Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1876/3/5/7/c
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - Thomas Janes, charged with stealing a quantity of mill sharps value 1s from Alfred John Smith at Houghton Regis on 17 May 1876
  • Date free text
    22 May 1876
  • Production date
    From: 1876 To: 1876
  • Scope and Content
    Thomas Bradshaw of Houghton Regis, police constable – on Wednesday 17 may he saw Benjamin Braiser wheeling a barrow down the High with a sack about 3 parts full. He followed Braiser and stopped him. He asked what he had got. Braiser said ¾ cwt of topping for which he had paid 6s. He said he had not got a ticket, that Janes weighed them and would give him the ticket that night. He found the sacks contained “mill sharps” which are better than toppings. He took the sack. He went to Mr Smith’s house and saw Mrs Smith. He then went to the mill and asked Janes for his books. Janes refused to give them up to him and went down with them himself. The entry in the book is as follows: “B Braiser ½ cwt toppings”. The mark following “1/4 cwt sharps” is an additions since he first saw the books. The sack contains mill sharps at the bottom, toppings in the middle and mill sharps at the top. The sack weighs 95lbs. The entry was the last in the book then. Alfred John Smith of Houghton Regis – he has looked in the sack produced and saw sharps at the top. There are 2 entries in the cash book. The contents of the sack would be worth about 7s 6d. He has been paid 6s 6d. Benjamin Braiser of Houghton Regis, labourer – between 4 and 5pm on Wednesday he went to the mill and saw Janes. He asked for 3 quarters of toppings and wanted good ones. Janes weighed them and he paid him 6s. Janes asked him to stop for the bill and he said he would do it that night. Janes called at night and said he wanted another 6d as there were some sharps with the toppings. He did not give him the 6d as Bradshaw had the stuff. Elizabeth Emma Smith of Houghton Regis, wife of Alfred John Smith. On Wednesday Bradshaw and Janes came to her with the books. She examined the ticket book. The only entry was the ½ cwt toppings. She did not see the cash book. Janes had the book again about ½ hour afterwards. Thomas Janes – has nothing to say.
  • Level of description
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