QSR1854/4/5/14

Depositions of John Powers, baker of Girtford. William Hendry, carpenter of Girtford. William Breakwell, police constable of Girtford. William King, victualler of Girtford. Josiah Braybrooks, labourer of Girtford. Thomas Baldock, baker of Girtford. William Smith, bricklayer of Lower Caldecote. Fanny, wife of William Quince of Girtford. Alexander Hendry, menial servant of Sandy. Edwin Blunden, superintendent of police of Biggleswade and John Coles, carpenter of Beeston. In the case of John Brown accused of stealing 28 sovereigns, 2 half sovereigns and a box.

25 July 1854

From: 1854 To: 1854

John Powers: on 13 July the prisoner was employed at carpenters work at his house. He had removed his cash box from his sitting room to his kitchen on account of the workmen being employed near the sitting room. The prisoner was in the habit of going into the kitchen for beer. On 14 July at about 10am he missed the cash box from the kitchen table. About a quarter of an hour after he had missed the box he informed the police and other parties. In the box was about 28 pounds in gold and about 5 pounds in silver. He identified the box shown to him as the one which had contained the money. William Hendry: as a carpenter he had been doing the repairs to Mr Powers’s house and the prisoner was there working for him. On 13 July the workmen went to dinner at 1pm and returned at 2pm. At about 2.20pm he saw the prisoner going towards Mr Powers from the direction of Girtford Bridge but he had not business there, he ought to have been at Mr Powers. On 17 July when Brown came for his wages, he told him he was not able to pay the whole and Brown said he did not know what he should do as he promised to pay a bill to Mr [?] for some tools. William Breakwell: sergeant in the Bedfordshire Police. On 24 July he searched the prisoners house and in a box upstairs he found 28 sovereigns, 2 half sovereigns and 10 shillings in silver. He apprehended the prisoner. William King: keeper of the Rose and Crown public house in Girtford. On 13 July about 1pm the prisoner came into the house and appeared [?]. He had a dinner basket with him and which he seemed to take unusual care of, keeping his arm on it all the time. He left the house about 2pm. He often came to the house to dine. Josiah Braybrooks: on 24 July he was under the arch of the Girtford Bridge. He found a box in the water which was about a yard deep. He took it to Mr Powers. Thomas Baldock: a baker working for John Powers. On 14 July between breakfast and dinner the prisoner was working on his masters premises and they were talking about the cash box. The prisoner said it would be enough to take the money out of the box and throw the box in the river. It was said in the bake house and there was another young man present but he took no notice. William Smith: a bricklayer of Caldecot. On 14 July between 5am and 6am he was going to work at Beeston and saw the prisoner and they walked along the road together. As they walked along the prisoner said to him that Mr Powers had lost a cash box with a good way towards £40 in it. It was definitely Smith not Cole that told him this. He arrived at his work at Mr Coopers and told his master and mistress what had been said to him. Fanny Quince: her husband was William Quince and they lived next door to Mr Powers. On 14 July about 9.30am she was looking out of her window and saw the prisoner go past in the company of another man. The prisoner said to the other man that Jack Powers had lost 5 and thirty pounds, but she heard no more. She had heard earlier that day that Powers had lost some money. Mr [?] and Mr Harris had been talking in Mr Harris’ shop about it. The person she heard the prisoner speak to was Mr Cook’s servant. Alexander Hendry: a servant in the employ of Reverend Harry Cook. On about 14 July he stopped at about 12.30 opposite Mr Powers and spoke to the prisoner who was at work there. The prisoner left and went into his master’s shop and he followed him. The prisoner told him of the loss of the cash box and how he supposed there by £20 to £30 in it. Edwin Blunden: the superintendent of police. On the morning of 24 July the box was given to him in the presence of Mr Powers and he identified it as his property. He had it in his possession since. He obtained a hammer and a gauge which the prisoner said belong to him. On the lid of the cash box where holes which corresponded in size with the hammer and gauge. He had not doubt they were made by the instruments. Witness for the defence – John Cole: a carpenter living at Beeston. He had been walking towards Biggleswade about 6am and met the prisoner and William Smith. He had some conversation with them and then the prisoner said Mr Powers had a bug yesterday. He had heard of Powers loss the night before. Statement of the accused: he had nothing to say except that the evidence against him was contradicting.

item

Brown, John,
Powers, John,
Hendry, William,
Breakwell, William,
King, William,
Braybrooks, Josiah,
Baldock, Thomas,
Smith, William,
Quince, William,
Quince, Fanny,
Hendry, Alexander,
Blunden, Edwin,
Coles, John

Girtford, SANDY, Lower Caldecote, Beeston, BIGGLESWADE, baker, carpenter, servant, victualler, Girtford Rose & Crown, bricklayer, Girtford Bridge