QSR1852/3/5/7

Depositions of George Graves, publican & rag dealer of Bedford and Thomas Worsley, police constable of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of James Negus accused of stealing a dog cart, 3 dogs, a basket, 2 canvas bags, a weighing machine and items of crockery.

26 April 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

George Graves: keeper of The Cock public house in Bedford and a Rag Merchant. He had employed Negus for 3 weeks to carry out goods and exchange them for rags and bones. It was Negus's duty to come home every night and give an account of what he had done in the way of exchanges. He was paid 15 pence a day and some ale, bread and cheese. The prisoner lodged at the house too. On 24 April he sent the prisoner to Marston and Liddlington with a cart drawn by 3 dogs. He had with him 9 shillings worth of crockery to exchange for rags and bones, a wicker basket, 2 canvas bags and a weighing machine. Negus failed to return when he should and this made Graves uneasy and he stayed up until 1 o'clock waiting for him. At 6 o'clock the next morning he set off in search of him. [section crossed out] He made enquiries of him at Marston and was directed to Newport Pagnell. At Newport Pagnell he was informed the prisoner had sold some rags and gone in the direction of Woburn. On the way to Woburn, he heard Negus had sold a wicker basket at the Leathern Bottle at Wavendon and offered 3 dogs and a cart for sale. He found Negus at Leighton Buzzard and gave the information to the police. He went with Constable Worsley to Negus’s lodgings and the prisoner was taken into custody. On the premises he found the dogs and cart (which was broken) and the police constable produced 2 canvas bags and a weighing machine. Graves identified them as his property. Negus said he was sorry for what he had done and would not have done it had it not been for the drink. The value of the property was 40 shillings. The prisoner had no right to dispose of any part of it except the crockery in exchange for rags & bones. Thomas Worsley: a police constable of Leighton Buzzard. On 25 April, he was approached by Graves and advised he had been robbed by the prisoner. He went with Graves to the prisoners lodging house at Leighton and found the prisoner in bed (it was about 6 o'clock in the evening). He took Negus into custody. Negus said he was sorry for what he had done. Worlsey found the weighing machine, 2 canvas bags, the 3 dogs and the cart on the premises. When asked the prisoner said he had sold the wicker basket near Newport Pagnell.James Negus: he started to go home from Newport Pagnell about 12 o'clock but as he jumped on the cart it overbalanced and broke. He did not like to return with the broken cart and so thought he had better go away altogether.

item

Negus, James,
Graves, George,
Worsley, Thomas

BEDFORD, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Wavendon, WOBURN, Newport Pagnell, stealing, dogs, crockery, rag merchant, blacksmith, Bedford Cock, Allhallows, Wavendon Leathern Bottle