QSR1859/1/5/13

Depositions of Mary Bushell, widow of Leighton Buzzard, George Jeffry, railway porter of Linslade and Thomas Swales, police constable of Stanbridge. In the case of William Robinson, alias William Foster accused of obtaining a mutton chop by false pretences.

20 December 1858

From: 1858 To: 1859

Mary Bushell: a widow and keeper of the Swan Inn at Leighton Buzzard. The prisoner came to her house on 15 December. He walked into the commercial room and rang the bell. He asked if there were any letters for the name of Robinson. He ordered dinner. She had some suspicions of the prisoner and took his dinner to him herself so she might see him. The dinner consisted of a mutton chop, potatoes and ale. The prisoner had ordered a bed and said his luggage was at the station. He said he had ridden 8 miles and walked 4 and was going to Luton in the morning. In consequence of him saying he had luggage at the Railway station she furnished him with dinner considering him a stranger travelling about. She enquired if the prisoner had luggage at the station and found he did not. She sent the waiter to tell the prisoner she wished to see him in another room. She told him he had no luggage and she could no accommodate him without a reference. He said he knew no one but had come on very particular business and expected 2 post office orders in the morning either directed to her home or the post office. She told him he must pay for him dinner and could not possibly have a bed. He said he had to go elsewhere and went out quickly. She saw no more of him until he was brought to her. She acquainted the police with the manner in which she had been defrauded. George Jeffry: a porter at the Leighton Buzzard Railway Station. On 15 December Mrs Bushell’s omnibus man came to him to see if there was any luggage at the station booked to the name of Robinson. There had been no luggage in that name before or since. PC Thomas Swales: he apprehended the prisoner in bed at the Nags Head in Dunstable. He asked him his name and where he came from. The prisoner refused to answer. He told the prisoner the charge and searched him. He found 2 pocket books, a knife, a likeness and some keys. He was taken to the police station in Leighton Buzzard where he again refused to give his name and address. Statement of the accused: Mrs Bushell’s evidence was correct in 2 particulars. One was him having ridden 8 miles and walked 4 and the other that his luggage would be at the station when he left the town. Mrs Bushell pressed him for payment and when he said he knew no one in town but expected remittance in the morning. He said he would pay her. She said she wished to go no further with it so he collected his hat and walked out. He considered what was best to do and went to the post office. He enquired if there were any letters in the name of Foster. There were none. He told them there would be some in the morning and to readdress them to Dunstable. He walked on to Dunstable and arrived at 10.45pm. He had a bed at a strange house as he could not be accommodated at the Red Lion. He went with the purpose of borrowing some money there and returning to pay Mrs Bushell the 2 shillings. He was apprehended by the police in bed that night and prevented from carrying out his intention. Having a letter containing a sovereign had been lost and that had caused his problem with Mrs Bushell. He had been in the police station from the 16 December.

item

Foster, William,
Robinson, William,
Bushell, Mary,
Jeffry, George,
Swales, Thomas

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, LINSLADE, STANBRIDGE, false pretences, mutton, railway porter