QSR1854/3/5/30

Depositions of Charles Cawley, flour bag manufacturer of Fore Street, Cripplegate, Middlesex. Joseph Inwards, baker of Houghton Regis, Daniel Grace, confectioner of Luton and his wife Mary Grace. William Drewitt, baker of Luton and Edward Godfrey, superintendent of police of Luton. In the case of William Brock accused of embezzling monies from his master Charles Cawley.

26 June 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

Charles Cawley: his place of business was no.90 Fore Street, Cripplegate in Middlesex. William Brock was a traveller in his employ. On 12 June he gave Brock instructions to go to Leighton Buzzard and other places for the purpose of collecting monies due to him. He had reason to believe Brock had received certain amounts which he had failed to hand over to him. He knew Brock to have received £1 0s 9d from Mr Joseph Inwards, which he had not handed over. Brock had also received £2 8s from Mr Grace of Luton that he had not handed over. Further Brock received £1 4s 6d from Mr Drewitt of Luton which he had not handed over. Brock should have remitted the sums to Cawley as soon as he received them. In consequence of information received Cawley came to Brock and requested the money and in turn, Brock furnished Cawley with an account of money he had received. He asked Brock for the money and he only paid him 6s and a halfpenny. This suggested to Cawley that Brock had received another sum as well as the amounts from the 3 previously stated people. Brock was to receive orders for the [?] of Cawley Drew Reynolds and to collect monies for him personally. Brock received £1 expenses at the start. The account rendered as having been received on Cawley’s account was £5 10s 6d. Joseph Inwards: a baker of Houghton Regis. On 14 June he saw the prisoner at the Railway Hotel. He was introduced by Swift, the landlord. The prisoner asked him for an order and said he represented the House of Cawley and Company of London. Inwards said he knew the house well and they had an account against him and if Brock would produce the account, he would pay him. Brock said he did not want the money but wanted an order. Inwards had his cart at the door and Brock went along with him to his house. He asked Brock for the account and paid him £1 0s 9d. He was able to produce a receipt in the prisoner’s handwriting. Daniel Grace: the prisoner called on him on 15 June whilst he was in another part of the premised. He saw him afterwards and the receipt produced was on the counter when he came in. Mary Grace: wife of Daniel Grace. The prisoner came to the house on 15 June and asked if there was an order for him. She told him no and he said there was an account standing. She agreed to pay him and he produced the account. She paid him £2 8s 0d. She saw him sign the receipt. The account lay on the counter when her husband came in just afterwards. William Drewitt: “being one of the people called Quakers solemnly affirms” – the prisoner came to him house on 15 June and presented a card. Brock asked if he had any orders for the firm. He said he did not but would settle the account that was standing. He paid Brock £1 4s 6d and saw Brock sign the receipt. Edward Godfrey: on 20 June he received the prisoner into his custody on a charge of embezzlement. The following morning, on going to Houghton Regis, the prisoner said he had received about £5 10s and that he had rendered that amount to Mr Cawley. Brock said the constable had taken 6s 3d from him which the constable paid to Godfrey. Statement of the accused: no statement.

item

Brock, William,
Cawley, Charles,
Inwards, Joseph,
Grace, Daniel,
Grace, Mary,
Drewitt, William,
Godfrey, Edward

City of London Cripplegate, HOUGHTON REGIS, LUTON, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, manufacturer, traveller, baker, confectioner, embezzlement, Houghton Regis Railway Hotel