QSR1883/2/5/4b

Depositions of Charles Sturgess, police constable of Eversholt, George Keens, gardener of Eversholt, Thomas Brashier, labourer of Eversholt and Henry Pasey, ironmonger of Woburn. In the case of Frederick Rutland accused of being a bailee of a silver watch and fraudulently taking said watch and converting it to his own use.

23 February 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

George Keens: a gardener living at Eaton Socon. The defendant also resides at Eversholt. He cleans and repairs watches and clocks. Last September he gave the prisoner his watch to repair, who said he would have it back in 3 or 4 days. He did not bring it back. He saw the prisoner a week later at church and asked him about it. The prisoner said it wasn’t done and he should have it back in a few days. He asked the prisoner several times since for it. On 25 January he stopped at the prisoner’s house and asked for the watch. The prisoner said he was just going to fetch it but did not say from where. Rutland had not bought it from him. On 5 February he went again to his house went back to the prisoner’s house and told him he wanted the watch by Wednesday or would put a case forward. On 7 February, Ash Wednesday, he saw him outside church and was told he would have the watch that night. He did not receive it. On 9 February he went with the policeman to the defendant and asked for the watch. He was told Thomas Brashier had it, as he had lent it him to try. The prisoner’s son was sent to get it and returned saying Brashier had sold it to Pacey at Woburn. [cross examination] he had known Rutland for 40 years and had nothing to say against his character. Rutland was a sexton and organ blower at the church. Thomas Brashier: had given a watch to the defendant to repair about 4 years previous. He did not get the watch back. Shortly before Christmas the defendant’s wife brought him a watch and took away another watch he had been lent by Rutland. When he saw the prisoner he told him the watch kept breaking and asked to be lent another. Rutland told him he could lend him another or return his own watch. He told the prisoner he wanted his own watch back as he’d rather sell that than the one he had been lent. He said he must sell the watch if he did not have his returned and sold the watch on to Pasey. He did not know whose watch it was but supposed it to be the defendants. [cross examination] Mrs Rutland had told him the first watch had belonged to someone in Steppingley. It had been in his possession for about 3 years. Henry Pasey: an ironmonger of Woburn. He was sold a watch by Brashier for 5 shillings. Charles Strugess: on 9 February he went to the defendant’s house with Keens. Keens asked the prisoner for the watch and was told he could not have it as he did not have it. Rutland said Thomas Brashier had it. Rutland sent his son for the watch. The son returned saying the watch had been sold. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Rutland, Frederick,
Sturgess, Charles,
Keens, George,
Brashier, Thomas,
Pasey, Henry

EVERSHOLT, WOBURN, stealing, fraud, watches, ironmonger, gardener, sexton, organ blower