QSR1886/4/5/3

Depositions of Arthur Blundell, of Church Street, Luton, Alfred Durbridge of 55 Queen Street, Luton, William Abbott, miller of Luton, William Chamberlain, detective officer of Luton, Austen Evans, miller of Luton and Frederick Horner Davis, of no occupation, a witness for the defence. In the case of Joseph Payne accused of embezzling and stealing certain sums of money amounting to £14 2s 11d.

7 July 1886

From: 1886 To: 1886

Arthur Blundell: a miller and baker in Luton. He had employed the prisoner for 12 or 13 years and for about 18 months he had delivered bread. When the prisoner started in the morning he was given a ticket showing the quantity of bread and flour I his cart. In the copying book a list was kept of what had been given to the defendant. The entries from the copying paper where entered into the memorandum book and then the prisoner would pay him once a week. Until the 7 July the prisoner had always paid the money and he had no authority to allow credit. On 3 July the prisoner paid Blundell £11 7s 1½ d for the week ending 26 June. The prisoner did not say any money owed. On 7 July the prisoner should have paid £12 13s ½d, which would have cleared the book up to 3 July. On 7 July the prisoner did to come to work and he found that the prisoner had left his house. The prisoner had not since returned to work. On examining his books, Blundell found that the prisoner owed him £16 11s 4 ½d. He deducted the prisoners wages of 17s and was brought a further £1 11s 6d by the prisoners wife. This reduced the amount taken to £14 2s 11d. He had not allowed the prisoner to give credit in Hatfield. Alfred Durbridge: he had been employed by Mr Blundell for 3 months and he had been around with the prisoner selling bread. Payne trusted about 10 people in the whole round. They would put these people’s names down in a little book. On the last day Payne was out with the bread, he was told by Payne that he need not go with him. He had since been round with Evans and all the people said they had paid up. William Abbott: a foreman residing at 15 Stuart Street. In consequence of Payne leaving he went on Payne’s round with the cart. As far as he could ascertain 5 or 6 shillings was due. Evans did the round on the first day. He then went from there to Wheathamstead, to Man’s Land, to another village, on to Hatfield, to Lempsford Mille and to A[spot], then to Welwyn, to Coddicot, and then to Kimpton. William Chamberlain: on 17 July he went to Halesworth and received the prisoner into his custody. He was charged with embezzling £15. Payne said he had never had the money. He said he had let people have the bread but had been unable to collect the money; it had become a mess and he had taken off. The prisoner had left Luton on 7 July and his wife left on 10 July after selling the household goods. When he was arrested the prisoner said his wife had gone home to Coakley in Suffolk. Austen Evans: was employed by the prosecutor and lived in Foundry Lane. He knew the prisoners round and went round after the prisoner had left. He called on almost 100 people and found certain amounts owing to the prosecutor. At Dunstable he received 4d. Over the whole round he only found 7s owing, which he collected 3s 6d. A week before the prisoner left the prisoner told him he was in a mess and he didn't know what to do. He did not advise the prisoner to go nor did he say he would leave with him. He found 2s 6d due at Leagrave from Mrs Read, he received 2d and 4d in Redbourn and a small amount in Harpenden. Statement of the accused: nothing to say. Frederick Horner Davis: he lived at Barton and was employed by Mr Blundell. He went with the prisoner on his round in the Summer and kept his books. The prisoner gave credit and it was crossed out when it was paid by Mr Blundell. The books went in every night or every other night and credit given was for no more than 2 shillings a journey.

10 pages

item

Blundell, Arthur,
Abbott, William,
Chamberlain, William,
Evans, Austen,
Davis, Frederick Horner,
Payne, Joseph

LUTON, embezzlement