QSR1881/2/5/10

Depositions of Edmund Tydeman, superintendent of police, Luton, Walter Breed, Richard Shadbolt, Matthew Arnold and Walter Cherry all farmer stewards of Biscott, James Pike, grocer's assistant of Wellington Street, Luton and Amos Randall, shepherd of Biscott, Luton. In the case of David Pike, accused of compounding a certain felony and receiving as a reward for doing so the sum of a pound and 11 shillings.

28 March 1881

From: 1881 To: 1881

James Pike: assistant to his brother David at his business. He went to Biscott, on 28 January and 4 February, with the cart and some goods. On 28 January, he left the cart at Biscott and when he returned he missed sugar jams and things amounting to 7 or 8 shillings. He informed David Pike on his return and advised calling the police. David Pike objected as he had a Sunday school in Limbury and he thought some of the persons may be his scholars. On 4 February he went to Biscott and 2 other men went too, to watch. He left the cart as normal and 2 boys were caught on that day; Worsley and Randall were brought to Luton. It was arranged that the boys were to pay for the goods they admitted taking. He received money from some of the boys:- Gravestock (3s), Staines (4s), Shadbolt (4s), Clarke (4s), Arnold (4s), Randall (3s), Breed (2s) and Cherry (2s). He received this through an arrangement made with his brother. [cross examination] Worsley would not admit to taking anything. The reason the amounts differed was because boys admitted to taking goods to different amounts. His brother gave the lads to understand he should not prosecute them; he said that the police might but as far as he was concerned, it was done with. Walter Breed: 15 years of age and servant to Mr Edmund Bales to Biscott. On 4 February, he stood on the path with some others and Mr Pike’s cart was there. He ran away but a man caught him and took him to prisoner’s house. Pike asked him what he had been up to and finally he told Pike he had taken some sugar and gave him the names of 3 others. Pike went to Limbury to see William Randall, Matthew Arnold and Walter Clarke, and to Mr Bates to see the others. Pike told them all he should send the police after them. Pike later told Breed that they should all come to see him on Saturday night at Luton and he should come on Monday. On Monday Pike asked Breed to pay 5 shillings and Breed said he had not had 5 shillings worth, but Pike said it was what the others had made the bargain to pay. Breed agreed and paid Pike a shilling and then his brother another. Breed paid another shilling a week later and he believed the case to be settled. [cross examination] Mr Worsley and his son were with him on 4 February but only he and Pike were in the back parlour. 3 Shillings was the worth of the sugar he had taken and he was going to pay more but was told he need not by Pike’s man. Amos Randall: a shepherd to Mr Bates at Biscott. On 4 February, he was at Mr Bates’s farm with William Randall, Clarke and Arnold. David Pike came and asked them each their name. Pike asked if they had taken some sugar and jam, and they replied no. Pike threatened them with the police. Pike left and the boys went to bed. Richard Shadbolt: 16 years old and servant to Mr Thomas Kidman. On 4 February, he was called out of his bed by his master and he, Staines and Gravestock came down the stairs together to see David Pike. Pike asked what they had from his cart and they replied nothing. Pike said he would send for the police. In consequence of what they were told, they went to Pike at Luton on the Saturday and told him they had something from the cart the previous week and they agreed to pay for it. They negotiated and he was told he must pay 2 shillings that night and 2 shillings the following week. Mr Pike told them to keep it quiet. Matthew Arnold: 16 year old servant to Mr Edmund Bates. On 4 February, he was sitting with Randall and Clarke when he saw David Pike. He went with Randall, Clarke, Staines, Gravestock and Shadbolt to see Pike in Luton on the Saturday. They told him they had 2 pounds of his sugar. He later paid 4 shillings to Pike’s brother, in addition to a shilling he had already paid to Pike’s man. Pike’s brother gave him a shilling back. He was told not to talk about the matter. Charles Cherry: worked for Mr Bates and lived at Biscott. On 4 February, David Pike came and asked how much sugar he had taken. Cherry told him 2 pounds, and Pike told him to come to his house on Monday night. Pike asked him to pay the same as the others and he agreed, paying a shilling then. The next week he paid Pike’s brother 4 shillings, and was given a shilling back. Mr Pike said if he did not pay he would seek further action. Statement of the accused – David Pike: not guilty

15 pages

item

Pike, David,
Tydeman, Edmund,
Breed, Walter,
Shadbolt, Richard,
Arnold, Matthew,
Cherry, Walter,
Pike, James,
Randall, Amos,
Kidman, Thomas,
Bates, Edmund

LUTON, Luton Wellington Street, shepherd, farm steward, grocer, stealing