Comments
- The first part is the draft letter, the second is an excerpt from W. H. Staples' diary referring to the Ravenscroft problem and the third is some vital information about William John Ravenscroft. The parts in italics in the letter were cross outs in the draft. G is Gonzolus a bar operator, R is Ravenscroft and WHS is William Henry Staples.
The Draft
Sir, Some few months ago a man whom we will call G. came to this place and set up as a tavern keeper & money lender & like the spider spread his nets far & wide to catch the unwary fly. Such a one proved to be my young friend R, the son of wealthy parents in England sent out here to be out of the way on ….
Young R is a married man with a family of 2 children and …. account of his dissipated habits & now following the occupation of farmer. G appears to have … got hold …. entangled of him very shortly after he established himself here & many a night he has sent him home drunk to his sorrowing wife & children.
Of course a farmer man following the occupation of a farmer and who indulges in drink … cannot attend to his … business, and the consequence is… owing to his drinking habit and consequent neglect of his farm R is pretty heavily in debt to the storekeepers & others.
Latterly he has been drinking more heavily than usual at Gs tavern and … it appears … on last Wednesday night he suddenly disappeared. From … Since then I have made enquiries and have ascertained that G persuaded him to give him a chattel mortgage or bill of sale on all his grain both cut & standing & also I presume on some of his live stock and claims to have made him a considerable advance of money thereon. But the gist of the matter is this. I am convinced that G knew that R was going to abscond, & that by lending him this money he was helping him to defraud his creditors. Some say they knew for a fact that he drove him to the station to catch the train going west for the States. Others heard him say that he expected a letter from R as soon as he crossed into the States which proves that when he lent him the money he was aware of his intentions. Since R has left he has driven off part of the stock & set a watch over the grain in the barn & seems inclined to run the whole business declining to give any information to the wretched wife as to her husband’s whereabouts. Now what I want to know is whether G can be prosecuted for trying to help R to defraud his creditors supposing it can be proved that he helped him to get away. I am convinced that there is some very underhand business going on, and I think it if the other creditors saw that this man G could be brought to justice they would aid me in putting the case through. I am more interested in it than others, as I am acquainted with the young mans parents in England who … as people of wealth & who … would nor doubt undertake the case themselves were they nearer.
An early answer will oblige as I wish to communicate with the other creditors.
I remain
Your W.H.S
G appears to be aided in his rascalities by another like himself with whom I have no doubt you have come in contact before.
The Diary
SEPTEMBER 1880
- Wednesday 1 Wilcox & self drawing in hay all day. Long ploughing all day. In the evening the team ran away and smashed the waggon.
- 2 Ploughing half day with both teams & finished getting in the clover hay. It has taken about 5 days to plough the clover sod so I calculate it is about 5 acres. Ravenscroft absconded.
- 3 Spent the whole day looking after Ravenscroft’s affairs. Long took the waggon over to Wardsville & got shoes put on the mare’s front feet. Lent Mr. Sharon 6 bus. of wheat for a grist & sent over 4 bus. for a grist for myself. Long ploughing half day in the clover sod to finish it. 5 days ploughing. Telegrams on Ravenscroft’s account 68 cents.
- 4 Wet & muddy. Spent most of the day attending to Rs affairs. Long getting out manure ½ day.
- William John Ravenscroft
- Birth: 23 NOV 1850 Birkenhead,Cheshire, , , Great Britain
- Christening: Anglican
- Death: 29 AUG 1896 Wardsville, Middlesex, Ontario
- Spouse: Margaret Anderson
- Marriage: 22 APR 1876 Rock Ferry, Cheshire, England]
|
