Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1843/3/5/13/b
  • Title
    Letter from John Green at Woburn to Theed Pearse concerning Eli Smith
  • Date free text
    26 June 1843
  • Production date
    From: 1843 To: 1843
  • Scope and Content
    Eli Smith is committed for trial at this Session on a charge of stealing from Mr Hogg, the porter of the Woburn Union Workhouse. Smith was an inmate of the Workhouse and employed as errand boy. After the discovery of the theft it was ascertained he had embezzled numerous small sums with which he was sent to purchase trifles in the town (not on account of the Guardians). In doing so he evinced great cunning. Smith is an orphan only 12 years old, and it appears has been a thief from his childhood. The Justices strongly recommended that some of these cases should be brought before the Court in addition to that on which he is committed., thinking that if he is found guilty the Court may pass a sentence that may ensure his being sent to the Penitentiary in the Isle of Wight in the hope he may be reformed instead of being again turned adrift after a short imprisonment. The Clerk to the Guardians has applied to him today and he will mention the only case he thnks can be proved. He has written in case he thinks it proper to mention the subject to Mr Pym. After 25 March last William Cole (Clerk to the Guardians) on several occasions gave 1s to William Hogg the porter to pay for a lunch to be fetched from George Rogers. Hogg always sent Eli Smith with the 1s. Smith then brought the lunch and proper change. On 6 occasions Rogers delivered the lunch to him and marked the charge on his slate, Eli Smith saying Mr Cole had not sent the money. The charges are 8 1/2d, 6 1/2d, 6 1/2d, 9d, 9d and 9d. These were between 25 March and 8 May. Rogers supposed they were only left for a day or two and Mr Cole knew nothing of the charges until ascertained among numerous similar acts after 8 May. It is not known where he changed the shillings to bring back the proper change.
  • Level of description
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