QSR1874/1/5/3

Depositions and examination - George Cook of Houghton Regis, wheelwright, charged with stealing 14 sets of window blind furniture, consisting of racks and roller ends, box handles, buttons, washers, butt hinges, locks, picture rings, one auger and one gouge, value 25s, from Major Edward Horley at Toddington on 17 November 1873

5 December 1873

From: 1873 To: 1874

Major Edward Horley of Toddington, builder – Cook is a wheelwright at Houghton Regis and John Axtell is a carpenter there. They have both worked for him. He employed Cook for 2 days at the beginning of November. Cook came for his tools about the 17th November. Axtell was in his employ from some time in February up to last Saturday. In consequence of what PC Geery said to him he missed 14 sets of window blind furniture very similar to the ones now produced. On Wednesday 3 December Cook brought to him the box handles, a quantity of buttons, washers, butt hinges, locks, picture rings, an auger and a gouge, (all now produced) which he said he bought from Axtell. He believes them to be his property. The racks and buttons produced by the witness Downing are very similar to the ones he has lost. They are a particular sort. He missed 3 sorts of racks. Joseph Billington of Houghton Regis, bricklayer – on 20th November Cook came to him. They were having a deal for some timber and Cook asked if he would take some blind ends and racks instead of money. He believes they were the ones now produced. Cook said he was going into Wales. He did not take the blind ends and racks that day but on the following Tuesday Cook came again and he bought them. He subsequently delivered them up to PC Geery. James Downing of Houghton Regis, carpenter – on 18th November he was at Cook’s workshop. He bought 4 racks from him and 6 buttons (produced). He gave 3s 6d for them. He saw nothing in Cook’s basket belonging to Mr Horley. John Geery, police constable stationed at Toddington – on 29th November he made inquiries about the stolen property. He received the window blind furniture and racks from Billington (produced). On 3rd December Cook came to Toddington. He saw Cook at Mr Horley’s. Cook said he had brought the remainder of the property he bought from Axtell. He took possession and produced the items – locks, handles, hinges, washers, rings, buttons, a gouge and an auger. Henry Quenby, police sergeant stationed at Toddington – he apprehended Cook and charged him with stealing 14 sets of window blind furniture. Cook said there were only ten. He told Cook there were 4 others found at the school. Cook said he sold them to Mr Downing, and that he bought and paid for them months ago – some at Luton, some at Dunstable and some at Leighton. While in custody Cook said he bought the things from Jack Axtell, giving him part in money and part in beer. He had seen Cook the previous Sunday morning and said nothing to him about any brasses, when Cook said he bought some brasses 3 years ago before he went to America, some at Luton, some at Dunstable and some at Leighton. On 1st December he took Axtell into custody and charged him with steeling window racks and ends from Mr Horley. Axtell said he knew nothing about it. George Cook – he bought the things from Axtell in the middle of harvest (August). The others he bought in September. He gave 9d a set and some beer. He gave 4d a pair for the handles. He did not know the value of them. He gave 1s 6d for the auger and 6d for the gouge, 5d each for the locks, 1s for the buttons, 1s for the rings and 3d each for the hinges and 1s each for the lot of ferrules. John Axtell – he is entirely innocents. He never sold anything to Cook but 2 pounds of [nails?]. He never saw the things before. Cook came to his house last Sunday evening and said “This is a pretty go. A man can’t have what belongs to him – I bought them before I went to America”. Cook asked him to tell Horley so. He told Horley what Cook had said. When they were in the lock up Cook said “I can swing clear of the brasses provided by wife don’t split about these things and she swill if the Bobbys press her. I had a gouge and an auger and some other things when the police came to search on Saturday. The gouge was in the sack with my other tools. They did not see it and I put it on Sunday among the rafters in my work shop. I burnt the auger handle and put that and some handles up the chimney”. [Annotated: The Prisoner Axtell discharged]

item

Cook, George,
Horley, Edward,
Billington, Joseph,
Downing, James,
Geery, John,
Quenby, Henry,
Axtell, John

TODDINGTON, HOUGHTON REGIS, stealing, household goods, builder, bricklayer, carpenter, wheelwright, police constable, police sergeant