MILTON BODE

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SOLICITORS IN THE DOCK

In October 1925 Milton instigated bankruptcy proceedings against his solicitors, Messrs Martin & Martin. This led to the partners, John Wesley Martin aged 74 and his brother, Frederick William Martin, aged 69 to be charged with fraudulently converting to their own use various sums of money alleged to have been received for and on behalf of clients.
The brothers were extremely well-known in Reading. "The elder defendant, John Wessley Martin, has been three times Mayor of Reading, and until his resignation in November last was senior alderman. He was made an honorary Freeman of the Borough in 1924, and in his capacity as chairman of the Borough Extension Committee he officially opened the new Reading Bridge. His brother, Frederick William, Martin, was the Borough Coroner during the war".

There were six charges and the one relating to Milton was for the largest sum.
The story is told in the Reading Standard of Jan 9th 1926:
"In March 1925 Mr Bode, who was financing a Mr Wright, instructed Messrs. Martin and Martin to sell Hill House, Spencers Wood, and pay the purchase money to his account at Barclays Bank. The property was sold and on July 295h 1925, the proceeds were handed over to Messrs Martin and Martin. Mr Bode never received it and it was never paid into his acount. As a matter of fact, Messrs Martin and Martin paid away that draft to a firm of London solicitors to settle another transaction in which there some obligations to pay money. Mr Bode, finding the money was not paid into his account, wrote and complained to Messrs Martin and Martin and asked why it had not been paid. John Wessley Martin wrote saying that the money could not then be found and assured Mr Bode that it was not in the interests of himself or his brother that he should lose anything. That was just what did happen...and Mr Bode had lost his £2,537. Messrs. Martin and Martin admitted to the Official Receiver at the bankruptcy proceedings that of the total indebtedness over £11,000 was due to clients which Messrs Martin and Martin received on the behalf and applied to other purposes."

Wed 21st Dec 1925 "The defendants were arrested by the Chief Constable, Mr T.A. Burrows, who deposed that when he read the warrants to the accused each replied:-'I make no statement'. When formally charged they made no reply... The defendants offered no objection to a remand, but applied for bail, which the Bench granted on the defendants' own recognizances in £500 each and two sureties of £250 each. Bail was forthcoming."

Wed 6th Jan 1926. Case was proceeded with at Reading Police Court. Mr Haslip on behalf of the two prisoners said they pleaded not guilty and reserved their defence. The chairman (F.B. Parfitt, Esq) said the Bench "had not doubt that a prima facie case had been made out, and it was, therefore, their duty to commit the prisoners for trial at the next Assizes. Bail was allowed on similar terms to those previously granted."

Fri 15th Jan 1926. Hearing held at Berkshire Assizes before Mr Justice Sankey. Both the accused pleaded "guilty" and were each sentenced to three years' penal servitude.

Thurs 11th March 1926. Brothers attended Reading Bankruptcy Court for the public examination. The examination was adjourned generally, with leave to close it in Chambers.

Fri 30th April 1926. Meeting of the committee of the Law Society, Mr C.A. Coward presiding. Frederick William Martin and John Wessley Martin were declared guilty of professional misconduct and ordered to be struck off the Roll.