QSR1865/4/5/9

Depositions of Frederick Spaker, jeweller of Leighton Buzzard and Catherine, his wife. Martha Fletcher, single woman of Leighton Buzzard. Sarah Greening, wife of William, innkeeper of Leighton Buzzard. William Champkins, police constable stationed at Leighton Buzzard. In the case of Robert Brandom accused of obtaining 2s 10d by false pretences.

26 September 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Frederick Spaker: he had employed the prisoner, as a general servant looking after his horse, for about 14 months up to 12 September. He went to the Continent in August and returned on 10 September. He thought the horse looked very poor and it had been in good health when he had left. He spoke to the prisoner about it and asked where he got the hay from. The prisoner replied from Mr Greening. He took the prisoner to Mr Greening and the prisoner said he had the hay from Mrs Greening. She denied this. The prisoner told him he had fetched hay on 9 September. From information he received from his wife and his housekeeper, Martha Fletcher, he obtained a warrant against the prisoner for obtaining money under false pretences from Martha Fletcher. Martha Fletcher: she was a single woman and lived with the Spaker’s as a housekeeper. She now lived with her parents at Leighton. Whilst in service she knew the prisoner who took care of the horse. On 9 September the prisoner came to her and said he wanted money for a truss of hay. She had given him money for hay before. She asked the prisoner what he wanted and he told her 2s 10d. She gave him 3s and he brought her back 2d. Catherine Spaker: she was the wife of the prosecutor. The prisoner had been in her husband’s service up to 13 September. The prisoner was discharged by her husband for receiving money from the housekeeper for hay which she understood he had never got. On 9 September she was informed the housekeeper had given him 3s and received 2d back for hay. She thought this incorrect as he had hay on 2 September. She reckoned a horse to eat a truss of hay a fortnight. On the morning of 10 September she went to the stable to look for the hay. She found a little hay but no truss. That evening she asked the prisoner where the hay was. He replied “up there”. She told him it was not and he was dishonest. He told her he had the hay from Greenings. On 12 September she went to Mr Greening who said he could not remember it. Inconsequence of what she was told by PC Champkins she went to the Station House at Leighton and saw the prisoner in custody. The prisoner said he wished to make it up by paying. The prisoner said he had kept the money and spent it. Sarah Greening: she was the wife of William and he sold hay. She knew the prisoner and knew him to be in the service of the prosecutor. The prisoner had been to their house for hay several times. He came last on 2 September. She served him with a truss of hay and he paid her. She did not supply the prisoner with hay on 9 September. PC William Champkins: on 23 September he apprehended the prisoner on a warrant. He told the prisoner the charge and the prisoner made no reply. On the same afternoon the prisoner said he wished to speak to Mrs Spaker. Mrs Spaker accompanied him to the station. The prisoner told her he would like to settle it and had taken the money but not bought the hay. Statement of the accused: he was guilty and felt very sorry. Neither Mr or Mrs Spaker said anything about hay lasting for a fortnight. Mr Spaker had said nothing about the horse looking ill.

item

Brandom, Robert,
Spaker, Frederick,
Spaker, Catherine,
Fletcher, Martha,
Greening, Sarah,
Greening, William,
Champkins, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, jeweller, innkeeper, false pretences, hay, horsekeeper, housekeeper