QSR1883/3/5/5-6

Depositions of John Tatman, sergeant of police of Clophill, Ann Matthews, wife of Thomas of Clophill, Ann Brightman, spinster of Maulden, George Renaud, clerk in Holy Orders of Flitton and Robert Michael White, solicitor's clerk of Ampthill. In the case of Ellen Goodman & Catherine Grummitt accused of obtaining 2 pairs of boots and 4 pairs of stockings by false pretences.

14 June 1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

Ann Brightman: a spinster carrying on the business of grocer and draper at Maulden along with Augusta Mary Dorrington. On 26 May, between 7pm and 8pm, she was in the shop when the prisoner Goodman came and asked to look at some boots. Goodman said she wanted strong ones as they were for Mr Renaud of Flitton. She said she need one pair in size 6 and one in size 5 as they were two of them going to a servants house. Brightman asked for a paper from Mr Renaud but was told Mr Renaud had been too busy to write one and that Mr Renaud would be sending for more things on the Monday. Brightman asked if the boots could wait until then and was told he needed them tonight. Brightman asked for their names and was told Lily Jones and Alice Palmer. Goodman then asked for 2 pairs of stockings and chose some, but Brightman considered Mr Renaud would not approve of them. Brightman said she thought other stocking s would be better suited and Goodman said she would take both sets and see which Renaud choose. Goodman asked for the bill and it was put in the parcel. Goodman left the shop and the other prisoner was standing outside. They went off together. Both were strangers. Mr Renaud was a regular customer and she would not have let the girls have the items without the representations being made. George Renaud: a clerk in Holy Orders and Vicar of Flitton. He knew the prisoner Goodman by sight but the other prisoner was a stranger. He did not give instructions or leave to gain items from the shop on his behalf. When he had used girls to go to the shop on his behalf he would also send his housekeeper to a written order. He had not intended to send either prisoner to a servant’s home. The first he heard of the happenings was when he received a letter from Miss Dorrington. Annie Matthews: wife of Thomas a labourer of Clophill. On 27 May Catherine Grummitt came to the house. She noticed Grummitt had new boots on and said to her they looked like the ones she had from Bedford. Grummitt said she had the boots from Bedford but had not worn them before as they were too little for her. Matthews tried on the boots and they fitted her, so Grummitt left them and took away a pair of Matthews. John Tatman: a police sergeant stationed at Clophill. On 30 May he went and saw Goodman at her mother’s house. He told he had had come to see her about items she had from a shop in Maulden, but Goodman said he had nothing and refused to go to Maulden with him. He asked her where her boots were and she told him at her aunts. He said he had seen her aunt and been told she had brought them away with her and he must search for them. He found the boots and a pair of stockings, and she had another pair of stockings on. He went to Grummitt. Grummitt said he had been at the shop with Goodman but Goodman had paid for the goods, and she had waited outside for her. Goodman gave her a pair of boots and 2 pairs of stockings. The boots were now at Matthews. Goodman told Grummitt she was as bad as her and had put her up to it. Robert Michael White: a solicitor’s clerk in Ampthill. On 30 May he was at Sergeant Tatman’s house when the prisoners were there. He was asked to take charge of them whilst Tatman went to Matthew’s house. Grummitt asked Goodman what she had said to Tatman about her, and Goodman said she had told him she knew as much about the shoes as she did. Goodman said that they had discussed the sizes required outside the shop but Grummitt said she did not know how Goodman was to get them. Statements of the accused: nothing to say.

9 pages

item

Grummitt, Catherine,
Goodman, Ellen,
Brightman, Ann,
Tatman, John,
Matthews, Ann,
Renaud, George,
White, Robert Michael

CLOPHILL, MAULDEN, AMPTHILL, boots, stockings, clerk, , false pretences