QSR1852/3/5/17

Depositions of Thomas Marshall, coal merchant of Marston Moretaine and Joseph Smith, coal porter of Aspley Guise. In the case of Joseph Hull accused of embezzling money

21 May 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Joseph Smith: a coal porter of Ampthill for worked for Thomas Marshall. Thomas Marshall was a coal merchant with a yard & store at Marston Moretaine. He had been employed by Marshall for about 6 months. Joseph Hull had also been employed by Marshall until a few weeks previous. Hull had been turned away from Marshall employ after a dispute money matter, and Smith took his place in the yard. Smith believed it to have been on 24 January that he carried half a ton of coals from the yard to a basket maker by the name of Wells at Ampthill. The value of the coals was 9 shillings and 3 pence. He also bought a scuttle from Wells for his master and this was 10 pence. He paid the balance of the money, which was 8 shillings and 5 pence over to the prisoner on arrival back at Marston. Smith’s orders were to pay money over to Hull, and Hull was to account for it to his master. Thomas Marshall: a coal merchant who lived in Bedford. The prisoner came into his employment in March 1851 as a clerk and coal porter and continued in his employment until 29 April 1852. It was his duty to receive all such monies as paid by customers for the coals. It would have been the business of Smith to pay money collected to Hull. The prisoner accounted or the monies daily with Marshall and generally sent an account over to him in Bedford. The account dated 26 January was sent over in the first part of the following week. There is no mention of the customer Wells in this account or the 8 shillings and 5 pence handed to Hull by Smith. However, there is a charge of 10 pence for the scuttle entered in the accounts. Marshall believed to have been short of money on 2 other occasions. He believed the amount by which he was defrauded to be £10 1shilling and 10 1/2 pence.Statement of the accused: stated that 24 January was the wrong day. It was the following Saturday that the coal had been sent down and he had that down as well as the scuttle.

item

Hull, Joseph,
Marshall, Thomas,
Smith, Joseph

MARSTON MORETAINE, BEDFORD, ASPLEY GUISE, coal merchant, coal porter, stealing, money, embezzlement, AMPTHILL, servant