QSR1864/1/5/16

Depositions of John Emery, grocer's assistant of Leighton Buzzard. Alfred Fowler, grocer's assistant of Leighton Buzzard. William Mellor, manager of the Gas Works. William Champkins, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Eliza Goodyear Hopcroft accused of obtaining coffee, tea, moist sugar, loaf sugar, candles and other sundry articles by false pretences.

3 November 1863

From: 1863 To: 1864

John Emery: he worked for Frederick Emery keeper of a grocers shop in Leighton Buzzard. He knew the prisoner by sight but she was not a customer. On 10 October the prisoner came into his brother’s shop and said she wanted some groceries for Mr Miller at the Gas House. Mr Miller was an occasional customer. He took down part of the order and the prisoner said she was going to the post office and would return in a few minutes. She returned and ordered some other articles. He offered to send them but she said she would take them with her as she had been gone longer than expected and she was worried the master would scold her. He made the goods up in a parcel and enclosed the bill made out to Mr Mellor. The price totalled 9s 9d ½ and he would not have parted with the articles if she had not represented that the goods were for Mr Mellor. He knew it was the practice of Mr Mellor to give the orders to each grocer in turn. Alfred Fowler: he worked for Frederick Emery keeper of a grocers shop in Leighton Buzzard. He knew nothing of the prisoner when she came to his master’s shop. On Saturday 10 October the prisoner came into the shop and asked for some grocery goods. She said they were for Mr Mellor of the Gas House and that she was going down the street and would be back in a few minutes for them. She returned to the shop and said she did not wish to hurry the last witness but she hoped he would be quick as she had been gossiping and was afraid her master would scold her. The goods were given to her in parcel and the bill made out to Mr Mellor. She left the shop and went in the direction of North Street. William Mellor: manager at the Gas Works in Leighton Buzzard. He knew the prisoner well and she had often visited when her sister had been in his employment. He saw the prisoner on the evening of 28 October in the street, but did not speak to her. He had not spoken to her for 6 months and had not given her authority to go Mr Emery’s in his name. He was an occasional customer of Emery and would give his custom to each of the grocers in the town in turn. The prisoner did not take the goods to his house. PC William Champkins: he apprehended the prisoner at her house and was in the company of John Emery and Alfred Fowler. The witnesses identified her. She said “They must be mistaken for I was ill that morning”,”I did not go anywhere except at night when I went to Mr Hights”. Statement of the accused: she had not had the goods and had not gone out that day until evening. The young man said she was at the shop at 12 noon but she had not got up until 12.10pm and then a man from Eaton Bray had come to buy some of her plait. The witness had said he could swear to her dress but had afterwards said he could not.

item

Hopcroft, Eliza Goodyear,
Emery, John,
Fowler, Alfred,
Mellor, William,
Champkins, William,
Emery, Frederick

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, grocer's assistant, false pretences, Leighton Buzzard Gas Company, grocer