QSR1891/1/5/6a

Deposition of Frances Chamberlain, Baker of Kempston, Emma Beard of Box End Kempston, Huge Rignall, Post Master of Kempston. In the case of Arthur Aldridge accused of feloniously and fraudulently embezzling and steal certain sums of money to wit the sum of £1. 15s. 0d and £1.5s.0d respectively received by him for for his employer Francis Chamberlain.

5th January 1891

From: 1890 To: 1891

The Examinations of Frances Chamberlain, Emma Beard and Huge Rignall taken on oath the Fifth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety One at Bedford in the County of Bedford aforesaid, before the undersigned one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said County, in the presence and hearing of Arthur Aldridge who is charged this day before me for that he the said Arthur Aldridge on the 14th day of September 1889 at Kempston in the said County being employed by the said Frances Chamberlain in the capacity of a servant feloniously and fraudulently did embezzle and steal the sum of $1.15s.0d delivered to him for his said employer and on the thirtieth day of November one thousand eight hundred and eighty nine at Kempston aforesaid being employed by the said Frances Chamberlain as aforesaid did feloniously and fraudulently steal and embezzle the sum of £1.5s.0d delivered to him as aforesaid contrary to the Statute in that case made and provided. This Deponent Emma Beard on her Oath saith as follows: I am the Wife of Benjamin Beard of Box End Kempston – my husband is a customer of Mrs. Chamberlain the prosecutrix - The prisoner Aldridge was in the habit of bringing our bread and of receiving the cash paid on account of Bread - The book produced marked A is my bread book. It’s entry next after the entry of Sept 14 1889 is as follows “Paid A. Aldridge £1. 15s. 0d” In September 1889 I paid him £1. 15s. 0d and I saw him make the entry at the same time “Paid A. Aldridge £1. 15s. 0d. The following November I paid Aldridge the sum of £1. 15s. 0d and I at the same time saw him make the entry on the top of page 14 which is as follows “Paid cash A. Aldridge £1. 5s. 0d. This Deponent of Frances Chamberlain. I live at Kempston and am a baker. The prisoner Arthur Aldridge was in my employment from February 1888 until January 3rd 1891 – It was his duty to deliver bread to my customers and receive cash – He was supplied with delivery books in which it was his duty to enter all bread delivered and cash received – Benjamin Beard of Box end was a customer of mine – The Book produced marked “B”is the delivery book for 1889. That book does not contain any entry of cash received from Benjamin Beard in the months September October and November 1889. It was his duty each night to produce to me the delivery book and handover moneys received by him – He did not hand me any cash as received from Benjamin Beard during the months of September October or November 1889. I did not in Sept. 1890 received any cash from the prisoner as coming from Benjamin Beard, but in October 1890 I received from the prisoner on Beards account the sum of £2.0s.0d. In November 1890 I received no money from the prisoner on account of Beard . [Cross examined by Mr Jessopp] I keep a ledger - a day book and the delivery books – The day book I keep – Hugh Rignall keeps the ledger. The delivery book was kept by Aldridge (the prisoner)) The prisoner and my son were the only two men employed in the business. It was the prisoner duty to make the bread and deliver it – received the money for it and to account for money he had received – It was my sons duty to help the prisoner with his journeys. [Re-examined] My son never went the Box End round. I Hugh Joseph Rignall I am the Postmaster at Kempston – I keep for Mrs Chamberlain her ledger – about the middle of December last I called the prisoner with Mrs Chamberlain’s home – I showed him a list of accounts outstanding I said “You must get some money in” he said “ I will” I told him there were a lot of notes and bills to deliver – he said “ All right Sir I will take them when I go out “ On 27 December last between 7 & 8 o’clock the prisoner came into Mrs Chamberlains room to hand over the cash. Mrs Chamberlain was present, I handed to the prisoner the document marked “C” I said to him “It is a serious matter” he said “It is a bad job” I said you had better sign the statement now produced – he signed it. I then said to him “is there anything more?” he replied “no” On the 2 January last I called the prisoner into Mrs Chamberlain’s room I read to him the document marked “D” – “I then said “you had better look through the delivery book and see whether you have paid it all in to satisfy your own mind” he looked at the delivery books and said “No it is not there” I then read off from the document “D” the names of the persons and the amounts standing opposite there names – I said after reading each name and account “is that correct?” he replied to every name “Yes” – I said you had better sign it the statement will be ready when your father comes” he then signed it – He said before signing it “What shall I put” I said “You had better put I acknowledge receiving the above and then your name” he did so. Statement of accused - I reserve my defence. [Note in Margin] The documents marked C & D were rejected by the Community Justice.

5 pages

item

Beard, Emma,
Beard, Benjamin,
Aldridge, Arthur,
Chamberlain, Frances,
Rignall, Hugh Joseph

Kempston Box End, KEMPSTON, postmaster, baker, servant, fraud, embezzlement, stealing