QSR1845/1/5/19

Depositions and examination - Henry Bishop charged wtih embezzlement

20 December 1844

From: 1844 To: 1845

Jabez Smith of St Paul Bedford, coal merchant – he lives in Priory Terrace in St Paul Bedford. Henry Bishop has been in his service for about 2 ½ years as a coal porter. He has been in the habit of sending Bishop out with coal to his customers and authorized him in all cases to receive the money for the coals on his account. Bishop has generally pait it over to him. No one but himself received money from Bishop on his account. On 24 July he sent Bishop to Mrs Fuller of Adelaide Square with 3cwt of coals and authorized Bishop to receive the money for them. He has never been paid for them. In October he sent Bishop out with a load of coals to sell to different persons. On the same day Bishop told him he had left 3cwt at Mrs Fuller’s and that he would call for the money the next morning. He has never been paid for those coals. On 17 February Bishop told him he had left 2cwt of coals with Miss Barratt, and about 3 weeks ago he sent Bishop with 1 cwt to John Parrott. He has never been paid for either. Fanny Martin of St Paul Bedford, spinster – she is servant to Mrs Fuller who lives in Adelaide Square. On 24 July Bishop brought 3 cwt of coals. He asked her for the money for them and she paid him 4s 9d. Maria Parrott, wife of John Parrott of St Paul Bedford, tailor – she was in the habit of ordering coals from Jabez Smith. She only ordered 1 cwt at a time, generally from Bishop. She always pays Bishop for the coals. She has never paid Mr Smith himself until that this morning. About 3 weeks or a month ago she bought 1 cwt of coals from Bishop for 19d which she paid to him. Last Wednesday (Dec 11) she had another hundred for which she paid Mr Smith this morning. On the previous Monday she had a ½ cwt for which she paid Bishop 10d. A fortnight ago last Saturday night Bishop came to her house about 10pm and said he wanted 1s 7d which she paid him. About an hour later he came for the money again and said she had not paid him. Jabez Smith [further deposition] – that morning he asked Bishop for the money he had received from Mrs Fuller, Miss Barratt and Mrs Parrott. Bishop said they had never paid. About a fortnight ago last Saturday night he sent Bishop to Mrs Parrott for the money for the coals for which he had not been paid. Bishop said “Mrs Parrott cannot pay you tonight she will pay you on Monday or Tuesday”.

item

Bishop, Henry,
Smith, Jabez,
Martin, Fanny,
Parrott, Maria,
Parrott, John,
Fuller

Bedford St.Paul, BEDFORD, Bedford Adelaide Square, embezzlement, coal merchant, tailor, servant