QSR1890/1/5/2a

Depositions of Lucy Evans, William Thomas and Cornelius Theobald. In the case of Joseph Pugh accused of obtaining food to the value of 5 shillings and the sum of a shilling and sixpence in money by false pretences.

7 November 1890

From: 1889 To: 1890

Lucy Evans: wife of George Evans, a labourer and they lived at Marston Moretaine. On 15 October between 4-5pm, the prisoner came to their house and asked for lodgings until the beginning of April. He promised to pay 3s a week for lodging. She accepted him as a lodger. As soon as he got into the house he asked her to write him a letter to the general manager of the North Western Railway, Mr Findlay. He asked her to lend him a penny for a stamp. The letter said: Will you please forward to the above address my months money as soon as you receive this letter as I have quite run out. The amount is 10 shillings. She signed Joseph Pugh at his request. He told her he was a patient out of hospital in London. She thought he said St Marys. On 17 October he told her he was in receipt of a pension of 14 shillings a week as long as he lived. He told her the same day that he had lost half a sovereign the Friday before and it had made him short of money. He asked her to fund his food until his money came and then he would pay 12 shillings a week. He also asked her to lend him some money to go to Millbrook station and get some clothes. He said the clothes were coming to Millbrook station by train for him. She lent him a shilling and sixpence for the purpose. On 18 October he left the house to go to the station and said he would not be long. He never went back. He had lodged and boarded with her for 3 days and had not paid anything. In consequence of his statement about his pension and the letter, she had given him credit. She would not have given him credit with those representations. She put the board and lodging at 5 shillings and she had lent him a shilling and sixpence. William Thomas: in charge of the staff section Chief Accountant’s office of the North Western Railway at Easton Station. He did not know the defendant. Joseph Pugh’s name was not on the books of the railway company as a pensioner. He was not in receipt of any sum of money from the company unless it was wages as a workman or entered as such. If so it would be work done recently. No such letter as referred to by the witness Evans was received by the office and it would have come before him. Cornelius Theobald: Station master at Millbrook Station of the London North Western Railway Company. There had not been a parcel received at the station addressed to Joseph Pugh during the last 2 months. Pugh had never called at the station for any parcel. He had not seen Pugh before to his best knowledge. Statement of the accused: he had written a statement which he wished to put in. Written Statement of the accused: “I would just say I have been in hospital for about 2 years. I am suffering much from stones in my kidneys and am obliged to use an instrument to pass my water. I have been out of hospital about 3 months and have used herb drink which greatly helped me. I had spent all my money and am not able to work for more and I cannot walk far at once, which was the cause of me acting so foolishly as I have. I wanted to get into Hertfordshire to where I belong for I have such a dread of Hospital as they talked of taking one of my kidneys out. I hope you will be as easy with me as you can. I am 63 years of age and am not able to work for my living.”

item

Pugh, Joseph,
Evans, Lucy,
Thomas, William,
Theobald, Cornelius

MARSTON MORETAINE, false pretences, money, Millbrook station, station master, accountant, North Western Railway Company, pensioner, kidneys