QSR1853/4/5/35/b

Depositions of Joseph Peasnall, farmer of Riseley, Robert Cull, prisoner in the gaol of the county of Bedford, Thomas Ball, chief warden of the gaol, of St Paul, Bedford, William Stimson the younger, solicitors clerk of Marston Moretaine and James Bowden Hodgins, warden at the gaol of St Paul, Bedford. In the case of John Freeman accused of obtaining money by false pretences with intent to defraud.

19 July 1853

From: 1853 To: 1853

Robert Cull: a prisoner confined under sentence in the County gaol at Bedford. He knew the defendant, and saw him in the gaol on 25 June. The prisoner told him he was Mr Gissing’s clerk and he saw him in a room in which he had previously seen Mr Gissing and his clerk Mr Stinson. Freeman said “a friend of yours has been to our office today and instructed Mr Gissing to employ counsel for you”. He wanted to know the names of people he had dealt with in Kimbolton and his friends. He gave him the name of Mr Peasnall of Riseley. Freeman came again on 2 July, he told him he had not raised enough money and that he had 5 shillings from Mr Peasnall. He told Cull he should contact his wife for 5 pounds and “they are going to play the devil with you”. Cull told him he could not get 5 pounds but could get 2 if that would help. Freeman said that sum would not do, and that he needed 3. Cull told him he could get 3 pounds and would send it to him. Freeman told him his name so he could do so. He did not pay him any money and he did not give him authority to collect subscriptions on his behalf. He did not give him names of his friends. Thomas Ball: Chief Warden and the Bedford County Gaol. He was present, but did not hear the conversation, between Cull and freeman on the 25 June. Freeman had said he was Mr Gissing’s clerk. William Stimson: a clerk to Mr Samuel Newson Gissing, a solicitor in Bedford. He had been in the role about a year and a quarter. Mr Gissing was dangerously ill. Mr Freeman was not in the employment o f Mr Gissing on 18 June and had never been, to his best knowledge. He had been part of the of the defence form Robert Cull at the assizes. He recollected meeting Mr Freeman and he had told him he was a friend of Culls and he had been obtaining some money for his defence. Freeman asked him how much was required and Stimson told him he had better ask Gissing. This conversation had taken place early in June (before the 18th) after he had seen Cull at the gaol. He recalled no conversation taking place between himself and Freeman at Mr Gissing’s office. He then met Freeman in the street and he told him Mr Ibbs, a friend of Cull’s had asked him to try to collect some of the money for the defence, he saw him later and he said he had been very unsuccessful. He received some money from a carrier who brought him 3 guineas. James Bowden: a warden at the gaol. He remembered Freeman coming to the gaol on 25 June to visit Cull. Mr Ball asked the prisoner if he was an articled clerk and Freeman had replied “no”. He said eh was Mr Gissing’s clerk and he had come to make an arrangement with the prisoner to get some money to pay the solicitor.

item

Freeman, John,
Peasnall, Joseph,
Cull, Robert,
Ball, Thomas,
Stimson, William,
Hodgins, James Bowden,
Gissing, Samuel Newson

RISELEY, St. Paul Bedford, Bedford Gaol, warden, false pretences, , fraud