100-YEARS-AGO: THE CHIPS ARE DOWN FOR BOGUS SALFORD HEALTH INSPECTOR

The newspapers are often warning us of bogus workmen, policemen, home visitors etc who call at peoples homes with false credentials whose aim is to simply fleece you out of your money.

The following story from April 1922 shows that there is nothing new under the sun and bogus conmen were at it, 100 years ago in Salford.

Leo McManus who resided at Morpeth Terrace, Salford appeared at Salford magistrates Court charged with obtaining six shillings by pretences and attempting to obtain a further £2 - 3 shillings from Daisy Mather by similar means.

Daisy was a married woman who lived in Brook Street, Pendleton, she also had a lock up shop in Rigby Street which traded as a fried fish and potato dealer.. a chip shop to you and me.

The Friday just passed she was surprised to receive a visit from a chap calling himself, Mr Jackson from the "Health Office" who told her he was inspecting the premises and was soon finding faults, in the yard he noticed that she had no bin, she told him that the landlord of the property had applied for one, he told her that he would have to check with the Town Hall.

He returned shortly afterwards and told her that there was no application for a bin, however he had sorted it out and the bin which would cost 11 shillings would be delivered on the Monday, and asked her for the money, she told him that she had only six shillings on her, which he took and told her that the landlord would reimburse the 11 shillings.

He then inspected the shop and pointed to an oil lamp, she told him that she was using that as the gas hadn't been reconnected, he looked at the gas meter and told her that it was useless and she would need a quarterly payment meter, and getting very confident he assured her that she needed a new gas stove which  would cost £2 - 3 shillings, again he would need the cash to sort it out at the Town Hall for her, she said she had no further money and he would have to call at her house in Pendleton and see her husband the next day at 12pm.

Amazingly, Jackson turned up at the house at 11am asking for the money, the husband wasn't in and was told by Daisy's Mother in Law to call back at 12pm, he told her he had to attend an inquest at 12pm but stressed that he needed the money tonight as he had paid for it out of his own pocket and would call in the shop at 5pm for it.

Alarm bells were ringing and so, Daisy informed the police and two police constables, Edwards and Howard concealed themselves in the shop and awaited the slippery "Mr Jackson".

True to form he did turn up at 8.15pm  and told Daisy that he had got everything fixed up and the gas man with the stove would be arriving on Monday morning she would get a receipt and asked her for the money...big mistake.

The police constables came out of the back of the shop, he immediately fled from the shop pursued by our boys in blue who dragged him to the floor and then to the police station where he was charged.

In the dock he pleaded guilty but was "exceedingly sorry" for what he had done, explaining that he had been released from prison a month ago and had been unable to obtain any kind of employment.

Inspector Mitchell told the Court that McManus had previous convictions for theft, and that he was a married man, separated from his wife.

The Magistrate sentenced him to three months in jail on each charge a total of six months, with hard labour.. Ouch!

Mr McManus certainly had some front but I fear his greed got too much for him and he pushed his luck just that bit to far.