QSR1842/3/5/9/a

Depositions - John Barrington charged with stealing a calve's skin from William Braybrooks

9 April 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

Frederick Braybrooks of Potton, woolstapler and feltmonger - for some time he had employed Barrington on Bedford market days to carry the skins he purchased to his cart in the Angel yard. On Saturday April 2nd he left a calf's skin and a donkey's skin hanging together in a stable in the Angel yard in the parish of St Mary Bedford intending they should remain there until he came today. Barrington had taken them to the Angel yard but having done so was to have nothing more to do with them. That morning on his arrival expecting to find the 2 skins in the stable Barrington and his man Thomas Whittemore both came to him together. Barrington said the calf's skin was lost and he thought it must have been stolen. He suspected Barrington had taken it and asked if he had done so - he denied it. About an hour or two later from information he received he went to George Asplin who produced the calfs skin now produced. It is worth 18d. [Response to question by Barrington: "I did not hear Mrs Francis say she saw the skin on Thursday or Friday last"] Before he gave Barrington in charge he admitted taking the skin and selling it for 20d and offered to give him half a crown if he would not say anything more about it. Afer Barrington was apprehended he again wanted to make it up and offered half a sovereign. He never gave Barrington authority to sell any skins for him. George Asplin of 39, Dame Alice Street, St Peters Bedford - he purchases skins for Mr Grisham of Shefford. On Wednesday evening April 6th he returned home and found a calf's skin which had been left at his house in his absence. Barrington came after dusk and said he had come for the money for the skin. He does not usually buy skins at his hourse nor after dusk but Barrington said he was much distressed and he gave him 1s 8d for the skin. He did not ask Barrington where he got it. He did not ask questions as he had been in the habit of buying skins from Barrington and his father. The next day he put the skin amongst others at the Bell. Today Mr Braybrook came and asked to look at his skins. He picked out the skin now produced and said it was his. William Coombs, chief constable of Bedford - he apprehended Barrington on a charge of stealing the skin. As he took him into custody Barrington said to Mr Braybrooks "Dear Sir don't let him take me away - I will give you any thing you like to make the skin right but don't let me go away." Barrington repeated this several times. He told Mr Braybrooks in the prisoners hearing that it could not be settled. He did not hear Barrington tell Mr Braybrook that he had taken the skin.

item

Barrington, John,
Braybrooks, William,
Braybrooks, Frederick,
Asplin, George,
Coombs, William,
Whittemore, Thomas,
Grisham

stealing, wool staplers, feltmonger, skin dealer, Bedford Angel, Bedford St.Peter, POTTON, Bedford Dame Alice Street, SHEFFORD