QSR1871/2/5/11

Depositions and examination - Thomas Burrows the younger of Toddington, labourer, charged with obtaining 2s 6d from John Clegg by false pretences at Toddington on 1 April 1871

3 April 1871

From: 1871 To: 1871

Reverend John Clegg, Rector of Toddington - last Saturday 1 April about 11am the prisoner came to his house and said he repaired mowing machines. Burrows went to his lawn mowing machine and agreed to take it to pieces, thoroughly clean and put it in order for 3s. In the afternoon Burrows came and said he had put a new brass collar into the machine which would come to 2s 6d. Burrows later showed him an old brass collar which he said he had taken from the machine and replaced. He said he had done other work including the brass collar which amounted to 11s 6d. He ordered Daniel Potts the blacksmith to be sent for and instructed him to take the machine to pieces and ascertain if there was any brass collar put into it. John Olden, police sergeant stationed at Toddington - from information received he took Burrows into custody at Dunstable and charged him. Burrows said the brass that he had from Mr Clegg’s was in his basket at his grandfather’s. He went with the grandfather to a public house at Dunstable and saw the basket in which there were 7 pieces of brass. He showed them to Burrows. The same day when he was conveying Burrows to Woburn Burrows said "I am very sorry. It is the first time I was ever in custody. I know I am wrong and I will take care it shall be the last. I am sorry that I have brought such disgrace upon my Grandfather and Grandmother and my friends". Burrows told him he lived with his grandfather at Dunstable. He saw Mr Clegg’s machine taken to pieces by Daniel Potts. There was no brass in it. Daniel Potts of Toddington, blacksmith - on Saturday he was sent for by Revd Clegg who ordered him to take a mowing machine to pieces and see if there was any new brass in it. He did so and there was no brass at all in the machine. The box of the machine works upon a cast iron collar or box. Last Saturday Burrows brought a knife or iron plate to his shop to grind. Burrows said it belonged to the clergyman. He agreed Burrows could grind it. His son turned the stone for about ¼ hour. He does not believe the machine had been taken to pieces at all or cleaned. George Potts, son of Daniel Potts - last Saturday Burrows came to his father’s shop. He turned the grindstone to grind a knife or iron plate. Thomas Burrows, coachman to Revd John Clegg - on Saturday 1 April he received 11s 6d from his Master to pay to the prisoner for work done to a lawn mowing machine. He heard Burrows say on the same day to his master that he had put in a new brass collar which came to 2s 6d. He paid Burrows 11s 6d including the new brass collar. He was present when the machine was taken to pieces by Potts. There was no brass collar or any brass at all that he could see. Thomas Burrows the younger - he is guilty and hopes they will have mercy on him. It is the first time he has ever been in trouble. "I will never do it no more".

item

Burrows, Thomas,
Clegg, John,
Olden, John,
Potts, Daniel,
Potts, George

TODDINGTON, DUNSTABLE, false pretences, parochial clergy, coachman, police sergeant, blacksmith, gardening