QSR1857/4/5/15

Depositions of Edward Sanders, coal merchant of Woburn, Ruth Turney, single woman carrying out the business of a farmer in Husborne Crawley and Alfred Ing, police constable of Woburn. In the case of George Michael Jennings accused of embezzling the sum of £3 7s 4d.

30 September 1857

From: 1857 To: 1857

Edward Sanders: a coal merchant and he had employed Jennings for about 12 months. On 25 September he gave Jennings £3 8s in money which he directed Jennings to take to Miss Ruth Turney of Husborne Crawley. On 29 September he gave Jennings £1 10s 2d to take to Miss Turney. He saw Miss Turney at Woburn who mentioned she had not received either amount. That evening the prisoner returned to his premises and he asked him what he had done with the money. Jennings said he had paid it to Miss Turney. Jennings later said he did not know what he had done with it. He told Jennings he must go with him to the police. Jennings would not consent and so Sanders sent for the police constable. The prisoner collared him and was subsequently taken into custody. As he was accompanying the prisoner to the lock up at Woburn, the prisoner asked for some beer and gave him £1 10s 10d saying it was all the money he had. Deducting that sum from the other 2 sums meant the prisoner had embezzled £3 7s 4d. Ruth Turney: a single woman carrying out a farming business in Husborne Crawley with her brother Thomas. Mr Sanders was indebted to her for butter and a sheep to the amount of £4 18s 2d and she expected to receive the money from him on 25 September. The prisoner called at her house that afternoon but when asked said he did not have any money for her and made the excuse that his master did not know if the sheep belonged to her or another Turney. She did not see the prisoner again until 29 September when he called again. She again asked him about the money and he said there was something wrong and Sanders wanted the butter on account. She told him she was going to Woburn to see Mr Sanders herself but the prisoners said his master had gone to Marston Moretaine and would not be home. The same afternoon she saw Mr Sanders at Woburn and was informed he had given the prisoner the money to settle with her. In consequence she waited to see the prisoner, who was away from Woburn and when he returned, Mr Sander brought him to the door. The prisoner said he had paid her the money. She contradicted him and subsequently the prisoner said he had not paid her everything and then acknowledged he had kept the money himself. PC Alfred Ing: he took the prisoner into custody on 29 September and whilst at the police station the prisoner said he acknowledged himself to be at fault. Statement of the accused: he did not have the money. If he had it he would give it to his master. He had lost it.

item

Jennings, George Michael,
Sanders, Edward,
Turney, Ruth,
Ing, Alfred

HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, WOBURN, coal merchant, farmer, embezzlement