Another entry from A grim almanac of Somerset.
2 June 1846
James Smith arrived home to Radstock after an absence of nearly 40 years, claiming to have made a fortune of £50,000 in America and the Indies. He was warmly welcomed by his brother and sister and their families, to whom he promised untold riches.
After James had enjoyed their hospitality for almost a week, one of his nephews, Joseph Carter became a little suspicious about the truth of his uncle's claims and, after intense questioning James Smith was proved to be an imposter who was not related to the Smith or Carter family in any way. Documents sewn into the waistband of his trousers identified him as John Giles, a native of Cornwall. Giles was forced to apologise to the family he had duped and was 'given a good dressing of soot and grease' before being run from the town.
