QSR1860/3/5/19-20

Depositions of Sophia Smith, widow and shopkeeper of Toddington. Thomas Smith, blocker of Toddington and Samuel Brewer, labourer of Toddington. In the case of George Holmes and James Lawman accused of obtaining twopence by false pretences.

29 June 1860

From: 1860 To: 1860

Sophia Smith: she knew both prisoners and they lived in Toddington. On 29 May she found an oak bough at her door. On that day both defendants came to her shop. They said they were there for the oak bough. She threw them down a penny. Lawman said “be as good as your neighbours” and Holmes said “you always do give us two pence”. She gave them another penny. She had lived in Toddington for 23 years and it was annual custom to bring an oak bough to the inhabitants and them come to collect money. She had paid 2d every year but could not say if she had paid the prisoners 2 pence before. She did not know that it was the Ringers at Toddington that came for the money. The bough had been there before the prisoners came. It was not usual for more than 2 to come for the money. Thomas Smith: he was one of the 10 Bell Ringers at Toddington. Neither of the defendants were bell ringers nor attended the company of bell ringers. It was customary at Toddington that once a year the bell ringers would take round an oak bough to the inhabitants and afterwards collect a subscription. The bell ringers would have a supper with the money collected. On 28 May at the Sow & Pigs public house, the bell ringers met and made arrangements that the boughs should be taken round the following morning. He and Brewer were appointed to go up town. Mrs Smith lived up town. They left the bough at her door and went for the usual sum on 30 May. Mrs Smith said she had paid it. Neither he nor his partner had received it. He found the money had been received by wrong people at other places. The bell ringers made complaint that they had been robbed. Neither of the defendants were authorised to go and collect the money and they had not accounted to the bell ringers for the money received. Neither defendant attended the bell ringer’s supper. Samuel Brewer: one of the ringers at Toddington. Neither of the defendants was a ringer. They would take round an oak bough on the 29 May to inhabitants. They collected the money which then went to a supper. Mrs Smith paid the money to Holmes and Lawman who were not authorised to receive money. Statement of the accused: George Holmes – They would go round on a Tuesday in Whitsun week; there was a score of them. It was 29 May that time. It had not happened before. They went round the town to get what they could. They did not ask after any Ringers money. Most of the shopkeepers gave money. Only the 2 of them went to Mrs Smiths. James Lawman – he had nothing more to say than what his partner had already said.

item

Holmes, George,
Lawman, James,
Smith, Sophia,
Smith, Thomas,
Brewer, Samuel

TODDINGTON, false pretences, shopkeeper, blocker, church bells