QSR1844/1/5/36

Depositions and examination - William Brain charged with stealing a quantity of plums from William Brimley

1 January 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

William Brimley of St Paul, Bedford, grocer – he carries on business at his house and premises in the High Street. His house has a yard common to Mr Stocker’s and Mr Lacey’s houses. He has a warehouse in the yard where he keeps the good he sells. Last Saturday he had a quantity of plums there. There were some in a plum box and some in a drawer. He knows Brain who is in the employ of Mr Stocker. From information he received last Saturday evening, December 30, he went to the warehouse and found Brain locked in. He asked why Brain was there. Brain said he had come for a few plums but had put them back again. John Smith of St Paul Bedford, servant – he is employed by Mr Brimley and works in the warehouse and does other jobs. About 6pm he went to the warehouse and found Brain inside behind the door. He asked what he was doing there. Brain said he had only got a few plums and supposed he would say nothing. Brain was standing with his back to him. He looked over Brain’s shoulder and saw his cap in his hand with about 1 ½ lbs of plums in it. He told Brain he would fetch his master and locked him in the warehouse. Other people have access to the warehouse besides himself and the keys are usually kept in the lock during the day. He can’t say whether the key was turned in the lock or not. Brain was about 30 yards from the nearest plum box. There are 2 doors to the warehouse. One opens into the public yard and the other into Mr Brimley’s private yard. It was the door in the private yard that Brain went in at. The other door was fastened. When he and his master went back Brain was standing near one of the plum boxes and had emptied the plums out of his cap. William Brain – declines to say anything.

item

Brain, William,
Brimley, William,
Smith, John,
Stocker,
Lacey

Bedford St.Paul, Bedford High Street, BEDFORD, stealing, plums, grocers, servants