Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1877/3/5/7
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - William Henshaw, charged with obtaining 5 loads of straw value £9 10s from Joseph Triplow by false pretences on 30 April 1877 at Girtford
  • Date free text
    4 June 1877
  • Production date
    From: 1877 To: 1877
  • Scope and Content
    Joseph Triplow of Girtford in the parish of Sandy, farmer – on Monday 30th April William Henshaw came to his house and asked if he had any straw to sell. He showed Henshaw some straw which he looked at and asked the price. He asked how Henshaw’s brother was – Henshaw said he was very ill. He said “I suppose you manage the business for him”. Henshaw agreed and said he wanted the straw for them. He sold him 5 loads for 38s per load. On Wednesday 2 May a man came with a cart with the name of Huckle on it. The man asked for MrHenshaw’s straw and took away 2 ½ loads. Another man came on Thursday 3 May and took the other 2 ½ loads. He knows Henry Henshaw of Biggleswade and has had many dealings with him. He would not have sold the straw to William Henshaw if he had not fraudulently represented himself to be manager and agent for Henry Henshaw. William Henshaw never promised to pay him. Maria Henshaw, wife of Henry Henshaw of Biggleswade, hay, straw and corn merchant – her husband is ill and she is acting for him under a power of attorney dated 29 March 1877. William Henshaw is his brother. He had no authority to buy straw in her husband’s name and was never manager of their business. He used to come into the shop and serve there but she did not approve it and instructed her solicitor to tell him to leave. He did leave altogether on 14 April. Since then he had no connection whatever with the business. She knows nothing of any straw from Mr Triplow. Charles Cartwright of Biggleswade, beerhouse keeper and market gardener – about 8pm on Tuesday 1s May William Henshaw came to his house and asked him to fetch 2 ½ loads of straw from Mr Triplow. He said he could oblige him. The next morning he went to Mr Triplow’s, told him he had come for Mr Henshaw’s straw and took 1 ¼ loads away. He met Henshaw with it about 11am at the Crown Inn and at his direction took it back to Mr Gilder’s shop in Shortmead Street. At the request of Mr Gilder he took it to Mr Bennett’s in Sun Street. As he did so he told Henshaw that Mr Triplow said the other straw would be ready that day. Henshaw asked him to fetch it. He gave instructions to Samuel Cartwright, a man in his employ, to do so. His charge for carting the straw is 15s. The name on the cart is Huckle & Cartwright. Samuel Cartwright fetched 1 ¼ loads the same day and the remainder the following day. Samuel Cartwright of Biggleswade, labourer – he is employed by Charles Cartwright. At his direction he went to Triplow’s on 2 May, brought away 1 ¼ loads of straw and took it to Mr Gilder’s. He met Henshaw there about 7pm. The straw was put in Gilder’s loft. Henshaw then asked him to fetch the rest the next morning. He did so. As he was passing the Oak Public House, Biggleswade with the first 1 ¼ loads, Henshaw came out and told him to take it to Mr Gee’s. He took it to Mr Gee’s in Sun Street. Henshaw accompanied him and helped him to stack it. Henshaw asked when the next load and a quarter would be ready. He told him not until after dinner. He fetched it, met Henshaw opposite the Church in Biggleswade and went with him to the Blue Ball Inn. When they got there Henshaw sold the innkeeper Mr Medlock a load of it. He unloaded it, then told Henshaw he could take ¼ load if he had it to spare. Henshaw agreed. William Gilder of Biggleswade, confectioner – he resides in Shortmead St, Biggleswade. On Tuesday 1 May Henshaw came to his shop and asked if he wanted to buy any straw. He asked the price, which was 40s a load. He asked Henshaw for two loads, to be delivered about 11am the next morning. Henshaw came to his shop with the straw accompanied by Charles Cartwright. He asked them to take it round to Mr Bennett’s as he had sold it to him. Henshaw came again about 7pm with Samuel Cartwright with another load of straw. He sent for his man to take it in and left to attend to other business. On Thrusday morning 3 May Henshaw came to his shop and made out the bill produced for £4 17s 6d which he paid. [Bill is included with deposition] William Medlock of Biggleswade, publican – he resides in Shortmead Strett. About a month ago Henshaw brought a load of straw on a cart to his house and offered to sell it to him. He bought it for £2 and his wife paid Henshaw for it. Frederick Gee of Biggleswade, nurseryman – between 10 and 11am on Thursday 3 May Henshaw came to him at his place of business in Sun Street and offered to sell him straw. He said he didn’t think he could do with any. His loft was full and he had just bought some. Henshaw offered it at £2 a load, then reduced the price to 39s. He said he would take half a load. Samuel Cartwright came with a cart load, which Henshaw told Cartwright to take into his yard. When Henshaw had taken half a load off he said he had better have the rest and would take 38s a load rather than hawk it. He agreed. There was a load and a quarter altogether and he paid Henshaw £2 7s 6d for it in the Oak Inn a few minutes afterwards. Frederick Smith of Biggleswade, inspector of police – about 10am on Thursday 31 May 1877 he took William Henshaw into custody at the Main Bridwell, Liverpool on a warrant which he read over to him at the Railway Station. Henshaw said he was very sorry but he heard that Mr Triplow had some straw to sell and went over and asked about it. Triplow asked if Henshaw was buying for his brother and Henshaw said he was occasionally, but would pay him for this and then bought 5 loads from him. William Henshaw – he did not wish to defraud Triplow out of the money for the straw. He had a place in Liverpool and could have sent him the money.
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