Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1859/2/5/10
  • Title
    Depositions of George Chapple, 148 Regent Street, Middlesex and foreman to Frederick Hawley, a goldsmith there. Henry Ison Jebbett, Superintendent of Police of Bedford. Thomas Gillett, station master at Liddlington Station. John Briggs, labourer of Ampthill and James Bates, Superintendent of Police Ampthill division. In the case of George Milnthorpe accused of obtaining a gold watch, a gold chain and a bloodstone ring by false pretences.
  • Date free text
    22 March 1859
  • Production date
    From: 1859 To: 1859
  • Scope and Content
    George Chapple: a foreman at the shop of Frederick Hawley who was jeweller and gold smith carrying on business at 148 Regent Street, London. On 18 March he received the letter directed to Mr F R Hawley, gold smith and jeweller from Mr Hawley. The letter requested Mr Hawley to posy by rail a gold lever watch, a gold albert chain and a blood stone ring shield pattern. The letter was signed “Thynne” and the address at the top of the letter was Haynes Park. On the paper inside the letter instructed the parcel to be directed to: The Rev Lord John Thynne, Haynes Park, Beds by London and North Western Railway to Lidlington Station carriage paid. On the same afternoon he went to Bedford by rail and saw his Lordship at Haynes Park who denied all knowledge of the matter. In consequence of that he went to Captain Boultber and gave him the letter received. Henry Ison Jebbett: on 18 March a letter was put into his hands by Captain Boultber, the chief constable. The letter was dated 17 March and “Thynne”. He proceeded to Ampthill to Superintendent Bates and accompanied him to the station at Lidlington, where the letter had directed the goods be sent. He made up a parcel directed to The Rev Lord John Thynne, Hawnes Park, Beds as per the directions of the letter. About 2.30am on 19 March he called the station master up and made inquiries whether any person had been on the premises that evening for a parcel directed to Lord John Thynne. The station master said he had not but produced a letter had received about it. He left the parcel he had made up with the station master. He continued at Lidlington until 6am. About 6.30am a person came to the station and inquired for a parcel addressed to Lord Thynne. He went into the station and saw a person signing a book and the parcel being delivered to him. He accompanied Mr Bates back to Ampthill and proceeded to the surgery of Mr Chapman there. The prisoner came down the stairs and the parcel was delivered to him by John Briggs. Bates took the parcel saying he wanted it and the prisoner replied “I suppose you do. What a fool I have been”. The prisoner was cautioned in the usual way. The prisoner said he would tell why he had done it and that he was short of cash and thought if he made use of Lord Thynne’s name he should be able to obtain goods and pay for them in 6 months. He produced the letter and the prisoner said he wrote the letter and also the one produced by Mr Bates. The prisoner said he was sorry for what he had done and he was such a fool. Thomas Gillett: the station master at Lidlington. On 18 March he received a letter through the post directed to the Station Master at Lidlington. It was dated the Thursday evening and requested him to inquire of the guard on every train the following day for a parcel for Lord Thynne and then to take care of it. He delivered the letter to Superintendent Bates on the Saturday. He received the parcel from Mr Bates who was in the company of Mr Jebbett. Between 6 and 7am the same day a man by the name of John Briggs, who he knew well, applied for a parcel directed to Lord Thynne. He asked who it was for and he replied Mr Chapman’s assistant. He delivered the parcel he had received from Mr Bates to Briggs and Briggs signed the receipt for it. John Briggs: he was employed by people as a messenger. On 18 March, from a message he received, he went to Mr Chapman’s surgery at Ampthjill. He saw the prisoner there and was asked to go to Lidlington Station for him the following day. The prisoner said a parcel would be directed to Lord John Thynne and he was to get it. The parcel was carriage paid. The following morning he went to Lidlington station for the parcel, which he signed for and carried the parcel to the prisoner at Ampthill. He gave it into the prisoner’s hands. He had been paid a shilling the previous night. The Superintendents Jebbett and Bates were present. Superintendent James Bates: on 18 March, Superintendent Jebbett showed him the letter directed to Mr Frederick Hawley. A parcel was then made up between them and they went together to Lidlington about 2.30am. They called on the station master and inquired if a parcel addressed to Lord John Thynne had been there. The station master replied no but he handed them a letter he had received about a parcel. Shortly after 6am, he and Mr Jebbett were in the back room at the station. He saw John Briggs come to the station and receive the parcel from the station master. Briggs accompanied him to Ampthill in his cart and they inquired of him where he was to deliver the parcel. He said he was delivering it to Mr Chapman’s assistant at 8am. At that time they accompanied Briggs to Mr Chapman’s surgery and inquired for Mr Milnthorpe, the prisoner. Milnthorpe came into the room where they were and Briggs came in shortly afterwards and delivered the parcel into the prisoner’s hands. The prisoner thanked him. He told the prisoner he wanted the parcel and the prisoner said “I thought so. What a fool I have been.” He said he intended to pay for it in about 6 months as he was short of cash and thought he could use Lord Thynne’s name to get goods. He and Superintendent Jebbett showed the prisoner the 2 letters and the prisoner said he had written both. He took him into custody. Copy of the letter 2 letters referred to in the depositions attached. Statements of the accused: he declined to say anything.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    item
Hierarchy browser