prosecution thought it would be fairer if perfect strangers were engaged in trying the case. Mr. Glyn said he did not object, but the application was a most unusual one. Fresh jurymen having been substituted, the case was proceeded with. Mr. Gore, in opening the case, said the prisoner was charged with fourteen offences under the Falsification of Accounts Act, by means of which he succeeded in defrauding his employer of a sum of about £150. The facts were that up to 1888 the prisoner had carried on business as a grocer and draper, and also as a farmer at Elham, and was at that time unable to meet his engagements. At a meeting of his creditors an arrangement was come to, whereby File made over his property, consisting of his shop and stock, to certain trustees, so that it might be carried on for the benefit of the creditors, he remaining as manager. One creditor was the firm Of Messrs. Cox and Ellyett, wholesale grocers of Canterbury. They were old acquaintances of File, and when the arrangement had been come to, prisoner asked them, and they finally consented to buy the business from the trustees, and allow him to carry on the shop, so that he might, if possible, pay of the debts he owed them, in which case there was a kind of understanding that he should have the business as his own. Mr. Cox bought the business for £1,372, and an agreement was entered into, by which File was engaged as manager at a salary of £10 a month. From the commencement the largest discretion was given to prisoner, and this largest confidence placed in him. It must be admitted that there was neglect on the part of Mr. Cox in failing to have the accounts properly checked. Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 18 October 1890