QSR1856/4/5/7b

Depositions of Frederick Lawford, clerk to an attorney of Luton, Sarah Claydon, single woman of Luton, Joseph Hedges, grocer of Luton and Charles Addington Austin, solicitor of Luton. In the case of George Golds accused of stealing a half sovereign in gold and a silver shilling.

11 August 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

Frederick Lawford: a clerk to Messrs Williamson and Austin of Luton, solicitors. In consequence of having lost money at different times, from a bag which was kept in a desk in the clerk’s office, on 23 July he put £1 19s 1d in a bag marked in a particular way. It consisted of a sovereign in gold, half sovereign in gold, 6 shillings pieces, 5 sixpences, 5 pence in copper and 4 half pence. On 24 July he counted the money and found it was all right and placed it in his desk in a particular manner. The desk was not locked. The money was his own not his masters. He locked the office and took the key from the outer door into the house according to his normal custom. On 25 July he came to the office and found that the bag had been removed and its position changed. On examining the contents he found half a sovereign and a shilling had been taken. Sarah Claydon: a housekeeper in service of Mr Williamson. On 25 July the prisoner came to the house and spoke to Joseph, Mr Williamson’s servant boy, in the kitchen. She had been in her bedroom. He went down the yard towards the office and she saw no more of him. The office key was hanging in its usual place when she had gone to bed the previous night. She did not see it the next morning. On 9 August Mr Austin and the prisoner came into Mr Williamson’s kitchen. Mr Austin accused the prisoner of having stolen the money from the office. The prisoner said he did not take the half sovereign but had taken the shillings. The prisoner said he hoped to be forgiven for the sake of his wife and children. Joseph Hedges: on 24 July he locked the office door when the clerk had left and took the key into his master’s house. He left it on a nail in the passage. After Mr Lawford had left the office that night he took the key, went to the office and put up the shutters as was his normal custom. He locked up again. On 25 July the prisoner came to the kitchen window. He was lighting a fire. The prisoner went away from the window. Soon after he went to the fetch the office key and found it missing. He found the office door locked. He afterwards found the key on the stairs. It must have been placed there. He was searched by his master and Mr Austin for the money. About 10 minutes after he had seen the prisoner at the kitchen window, he had left the office to go to the stable. On returning the prisoner sprung from behind the desk and made an exclamation to frighten him. It had been on the opposite side of the desk to where Mr Lawford sat. Charles Addington Austin: a solicitor in partnership with Mr Williamson. On 24 July he assisted Lawford in counting the money in his desk. The money was marked in his presence. On 25 July, in consequence of what Mr Lawford had communicated, he examined the money in the bag with him and found the half sovereign and shilling missing. When Charles came they were all searched including the boy Hedges. No money was found. On 9 August he found the prisoner at the bottom of the stairs when he came down in the morning. The prisoner said “I have been at it again. I hope you’ll forgive me”. He sent for the police and took him to Mr Williamson’s kitchen. When charged by the policeman, the prisoner said he had not had the half sovereign but had the shilling and he begged forgiveness as he had a wife and 7 children. The prisoner had no business in the office except in office hours. Being the hall keeper he was occasionally at the office during office hours. Statement of the accused: he took the shilling that morning 2 months ago. That was all.

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Golds, George,
Lawford, Frederick,
Claydon, Sarah,
Hedges, Joseph,
Austin, Charles Addington

LUTON, solicitor, housekeeper, servant, clerk, stealing, coins