QSR1881/3/5/2

Depositions of William Sparrey Green, grocer of Leighton Buzzard, Frederick Simmons, miller of Eaton Bray, John Olden, police sergeant of Leighton Buzzard, William Henry Hopkins, apprentice at Leighton Buzzard and Alfred Hyde, grocer's assistant of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of William Janes accused of stealing 2 shillings and sixpence.

26 April 1881

From: 1881 To: 1881

William Henry Hopkins: apprentice to William Green, a grocer at Leighton. The prisoner had been working for Green as a porter and was also employed in the cellar to cut sugar. When cut, the prisoner had to put the sugar in the sugar drawer close to the till in the shop. All the money taken at the counter goes into the till, in separate compartments for silver and cooper. On 11 April, he saw the prisoner bring some sugar to put into the drawer. Hopkins was standing by the office. He saw the till drawer opened and Janes take some money. Janes put his hand in the till several times. Hopkins told the assistant, but the prisoner had left the shop and gone to tea. When Janes returned Alfred Hyde asked him about the money he had in his pocket. Jane said he only had a penny. Mr Green was summoned, who asked what money he had. Again Janes replied just a penny. Mr Green told him to empty his coat pocket and Janes pulled out a handkerchief, then 2 shillings sixpence in coppers. Asked where he had got it from he said that Mr Simmons assistant had given him 10 pence in change from a bill for food and his brother Jonathan had given him 8 pence. [cross examination] he was 16 next birthday and had been in the shop when the prisoner came in. He did not know how much was in the till, and the till is cleared at the end of the day by Mr Green. He had told Hyde about 15 minutes afterwards. The prisoner said none of the money belonged to Green. He had not spoken to the prisoner at the time for fear of being hit. Alfred Hyde: an assistant in the shop of William Green. On 11 April, the prisoner was working there as a porter. On that day, he left the shop at 4pm to go to tea, leaving Hopkins in the shop. On his return Hopkins made a statement to him and on instructions from his master, he went to the office. He saw the prisoner putting sugar in the drawer and then heard the till drawer close. He saw the prisoner take his hand from his coat pocket. He asked the prisoner what he had. The prisoner said it was a penny. He called for Mr Green who instructed the prisoner to empty his pockets. The prisoner took out a handkerchief and a handful of coppers. Asked how he came by the coppers, Janes said Mr Simmons had given him 8 in change for a bill and his brother had given him 10 pence. [cross examination] he had been with Mr Green about 15 months. William Sparrey Green: a grocer with his father in High Street, Leighton. The prisoner was in his employment and on the afternoon of 11 April he was cutting sugar and taking it into the shop. The sugar drawer was near the till. He cleared the till each evening, but usually left the coppers. He was summoned into the shop, where Hyde accused Janes of taking money from the till. He asked Janes to turn out his coat pocket. Janes took out a handkerchief and a quantity of loose coppers. Janes said Mr Simmons had given him 8 in change for a bill and his brother had given him 10 pence. The prisoner said he was at liberty to ask Simons about it. Frederick Simmons: a miller of Eaton Bray, with a shop in Leighton Market place. On 7 April the prisoner came and paid a bill for some toppings. He paid with 5 shillings worth of half pence in a packet, and the remainder in loose coppers. It totalled 8 shillings. Janes was not given any change. John Olden: a police sergeant stationed at Leighton Buzzard. On 16 April, he apprehended the prisoner, who swore he had not taken any money. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Janes, William,
Green, William Sparrey,
Simmons, Frederick,
Olden, John,
Hopkins, William Henry,
Hyde, Alfred

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, stealing, money, grocer, miller