BOOK LOSSES ON A BIG SCALE

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 20

BOOK LOSSES ON A BIG SCALE

Edward Kent Willing Denton, aged forty-five, a librarian, of Station road, Kensal Rise, N.W.; Bertram Hartman, fifty, a bookseller, of Petherton road, Stoke Newington, N.; and Charles Edward Tarrant, forty-six, a clerk, of Priory road, Hornsey, N., were, charged at Marylebone recently with stealing and receiving books from the library of Messrs Boots (says the 1 Daily Mail *). Mr J. F. Eastwood, prosecuting, said that early this year it was found that a number of new books were disappearing from the various branches of Boots* Library. In one month Tarrant, who was a subscriber, changed 108 books. Tarrant handed in what appeared to be old books. With few exceptions, none of the new hooks had been returned.

Denton was proprietor of a “Modern Fiction Library,” with a large number of agencies, consisting mainly of small shopkeepers. A search of the shelves in the agencies revealed a very, largo number or Messrs Boots’ books. In some cases Boots’ labels had been removed and in others Nenton’s label* were pasted over them. CODE MARK AFFIXED. All the newest books issued at Boots' libraries were after that marked with a code letter, and very soon these also began appearing at Denton’s library* On June 26 one of Boots’ representatives asked at Brandon’s library, one of Denton’s agencies, for a copy of ‘Ralph Rashleigh,’ which had been published five days before. On July 2 Taxrant ordered the book at the Edgwara road branch of Boots. A specially marked copy_ whs issued to Tarrant on July 6, and six days later the identical book was found at Brandon’s library. It was alleged that Tarrant took the books to Hartman, who kept a small bookshop in Stroud Green road, N., and from there they went to Denton. . .

Detective-inspector Cooper_ said that at Tarrant’s premises he seized 29 of Boots’ library books; at Denton’s place 52 books, 36 of which were identified by Messrs Boots; and at Hartman’s he seized 62 books. Hartman when arrested said: “ What a rotten ending to a clean life.” Mr Eastwood: Have you searched the (agencies of Denton with representatives or Messrs Boots and up to date have found more than 1.200 books identified as belonging to them —Yes. All books identified as issued this year?—Yes. A remand was ordered.