QSR1866/2/5/4

Depositions of William Shaw, innkeeper of Toddington and his wife Sarah. Thomas Janes, cattle dealer of Toddington. John Olden, police constable of Toddington. In the case of George Athews, a carpenter late of Toddington, accused of obtaining 16 pints of beer by false pretences.

31 March 1866

From: 1866 To: 1866

William Shaw: a publican and keeper of the Sow and Pig at Toddington. On the afternoon 1 March the prisoner came into the Tap Room and said he was going to work for his old master, Mr Janes, and Janes had told him to come and have some beer and put it down to him. Mr Janes was his customer. The prisoner ordered a pint and then another. The prisoner had 13 pence of beer altogether. The next day he let the prisoner have another 2 pints, the value of 11 pence. The prisoner said it was to be set to Mr Janes. The day after the prisoner had 9 pence more of beer on the same account. He would not have given the prisoner beer on his own account. The prisoner was not his customer and he would not have trusted him. Sarah Shaw: she was the wife of the last witness. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March the prisoner came into the house and had beer which amounted to 1s 1d. She supplied him with some beer herself and her husband supplied the remainder. On 1 March the prisoner said he was going to work for his old master, Mr Janes. The prisoner said he was to have the beer he wanted and Mr Janes would pay for it. Mr Janes was a regular customer. She would not have trusted the prisoner for any beer. On 29 March she saw Mr Janes. She told him George Athews had taken beer in his name to the value of 2s 9d. Mr Janes seemed surprised and but said he would pay for it. Janes said that they should not be the losers. Thomas Janes: on the 2nd and 3rd March the prisoner was at working on some fences for him. The prisoner was supplied with some beer at his house. He did not authorise the prisoner to go to Mr Shaw for beer and never mentioned such a thing to him. He was surprised when Mrs Shaw told him the prisoner had 2s 9d of beer in his name. He paid Mr Shaw for it and Mr Shaw should not be the loser. He informed the police and the prisoner was taken into custody. Police Sergeant John Olden: he apprehended the prisoner and charged him with obtaining beer by false pretences. The prisoner said he worked for Mr Janes and Janes had told him to go and the beer. He had done so and he had offered to pay for it. Statement of the accused: he went to work for Mr Janes. He told Mr Shaw that he was going to work for his old master and he would like a pint of beer and he would pay for it as soon as he had done his work. Shaw let him have the beer. He did not remember saying Mr Janes told him to have the beer.

item

Athews, George,
Shaw, Sarah,
Janes, Thomas,
Olden, John

TODDINGTON, false pretences, beer, carpenter, publican, Toddington Sow and Pigs