Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1844/1/5/26
  • Title
    Depositions and examination - Marcus Landsberg charged with stealing a brooch and two clock bags from Lewis Levi
  • Date free text
    5 December 1843
  • Production date
    From: 1843 To: 1844
  • Scope and Content
    Lewis Levi of High Street, St Paul, Bedfrod, watch and clock maker – Marcus Landsberg was in his service as a salesman of German clocks for nearly 2 years until 14 August when he absconded. On 12 August he missed a [paste?] gold brooch with a green stone in the middle from his shop window. On the fair day last October an application was made to him by John Purser of Southill near Shefford for a watch he said he had sent to him to be repaired. He had not received that watch. On Monday morning 14 August he and Landsberg left Bedford together on their way to Kimbolton. At Keysoe Landsberg left him on pretence of business and promised to join him in half an hour, but he did not see him again until last Sunday evening. Several persons residing at Graffham (Hunts) were indebted to him for various sums of money which they were to repay by weekly instalments. One man named Dawkes was indebted but he cannot say how much without his books. He applied to Dawkes wife for a payment and she said she had paid his man the night before. About 3 weeks earlier Landsberg told him he had a customer at Gravely (Hunts) named Papworth for a watch and he delivered a silver pair case watch to him to sell to Papworth. Landsberg said he had left the watch with Mr Papworth on trial and if he approved of it he would pay next journey, and if not would return the watch. He has received neither the money nor the watch. When Landsberg left him at Keysoe he had two strong linen clock bags with straps value about 3s 6d which were his property. He has not seen them since. On Sunday December 3 he discovered Landsberg in London at his lodgings in Ebenezer Square, Stony Lane, Aldgate. He asked how he came to use him so badly. Landsberg said it was through the watch he left at Gravely that he did not know what to do - he wanted some money to go away with and it was only a trifle he had taken. He asked Landsberg for the brooch and what he had done with the clock bags. Landsberg said he did not know where he had left them. He then asked what Landsberg had done with Purser’s watch that he might redeem it. Landsberg said it was impossible to get it as the person he sold it to as old silver broke it up in his presence. That is the substance of what passed. They conversed partly in German and partly in English to make themselves understood. He believes Landsberg is a Prussian Pole and understands the English language. On August 14 before he left he inquired of Landsberg about the brooch. Landsberg admitted he had it and said he would give it back to him when he returned from the journey. Landsberg had no authority from him to take it. John Andrews of Bowsell Court, St Peter, Bedford, shoemaker – Landsberg lodged with him in Boswell Lane for part of last July and until about the middle of August when he left without notice. In the beginning of August Landsberg offered to sell him a brooch similar to the one produced by Mr Levi with a green stone in the middle. He did not buy it. This was a few days before Landsberg left. On the Friday and Saturday before Landsberg left he showed him a little old fashioned silver watch and asked him to buy it. He did not. Landsberg offered to take a pair of shoes in part payment and to set the rest off in rent for his lodgings. John Purser of Southill, labourer – on 10 August Landsberg came to his house at Southill and asked him how his watch went. He said it did not go very well. Landsberg persuaded him to let him take it to Levis’s at Bedford and said he would charge little or nothing for doing it. On Michaelmas Fair Day he was in Bedford and called at Mr Levi’s for it. Mr Levi told him he had never received such a watch from Landsberg. He had known Landsberg for some time as Mr Levi’s assistant. The watch was worth 30s. He has not seen the watch or Landsberg since. Sophia Breed, wife of James Breed of Southill, labourer – she was present at her uncle’s house on 10 August when Landsberg came. Landsberg said he would take the watch to his master’s and send it back the next week by Daniel Garner the carrier. He said his master would do it for little or nothing. Lewis Levy of St Paul’s Bedford, watchmaker – Landsberg was in his employ on 10 August and travelled the country for him. It was Landsberg’s duty if anything were given to him to mend to bring it to him and he used to do this frequently. He never received a watch from Mr Purser to be mended. Landsberg absconded from his employ on 14 August. When he found Landsberg in London he asked if he had sold or pledged Mr Purser’s watch as he would redeem it for Mr Purser out of his own pocket. Landsberg said it was impossible as he had sold it to a traveler for old silver and that the movement was broken out of the case in his presence. Landsberg said he got about 8s for it.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
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