He was born in Wiltshire as Henry Stephenson Dinsley, and seems to have become Henry Towns for a brief period from 1916 untill 1922
1874 May 13. Born in Wilts as Henry Stephenson Dinsley
1891 census at Chorley, Lancs
1891 Jun 5 LG shows him getting a Postman job in Chorley
1901 census He is a boarder at a house in London. Beatrice E Ward is the owner. He is given as a Methodist Minister
1903 Married Beatrice Emily Ward (she had been his landlady and a widow in 1901 census)
1910 Apr 14 Bankruptcy Order against him. He was a bioscope manufacturer
1911 census at High Road , Lewisham
1912 May 1, Criminal trial
HARRY STEPHENSON DINSLEY (prisoner, on oath). I was originally a Nonconformist minister and have since engaged in cinematograph work. I told prosecutor of my bankruptcy. In March, 1911, I met Lowy, one of the managers of the Apollo Theatre, and agreed with him to fit up part of the bank premises, 44 and 46, Hampstead Road, as an electric theatre and to take from him a twelve-month's contract for supplying the operator films and outfit; he to pay £40 down (which I received in April) and £260 in four £50 bills and one of £60, the first payable on December 16 and the others at intervals of one month; he also was to deposit the lease and any other security required for the discounting of the bills. Part of the premises was let to a Mr. Paxton for a hospital. I received the leases. On September 18 or 19 I was introduced to prosecutor by the landlord of the "Two Brewers" and agreed with prosecutor to do the work for £228 in two contracts of £158 and £70. I engaged Burchett to draw the plans and specification. I had several conversations with prosecutor. About the end of October I showed him the leases, the mortgage on the premises to me, and the bills and said, "Now, Bates, as I am a bankrupt that is all the security you have to depend on as far as I am concerned." I introduced Lowy and said, "This is Mr. Lowy, your principal at Hampstead Road." Lowy urged on prosecutor the necessity for the work being completed within a month from the signing of the contract. The prospects of the theatre were discussed. I said I though Lowy was fortunate in having got the site. Lowy said, "Why do not you take a place like it—I have told you about the Angel site, why do not you take it?" I told him not to "talk rot," and said as long as I was a bankrupt I could not do anything of that description—that I found my bankruptcy handicapped me in everyway. Prosecutor then asked if I was connected with the Angel site. I said, "No, there was nothing in it." Prosecutor and I talked over whether the £70 contract should be signed by Lowy or whether I should sign it with an indemnity from Lowy; the architect had made it out in Lowy's name. Prosecutor said he would rather I signed it as I had all the securities. I got indemnity (produced) from Lowy for the £70. The two contracts were signed by me in prosecutor's office on October 31, his carpenter witnessing my signature and Burchett witnessing prosecutor's. Burchett crossed Lowy's name out of the £70 contract and put mine in. I told prosecutor when the bills were discounted the money would be paid into a separate account at the bank. I did not succeed in discounting the bills. On November 17 prosecutor told me he had got from Burchett a certificate for £30. I said the bills were not discounted, but I thought it very probable they would be the following morning. He said, "Of course, the money is not due for a, week, but do you think you will be able to let me have it to-morrow?" I said, "Mr. Russell says he has little doubt that his people will complete the discounting to-morrow and if so you can have the money with pleasure." Russell is a surveyor, of 170, Strand, who, prosecutor knew, intended to discount the bills or his clients would.
1916 May 15 Enlists in RAF
1916 Oct/Dec His wife Beatrice Emily died
1916 Dec Married in Islington to Eleanor Blanche Towns. She is given as marrying Henry Towns and Harry S Dinsley . I could not ascertain who she actually was as I cannot get a birth record, she is a mysterious as he is
1920 Nov 12. Joined with RIC no 75486 & ADRIC no 182/183 . ex-Soldier & Commercial Agent
1928 Convicted in Mansion House Police Court of False Pretences and had been bound over on £100 for 12 months
1933 More fraud
1935 Died at Prescot, Lancs as Harry S Dinsley