Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1841/4/5/42
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - Thomas Cooper, charged with embezzlement
  • Date free text
    18 October 1841
  • Production date
    From: 1841 To: 1841
  • Scope and Content
    William Cooper of Biggleswade, gardener - the prisoner was a servant in his employment. On Monday 11 October he sent him to St Albans with a load of onions and other vegetables to sell at St Albans Fair- about 100 bunches of roped onions worth 25s, about 23 bushels of loose onions to sell by measure in the sacks worth 34s, 4 small sacks of carrots worth 4s, 2 bushels of turnips worth 1s, about 3000 cabbage plants worth 3s, and about 1/2 a score of red pickling cabbages worth 18d. He started about 3pm and was expected back about 9am on Wednesday. William Walker who works for him went with the prisoner to assist. The prisoner was to account to him for all the money arising from the sale. About 7pm on Wednesday William Walker returned with the horse and cart. The prisoner did not come home and none of the vegetables were in the cart. He went in search of the prisoner and found him at Charles Henshaw's, a beer shop in Biggleswade. He was not sober. The prisoner went with him to his house and his wife said to the prisoner "I want the money for the market if you please". The prisoner replied "I'll see you damned before I'll give you it". He did not at that time say a word about the money as he thought the prisoner would give it to her. The next morning they both asked him for the money. He said "I shall part with no money" and went away. He gave no reason. He then sent the policeman after the prisoner, who was apprehended about 2 hours later. He again refused to give the money up. William Walker of Biggleswade, labourer - he went with the prisoner to St Albans. All the load was sold and the prisoner received all the money. He saw him take some money for certain items, and the prisoner said he had the money for all the other things, except 3 dozen bunches of onions which he had sold on trust. He asked how much money he had but the prisoner said he would not let anyone know what he had got. They returned to Biggleswade together, then the prisoner stopped at the Fox kept by Mr Gray and said he would go no further that night, so he took the horse and cart home. Thomas Cooper of Biggleswade, labourer - he went to St Albans Fair and had a very bad fair. Somebody picked his pocket of almost all his money. He did not like to return again as he had got no money. He thought he and his master could settle it, because he was owed his harvest wages and 3 weeks mid harvest (except 6s he had taken) and another 5s. His master never tried to settle with him. The policemen had 16s 10d which belonged to him and which was not his [the prosecutor's]. It was money he took the next morning from one of his relations, James Cooper, who lives at Beeston. He had about 26s in his pocket belonging to his master when his pocket was picked. He had paid 9s at Chappel Fort as he came home. The 9s were not the pocket picket. William Walker - the prisoner never told him his pocket had been picked.
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