QSR1863/1/5/6

Depositions of Abraham Tims, farmer of Chalton. Charles Brandom, labourer of Chalton. Joseph Brandom, labourer of Charlton. In the case of William Garner who did cause, procure and counsel Joseph Bramdom to steal a half sovereign.

28 November 1862

From: 1862 To: 1863

Abraham Tims: on 3 November he missed half a sovereign from a bureau in his house. On 17 November he accused a boy by the name of Joseph Brandom who was in his employment. Brandom said he had taken it for his father. He subsequently heard that the prisoner, also in his employment had something to do with it. In consequence he discharged him and told him he considered him as bad as the boy. The boy Brandom, his father and the prisoner were in his kitchen at the time and afterwards he received 10 shillings to settle it. Brandom’s father, in the presence of the prisoner, said the prisoner had given a days pay towards the money. Charles Brandom: Joseph Brandom was his son. On the night of 17 November he was fetched in by John How to Mr Tims’s. Tims told him that his boy had taken half a sovereign and 3 shillings. Mr Tims then called the prisoner in. His boy said, in the prisoner’s presence, that he and Garner had the money between them. The prisoner, at first, said he had the money but afterwards said he had the money and would pay his share and had done it in drink. They had been talking about making it up and he did not know is Tims was present at the time. About half an hour later he gave 6s 6d to the prisoner and it was agreed a man by the name of John Scrivers should pay 1s 8d and the prisoner was to pay 1s 10d to Mr Tims. Tims said that the prisoner was just as bad, if not worse than the boy and discharged him. The prisoner made no reply. Joseph Brandom: son of the last witness and he lived with him. He knew William Garner. On 3 November he took half a sovereign out of his master’s desk. Tims was in the stable with the prisoner. The prisoner asked if he would go to the house and see if he could get any money. When he came from the house he showed the prisoner the 10 shillings and the prisoner told him to go into town and change it. He went into town and changed it. He had sixpence and gave Garner 9s 6d on the following morning. Garner took the 9s 6d and gave him 2s 6d. The following Monday he took 3 shillings from his master’s bureau. Nobody told him to take that. The prisoner had not asked him to go and get money before. Statement of the accused: that Monday Brandom said he took the money of Mr Tims and he had not been home then. The boy went to Harrow in the morning and he went to Harrow about 1pm. The master came and wanted the boy to go to the mill. Master brought the horse down and met the boy and went to Harrow himself. He went home and the mistress and master were all home when he came down for dinner they had gone. He thought they had gone to Chalton. The boy came back from town between 4 and 5pm. He went milking and when he came back the horses were watered and done up. He asked the boy where he had gone that night and he replied to his fathers. On Tuesday he and the boy went to Harrow with one horse. On their return the boy asked if he would sell him a knife and he sold him his knife and 2 rabbits. The boy had a half crown and a shilling and asked him to change the half crown. He told the boy he had no change. The boy said he got John Scrivener half a crown. He asked the boy how he had come by the money and he would not tell. On Wednesday the master missed the money and the masters asked what money the boy had. He told the master he had 6s 6d. The master told him to say nothing and he would try to catch him. The master caught the boy about a fortnight later. What the boy said about the money was untrue. He was as innocent as a child unborn.

item

Garner, William,
Tims, Abraham,
Brandom, Charles,
Brandom, Joseph,
Scrivener, John

Chalton, stealing, coins, farmer