QSR1842/3/5/30/a

Depositions - Caleb Maddams of St Paul Bedford

19 May 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

Frederick Thompson of the Borough of Bedford, bookseller - Maddams is in his employ as an errand boy. He has no business in the shop other than to unscrew the bolts of the shutters, to do which he must go behind the counter. The till is behind the counter close to the window. It is always kept locked at night after the shop is closed. The key is kept in the drawer of a small desk over the till. Maddams had no right to go to the drawer or to the till. He locked the till himself the previous night and put the key in the desk drawer. Maddams usually takes the shutters down about 7am. He had not been to the drawer himself that morning before that time. He cannot say whether anyone else in his employ had. Charles Slocombe of the Borough of Bedford, printer - he is employed by Mr Thompson and resides in his house and assists in his shop. When he came downstairs that morning about 7am he went into the library adjoining the shop and saw the shutters were not down and thought there was no one in the shop. Hearing a noise as of the opening of the drawer of the till and the rattling of money he listened and presently heard the drawer being shut and locked and the key put in the drawer again. He went into the shop and found Maddams behind the counter. He told Maddams he had taken money out of the till. Maddams hesitated but then said he only took a penny and asked him not to tell Mr Thompson. A constable was sent for and Maddams was taken into custody. He was searched but only a shilling was found on him.

item

Maddams, Caleb,
Thompson, Frederick,
Slocombe, Charles

Bedford St.Paul, stealing, money, book seller, printer