AS part of our weekly Crime Files series, we are taking a look back at the archives to bring you stories from Herefordshire's history.

The following story dates from 1839.

A CIDER merchant, coal merchant, schoolmaster, and two women were hauled up before the Assizes accused of forgery in 1839.

Cider merchant James Jones, coal merchant John Jones, and their sister Susan Jones, all of Donnington, schoolmaster Thomas Dale, of Ledbury, and Mary Hollington, of Claines, all stood indicted for forging and uttering, knowing it has been forged, a codicil to the last will and testament of baker William Denton, of Parkway, near Ledbury.

It was reported that Susan Jones, who was engaged to be married to Mr Denton, was a well-looking and respectably attired woman, who appeared to be in deep mourning as she stood trial.

OTHER NEWS:

The court heard that James Jones had gone to Mr Denton's solicitor after the funeral about a codicil. Solicitor Mr Greenday said he had prepared Mr Denton's will and did not believe the codicil, which Jones said had been given to him by Mr Denton on the day he had been taken ill, was in his handwriting.

He said Hollington had admitted signing the codicil as a witness, telling him that John Jones and Dale had also been present when Mr Denton signed it.

The codicil purported to bequeath £200 to the 50-year-old's fiance, 19-year-old Susan Jones.

Witnesses told the court that Susan Jones had spoken to Mr Denton in their presence before his death, asking him if he had made a will.

The response, the court heard, was that it was too late to alter his will, otherwise he would have left her all his property and his family would have none of it.

Susan Jones, who was reported to have fainted several times during the court proceedings, had later gathered a number of receipts that had been signed by Mr Denton, the court was told, and when they were returned, one of the signatures appeared to have been torn off.

Mr Denton's mother, Hannah Croft, told the Assizes that John Jones had asked to look at her son's books immediately after his death, which she refused.

On cross-examination, she admitted that she was keen to prevent her son's marriage due to the age difference.

Constable James Purnell stated to the court that Dale had told him he had written a codicil to Mr Denton's will after his illness.

The jury found the accused not guilty of forgery, but guilty of uttering, not knowing the codicil was forged.