Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1883/4/5/4b
  • Title
    Depositions of James Poole Wagstaff, gentleman of Potton, William Gales, labourer of Potton and Charles Hinton, gardener of Potton. In the case of Charles Cobb accused of stealing 14 pound weight of coals.
  • Date free text
    15 August 1883
  • Production date
    From: 1883 To: 1883
  • Scope and Content
    William Gales: a labourer employed by James Poole Wagstaff. He knew the prisoner and had seen him fetch coals and coke from the stoke holes on several occasions and take they into his house, which was about 100 yards from the stoke holes. On 23 May he saw the prisoner fetch about 14lbs of coal from the same place. He went through the greenhouse and took them into his house. Gales always thought he had the right to them. [cross examination] there was no harness room. He recalled it was the 23 May due to an entry he made in a memorandum book. He told his master and was told to keep a look out. The coals were not covered and anybody could see him. James Pool Wagstaff: the prisoner had been in his employment as a coachman for 2 years and he had never given hi permission to take coals. There had been a heap of coal and a heap of coke in the vinery and it had been gradually disappearing. The coke was left but the coal all gone. [cross examination] Hinton was in his employment. He had made no enquiries of him as to the coal and did not know if Hinton had taken coal. He did not remember speaking to Gales about the missing coals. Statement of the accused: not guilty Statements for the defence – Charles Hinton: a gardener employed by Wagstaff. He knew the upper and lower stoke holes and there was coals left there when they ceased fires. The some coal had been used for washing at Mr Wagstaff’s in his cooper. He had taken it there himself. He had never missed any coal. They used to wash every six weeks. He didn’t know his son in law was charged with stealing coal. He had cleared al the coal away except for dust. The prisoner had taken away coal before for the harness room. He had never seen him take it to his house. The coal for the harness room was not kept in a particular spot.
  • Level of description
    item
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