William Renny Masterton (1845-1901)
Pawn Broker, Dundee
William Renny Masterton was employed variously as a Jute Factory Clerk, a General Clerk at Blacks Manor, Dundee and as a licensed Pawn Broker. In this role he fell foul of the Police Court in 1884 for failing to record a transaction.
Genealogy
William Renny Masterton was the elder of two sons of David Masterton, flax dresser, and Ann Renny who had married in 1844 in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland moving to Dundee a few years later. This places him as part of the Masterton family from Forfar for which details can be found at this link.
Dundee Evening Telegraph
William Renny Masterton, licensed broker, James Street, was brought before Bailie Ogilvie at the Police Court to-day charged with a contravention, by buying a jacket from a girl ten years of age, and failing to enter the purchase in his books. He pleaded not guilty. In evidence it was stated that the wife of a factory-worker, who had become addicted to drink, had been in the habit of taking the jacket off her girl, ten years of age, and sending the child to Mr Masterton's and selling it for 6d, buying it back a week later for 7d. Her husband complained to the police, and when they examined Mr Masterton's books they discovered no entry of the purchase of the jacket on Thursday, 10th inst. Mr Masterton explained to the Court that he had a description of the jacket when he bought it first on 22nd December, and that he thought it "a most trifling superogation" on his part to enter it every time it was brought to him. The Magistrate told the accused he was bound to enter every transaction, and a fine of 20s was imposed, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment.
The Evening Telegraph
Dundee
Friday, 18 January, 1884