QSR1852/1/5/5,32,33/a

Depositions of Reverend Frederick Gambier, clerk, Jane Willoughby, his servant, Joseph Tunn, his servant and William Green, police constable, all of Sharnbrook. In the case of George Prentice, Levi Allen & Eli Allen accused of stealing 5 gallons of ale.

25 November 1851

From: 1851 To: 1852

Jane Willoughby: was in the service of the Reverend Frederick Gambier of Sharnbrook. On 3 November there was a barrel of ale in the cellar containing 9 gallons. The barrel had been tapped the previous Monday and she estimated she had drawn 3 gallons from it. She was the only person who drew from it. On 4 November Levi & Eli Allen, carpenters, came to the house to do some work in the cellar for Mr Gambier. She knew the barrel to be right that evening. On the 5 November, the men returned to continue their work. On drawing ale around 1 o'clock that day, she found the barrel to be running very slow. That evening it was even slower. She drew more during the day of 6 November, but on drawing 4 pints on that evening, the barrel was empty. On 7 November she accused Levi Allen of having taken the beer. He told he had not taken out the tap, but George Prentice had. Prentice was employed by Mr Gambier and had been taking potatoes into the cellar, and into the bins which the carpenters had been making. Levi Allen said he did not think he had taken more than a gallon and would make it up. Another barrel of ale in the cellar had also been pegged. She noticed this on the 6 November and it had not been pegged before the men worked in the cellar. She was unable to say how much had been taken from it. Joseph Tunn: a servant to Mr Gambier. On 6 November he found a glass quart bottle in the hay loft over the stable. He found a watering can in the same loft with some beer in it. He asked Levi Allen of it, and Allen said they had had it. Eli Allen was with him when he spoke. Levi Allen said they'd all had it, meaning himself, Eli and George Prentice. Levi Allen said he had taken out the tap, filled the watering can, and had taken the can of ale out of the cellar in a hamper, which had been previous use for the potatoes. Levi said George Prentice had taken out the tap. William Green: he apprehended George Prentice and told him of the charge against him. He acknowledged taking the ale saying he and the other 2 had drunk some in the cellar and taken some to drink in the hay loft.

item

Allen, Eli,
Allen, Levi,
Prentice, George,
Gambier, Frederick,
Willoughby, Jane,
Tunn, Joseph,
Green, William

SHARNBROOK, stealing, ale, clerk